Rachel Lindsay and Bryan Abasolo in July 2022.Photo:Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Rachel Lindsay and Bryan Abasolo attend the MLBPA x Fanatics “Players Party”

Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Rachel Lindsayis still processingBryan Abasolo’s decision tofile for divorce.

The formerBachelorettespoke on the end of her marriage at the start of Friday’s episode of her podcastHigher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay.

“I didn’t think I’d get emotional,” she said, tearing up. “First off I just want to say thank you for people who reached out. I’m still trying to reply to people. You just never know how great your circle is until you see all the people that reach out and love you,” she said.

“Obviously it’s a difficult time — if you’ve read the headlines — and you’re probably wondering why I would even work. But to be honest with you, I need to distract myself from myself, and the best way to do that is to do something that I love, and I loveHigher Learning.”

Lathan ended the conversation with a joke: “This is in reaction, obviously, this is to Texas losing in the college football playoff. I knew that that would affect you.”

Rachel Lindsay and Bryan Abasolo in 2019.Dominik Bindl/Getty

Rachel Lindsay and Bryan Abasolo attend the Build Series to discuss ‘The Bachelorette’ at Build Studio on September 30, 2019 in New York City

PEOPLE obtained documents confirming that Abasolo, 43, filed for divorce from Lindsay, 38, citing “irreconcilable differences” and listing Dec. 31 as the date of their separation.

He explained the decision onInstagramat the time: “After more than 4 years of marriage, Rachel and I have made the difficult decision to part ways and start anew. My parents have been married forever and I’m a family man, but sometimes loving yourself and your partner means you must let go. I wanted you to hear it from the source before the blogs start making up their own reality. Please respect the spaces of our family and friends as we figure out our next steps.”

Ahead of her own statement, Lindsay reflected on 2023 in anInstagram post: “Definitely one of the hardest years of my life, but choosing to focus on grateful moments and carrying that energy into 2024. 💛”

Rachel Lindsay and Bryan Abasolo in 2017.Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Rachel Lindsay Is in ‘Survival Mode’ and ‘Taking It Day by Day’ After Bryan Abasolo’s Divorce Filing

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Lindsay and Abasolo met onThe Bachelorettein 2017 and married in 2019.

Though their relationship played out in the public eye, Lindsay set apublic boundaryand chose to stop sharing insight into her marriage online in the summer of 2022. “We met on a reality television show centered on finding love. The audience became invested in our story, our love, and our future,” she wrote in a blog post.

“So quite naturally, the audience wants to know what we are doing, if we are okay, and what is next for our future. They want the love story to still play out for their public perception. But our contractual public story, ended on August 7, 2017.”

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Weeks before news of the pair’s split emerged, Lindsay admitted that she and her husband were living in“totally different places”during an appearance on Nick Viall’sThe Viall Filespodcast.

“Me, especially now that I’m not doingExtra, I have a lot more free time … and then I’m back in hustle mode trying to get a second job, so I go to events," she continued. “So, we’re just in two totally different places.”

source: people.com