Trista Sutter Reveals Why She Was Apart from Her Family This Year: Not a ‘Divorce, Nervous Breakdown, Mid-Life Crisis'

Mar. 15, 2025

First-ever Bachelorette Trista Sutter celebrates her 50th Birthday at the all new Sandals Royal Curaçao Resort on November 29, 2022 in Willemstad, Curacao.Photo:John Parra/Getty

John Parra/Getty

The Bachelorettealum, 51, revealed in anInstagram poston Friday, Nov. 15 that she had been working on the third season ofSpecial Forces: World’s Toughest Testin May — around the same time her husband,Ryan Sutter, sharedsocial media poststhat sparked concerns about their relationship.

“Was it a divorce/nervous breakdown/mid-life crisis/death/trial separation back in May?! Not unless that’s what you callSpecial Forces: World’s Toughest Test, season 3! 😜,” Trista captioned a post showing a trailer for the series' upcoming season.

“Thankfully, none of those things are associated with my experience in filming the show, but as you get a glimpse of in the trailer, the angel on my shoulder did have to face some pretty big battles,” she continued. “You’ll have to tune in in January to see the battles play out, but for now, just so grateful to be a part of this epic adventure. ❤️.”

Trista’s most recent post came after the reality star’s husband shared a series ofcryptic social media postsin May that led followers to suspect that she had died or that the couple hit a bump in their marriage.

The fan response prompted Ryan, 50, to later clarify that Trista was “fine” and thatthey, as a couple, were “great.”

He added at the time, “Trista is at a place in life where she is searching a bit. An opportunity presented itself that may help her on that quest. With her family’s support, she has taken it. Part of that process means that she is temporarily inaccessible to us. I miss her. We miss her.”

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Trista and Ryan Sutter celebrate Easter with their kids, as seen on Instagram.Trista Sutter/Instagram

Trista Sutter/Instagram

Trista alsoaddressed the incidenton Instagram around the same time, sharing some family photos with the couple’s two kids — sonMaxwelland daughterBlakesley— joking, “Geez people. Can’t a girl have a nervous breakdown/trial separation/midlife crisis/death/divorce in peace around here?! 😜🤣.”

“In all seriousness, for those concerned, I’m safe and sound, happy and healthy, in love and grateful. 🥰,” she continued, explaining that she’d been given “an opportunity for perspective and personal growth” that she took “with the unconditional support of my family and friend.”

Trista also defended Ryan, writing that he “doesn’t owe anyone any explanation or require permission to post what he wants to post and share what he wants to share 💯. If you want to know the rest of the story, I will share in due time.”

From left: Blakesley Sutter, Trista Sutter, Maxwell Sutter, Ryan Sutter.Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty

Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty

Ahead of the announcement of Trista’sinvolvement with the show, Ryan explained onThe Most Dramatic Podcast Ever with Chris Harrisonthat he had planned to share the social media posts for his wife to look at later and see “here’s what happened while you were gone.”

However, he admitted “it justblew up in my face and backfired,” though he added that it “felt good to know people still cared, and worried and wondered” about him and his wife 21 years after theirBacheloretteappearance.

“It felt good to be noticed and inspired me to do better at paying attention to others, when they do good or when they need help,” Ryan explained. “In the end, like most things, everything turned out ok.”

Special Forces: World’s Toughest Testseason 3 premieres with a two-hour episode on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.

source: people.com