Two sides of the story. Dustin Kendrick and Peter Weber defended Bachelorette season 19 contestant Nate Mitchell amid allegations that he dated two women at the same time before appearing on the dating show.
“First of all, let me say this. Nate is not an angel. He’s not a perfect guy,” Dustin, 34, said during the Friday, August 19 episode of his podcast, “Bachelors in the City,” while addressing the rumors surrounding his longtime friend. “[But] I feel like you don’t go and try to tarnish someone’s name because a relationship didn’t work out. It seems childish to me.”
In a July TikTok video, Kelsey Fankhauser — who says she dated Nate, 33, from 2020 to 2021 — claimed that he “kept his kid a secret from me for one and a half years when we were dating” and later claimed that she learned he had been romantically involved with another woman during this time. Dustin, however, alleged on the podcast that Nate and Kelsey weren’t in a serious, “committed” relationship and claimed she was blowing things out of proportion.
“[It’s] baloney. Nate never told me once he was in a relationship with this person,” the Bachelorette season 15 contestant stated. “They were dating, they were seeing each other … There was a time during this [one and a half years] where they didn’t even talk for six months.”
Dustin added that because Nate didn’t see his romance with Kelsey as a serious one, he didn’t feel comfortable introducing her to his daughter. “He kind of just hung out with her in the scene of going out, and it’s not really [a situation where it’s appropriate] to bring them into the life of [his] daughter,” Dustin said.
His cohost, 31, agreed with that position, explaining that it was entirely up to Nate to decide whether it was appropriate to introduce someone he was seeing to his daughter. “Look, if you’re in a serious relationship and you’re committed and you’re with someone, sure, it’s a little weird to not disclose you have a child,” the former Bachelor explained. “But if that’s not the case — and it seems like this was [not] — in my opinion, Nate has every right hold that back until it’s the right time … That’s totally, 1000 percent up to him.”
Dustin and Peter’s remarks come two weeks after blogger Reality Steve released a podcast containing allegations of infidelity on Nate’s part. In addition to her claims that she didn’t know the Chicago native was a father, Kelsey shared screenshots of alleged direct messages with the 47-year-old blogger that she allegedly received from a woman named Laree Starke, claiming to have been romantically involved with Nate while he was supposedly exclusive with her.
“I wish Nate all the best,” she said at the time. “I don’t want to affect his future, but it’s important for me to try and prevent another girl from being blindsided by his secrecies.”
Nate, for his part, claimed that there are “Two sides to every story 
,” when a fan asked him about the allegations on Twitter.
Though the electrical engineer has mostly kept quiet about the situation, Dustin expressed frustration that it might have a long-lasting impact on his image. “I hate could see how [people’s perceptions] could shift. I don’t want people to do these things,” he said on the podcast. “And maybe it’s a good thing if he doesn’t become the Bachelor [after this]. … I think the fans maybe ruined it for him to possibly be [seen] in that light.”
“If that’s the case, America will be missing out,” Peter responded.
Keep scrolling to see everything Dustin and Peter had to say about the situation:
Dustin explained that when his friend began dating Kelsey, he had only recently split from his ex-wife. "People that have been through a divorce, it's not an easy thing to go through. ... So, coming out of that ... it doesn't necessarily put you in the greatest headspace," the reality TV personality noted. "And I know for Nate, he was looking to be validated. ... He was looking for someone to be there for you, to say 'I love you.'" Still, Dustin agreed that Nate should have "communicated better" about what he was looking for with Kelsey. "I'm not saying Nate is in the right. He definitely shouldn't have said these things about love and all this jibber-jabber. He shouldn't have said it." Courtesy of Nate Mitchell/Instagram
According to Dustin, the Bachelorette fan-favorite considered his relationship with Kelsey to be causal and not exclusive. "There's no receipts or [screenshots] of them confirming that they are in a relationship. ... The year and a half of being together with ... is baloney," Dustin alleged. "Nate never told me once he was in a relationship with this person." The podcaster later added, "Nate was nowhere near in a committed relationship with either one of these girls [at the time]. He's allowed to date." ABC/Craig Sjodin
Dustin also claimed that Kelsey failed to mention that she and Nate "didn't speak for six months" during the time they were seeing each other. Courtesy Nate Mitchell/Instagram
While sharing Nate's side of the story with listeners, Dustin also made sure to call out his friend when he felt it was appropriate. "Nate is not an angel. He's not a perfect guy. ... He definitely should have used his words more carefully," Dustin said. "Shame on Nate for throwing around, 'I love you,' but maybe that's how he felt." Peter agreed with his cohost's assessment: "I agree, I think If Nate could have done one thing better, it would be to hold that back." Courtesy Nate Mitchell/Instagram
"I feel like you don't go and try to tarnish someone's name because a relationship didn't work out. It seems childish to me. Like, I know Nate. I've known Nate since I was 14 or 15," Dustin said at one point. "I know he would be there for anybody and if he could, try to do anything for someone. It's just upsetting." He also cast doubt on Kelsey's assertion that she wished Nate "the best" going forward. "I hope you enjoy your 15 minutes of fame," Dustin fired back. In addition, Dustin slammed Reality Steve for spreading the rumors without speaking to Nate about the situation. "Reality Steve is so toxic," he said. "This is childish and you're tarnishing someone's name. ... We need people who ... want to hear other sides of things." ABC/Ricky Middlesworth
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