Are The Bachelorette’s Gabby and Erich still together?

The first ever Bachelorette in the franchise history with two leads wrapped up on Tuesday full of promised emotion and drama. While the last man standing for each woman, Erich Schwer for Gabby Windey and Tino Franco for Rachel Recchia, got down on one knee to propose, one of potential brides-to-be ended up giving back the engagement ring after “a shocking secret” was revealed.

Infidelity exposed on the part of Tino combined with a failure to truly own up and apologize for his behavior saw Rachel returning the ring, her parents are most likely over the moon. As well, Gabby and Erich weren’t without their own dramas to tackle post-production.

Erich’s past catches up with him

Post-production a couple of skeletons in Erich’s closet came to light, one of which made Gabby tell People magazine in an interview “[I] just really had to process my thoughts and feelings.”

Earlier this month images from a high school yearbook surfaced on the internet of Erich wearing blackface and an afro wig. “I found out with the rest of the world,” she said. “I was incredibly shocked.”

Erich took to Instagram to apologize posting “I wholeheartedly apologize for the insensitive photo of me in Blackface from my high school yearbook that has been circulating. What I thought at the time was a representation of my love for Jimi Hendrix, was nothing but ignorance.”

He apologized to the Black community and the people closet to him for his naïvety and the “hurtful implications” of his actions. “I am deeply ashamed by my actions and understand that my apology is only the first step in taking accountability,” he added.

Leaked texts from Erich’s ex were expected

Then a woman he had been dating briefly prior to going on The Bachelorette leaked text messages of him breaking up with her using his going on the show as the excuse, and only doing so to advance his career as a real estate analyst. This didn’t shock Gabby however. Erich had given her forewarning that they existed.

Gabby said that the post-production period when they couldn’t be seen together was a time to “take a step back and reflect on our relationship and see if we can get through this.”

“You really have to lean on your communication, be really honest with each other while having these tough conversations,” she said. “See how we can become better from both.”

“If everyone lived their relationship in the public eye I, not many of them would succeed,” the ICU nurse reflected. “If you have a good solid ground hopefully these things really can’t destabilize you.”

Gabby and Erich “have a whole new world to figure out”

“It’s a whole new world post filming!” Gabby told People. “I feel incredibly grateful that I did find someone who I really think I can spend the rest of my life with and there’s just lots of excitement,” she said.

The happy couple won’t be hearing wedding bells ring just yet with no immediate plans for a ceremony. “I think the intention, our commitment to each other is there,” Gabby said. “Now it’s just like doing our job as people and the hard work in the relationship which is getting to know each other more, communication, and a real strengthening those building blocks where we actually get to the alter.”

“I just can’t wait for him to take me out on a date honestly.”