Andrew Spencer is opening up about his relationship with his father, who recently completed a 23-year sentence.
“So this is my dad. he’s just finished serving his 23-year sentence. I was 6 when he went in, so you can say it’s been a while,” Spencer, 30, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, February 16. “Life happens to a lot of ppl and unfortunately kids are susceptible to that as well. So many with stories like mine I never went why me, I feel god has always had me through it all. I look at my life, and it could’ve been completely different.”
Spencer noted that he was “thankful” to his mother and the friends and family who “helped shape who I am.”
“If you’re a friend or family member and I emphasize this, keep showing up! You don’t know how much value you are adding to that persons life,” Spencer wrote. “My goal has always been to be the greatest father to my future kids. To do so, I need them to know that I have forgiveness in my heart. I look forward to building a relationship.”
Alongside the message, Spencer shared snaps of him and his father in front of Cloud Gate (a.k.a. The Bean) in Chicago. Spencer also uploaded a throwback snap of his family standing in a driveway.
Several former stars of the Bachelor franchise showed their support for Spencer in the comments section of his post. “
,” season 20 Bachelorette Charity Lawson wrote, while Tré Cooper added, “
forgiveness, strongest thing a man can do.”
Bachelor Nation met Spencer when he vied for the affections of Katie Thurston on season 17 of The Bachelorette in 2021. He was eliminated before hometowns, with Thurston, 34, asking him to return — but Spencer walked away. (Thurston ultimately ended the show engaged to Blake Moynes, but the pair split soon after. She is now engaged to comedian Jeff Arcuri.)
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Spencer later told Us Weekly that he didn’t regret his decision to leave the show. “I didn’t expect her to be sprinting down the stairs, like a rom-com and completely suck the wind out of my lungs, making my heart sink,” he said in July 2021. “Definitely a moment I’ll cherish forever. One of the things I love most is moments that really take your breath away. And that was definitely one of those moments.”
While Spencer didn’t find The One in Thurston, he attempted to find love on Bachelor in Paradise season 8 in 2022, striking up a romance with Teddi Wright. He ultimately left Mexico solo.
“Paradise was so disappointing for me. I was so gung-ho on it working,” he told Us in July 2023. “You gain closure through time. It’s not one word or thing that could be said, but I think once you go through time, you find closure. And that’s [happened] with all the people that were on that show.”
