Her final rose! Gabby Windey got engaged to Erich Schwer on season 19 of The Bachelorette, but like most relationships in Bachelor Nation, their journey was full of ups and downs.
After developing a strong connection on screen, Schwer began to question whether he was ready to propose after learning Windey had sent home her other finalists Jason Alabaster and Johnny DePhillipo. While they had an emotional final date, the New Jersey native ultimately picked out a ring with Neil Lane.
“I thought that you were too good to be true, but now I know that you are too good, but you’re also true,” she told him. “I love you and I want to love you as long as you let me. And I’m sure for much longer after that.”
As he got down on one knee, Schwer gushed: “You are the most amazing person I’ve ever met. It’s you, me until the wheels fall off. I’m head over heels in love with you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you, Gabby. Will you marry me?”
Days before the finale aired in September 2022, the real estate analyst came under fire for a resurfaced photo of him in blackface from his high school yearbook. He apologized at the time: “What I thought at the time was a representation of my love for Jimi Hendrix, was nothing but ignorance. I was naïve to the hurtful implications of my actions to the Black community and those closest to me, and will forever regret my offensive and damaging behavior. I am deeply ashamed by my actions and understand that my apology is only the first step in taking accountability.”
While many fans were upset the controversy wasn’t addressed during After the Final Rose, Windey has since weighed in.
“I found out with the rest of the world and it was an immediate punch in the gut — really, truly devastating,” she told Variety. “So, it was hard for both of us just to kind of weigh our values and where we’re at and how this came about. And there is no excuse. He apologized, but ultimately there’s really no excuse for this behavior. I think we’re just really reflecting on ourselves, learning about where these biases come from [and] how they affect other people and how to change them and how to grow.”
The pair weathered another scandal at the time when the woman Schwer was dating before the show, Amanda Kaylor, leaked their text messages. In the screenshots from March 2022, Schwer said that the ABC show wasn’t “real” and wanted Kaylor to consider waiting for him to return from filming to resume their romance.
During After the Final Rose in September 2022, Windey explained that Schwer told her about the messages before they leaked and revealed that she forgave her fiancé, who admitted he “led” Kaylor on.
“Our communication has just gotten better,” she said. “And he’s gracious and he’s honest and I do believe what he says. So not saying that you were right in your actions — I mean, you were kind of an a—hole to her.”
The twosome also played coy about their future plans as Windey took on Dancing With the Stars season 31: “When you say ‘yes’ to spending the rest of your life with someone, it’s not going to be easy — especially in the public eye.”
The following day, Windey opened up about the text drama on the “Chicks in the Office” podcast.
“Honestly, like, I’d be pissed too if I was her. I’d probably run to spoiler accounts trying to ruin your life too — I don’t know, there’s no saying,” she said with a laugh. “But, you know, it was all before the show — you move on. Our relationship is different. He’s been good to me.”
She also responded to Kaylor’s claims that Schwer’s AFR comments were “bulls—t — and addressed Kaylor’s warning to Us Weekly that Windey will “learn” for herself.
“I’m like, ‘Will I?’” Windey quipped. “You only end up with one person. You’re gonna go through many breakups. … Do I wish he could have told her straight out instead of ghosting her for a reality TV show? 100 percent. But he didn’t and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Scroll through for their complete timeline:
Schwer didn’t receive Windey’s first impression rose — and he wasn’t even sure if the former cheerleader was the lead he wanted to pursue. “They're both amazing," he said after spending time with Windey and co-lead Rachel Reccina. "I can see how this is going to get complicated very quickly." After Windey gave her first impression rose to Mario Vassall and Recchia picked Tino Franco, Schwer told the cameras he was “kinda pissed.” ABC/Craig Sjodin; ABC/Ricky Middlesworth
During week two, Schwer accepted a rose from Windey, meaning he wasn’t interested in Recchia. He got his first alone time with Windey during week three. ABC/Craig Sjodin
Windey had an emotional visiting to the Schwer house as Erich’s dad, Allan, was battling terminal cancer. He died in July 2022, less than three months after the hometown date was filmed. Courtesy of Erich Schwer/Instagram
He popped the question in Mexico. “Ultimately, what I think about the most is that when I met you I like immediately was 100 percent myself. I never met anyone that I felt that comfortable with,” he said. "I love you, Gabby Windey. You are amazing. You are the most amazing person I've ever met. It's you, me until the wheels fall off. I'm head over heels in love with you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you, Gabby. Will you marry me?" Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images
The pair were able to meet up in private for “happy couple” weekends before their proposal airs. Instagram / Gabby Windey
The last text leaked by Kaylor is dated July 9, one day before The Bachelorette premiered. “I am so sorry Amanda, what I did was terrible. I don’t expect you to ever forgive me,” the screenshot read. “I just want you to know I think about you all the time and you really deserve the best. I won’t ever forgive myself I hope you find happiness and everything you deserve.” ABC, Courtesy of Amanda Kaylor/Instagram
The high school photo of Schwer in blackface surfaced on September 8 and the allegations from his ex followed on September 14. Instagram / Gabby Windey
The couple confirmed they were still going strong at After the Final Rose, which aired on September 20. They also addressed the text messages for the first time. "We're not done learning about each other," Windey noted. "I handled it poorly. I led [Amanda] on and I want to own that. I have no hard feelings towards this girl at all,” Schwer admitted. "I was taking the cowardly way out. I fully led this girl on and I was using the show as an excuse to not confront her about our relationship at this point where I didn't see a future, but we were having fun." ABC
The twosome went on their first official date night on September 22. Instagram / Gabby Windey
Schwer showed his support for his future spouse during week two of Dancing With the Stars season 31, cheering her on from the audience during the live show after visiting her and Val Chmerkovskiy in the rehearsal studio. "I didn't know you were such a talented dancer, and I was blown away 100 percent," he said before the pair hit the ballroom floor. At the end of their performance, Schwer gave Windey a sweet kiss. "This last week has been, honestly, like a dream come true. I feel like I'm on cloud nine. [It's] so cheesy," she exclusively told Us after her performance, adding that she was "excited" to finally be able to go public with her fiancé. ABC/Craig Sjodin
Windey addressed how her fiancé feels about her partnership with Chmerkovskiy after they did a sexy rumba on the October 24 episode. "Erich has been so supportive. He understands this is a performance and we have a goal," she told Us and other reporters. ABC/Eric McCandless
After not wearing her engagement ring for two episodes of DWTS, Windey gave a cryptic response when asked whether she and Schwer were still together. “Life is just really busy for the both of us right now. So I understand their concern but we’re just kind of, you know, going forward with each of our individual interests and supporting each other from afar,” she told Fox News on October 31. Ahead of her performance, Schwer encouraged fans via Instagram Stories to vote for Windey. ABC/Craig Sjodin
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