Whitney Fransway is no stranger to the spotlight of reality TV. Having previously appeared on Season 21 of The Bachelor and Season 6 of Bachelor In Paradise, Fransway was prepared for a different kind of challenge when she joined In The City. “I definitely felt more anxious about starting In The City compared to The Bachelor because Bravo is famous for embracing drama,” she explained. As expected, her relationship with Kenny Martin soon became a hot topic within her new social circle. “I moved across the country for him without a ring, which seemed normal to me. Living together before getting engaged is pretty common,” Fransway shared, acknowledging her surprise at how closely their romance was scrutinized.
Throughout her first Bravo season, much of Fransway’s time was spent defending her relationship with Martin. However, she found herself embroiled in controversy with Lindsay Hubbard during a cast trip to Connecticut. The situation arose when Hubbard refused to relinquish the primary suite to Yvonne Najor, despite her behavior at Najor’s wedding dinner being the subject of criticism. Fransway commented that Hubbard used the “single mom card” as a reason not to give up her room. Clarifying her remark, Fransway emphasized there was “no malicious intention.” “I used it as an example to suggest she should prioritize her friendship with Yvonne over her own needs,” Fransway explained.
Unfortunately, Hubbard didn’t perceive it that way. Although the two managed to reconcile by the season’s end, Hubbard seemed unsettled by Fransway’s comments during the In The City reunion. Fransway expressed her surprise, saying, “I was shocked. I made it clear what my intent was, but she interpreted it in a completely different way.”
In a Zoom interview with DECIDER, Fransway reflected on her journey on the reality series, discussed how she and Martin stayed united through the turbulence, and disclosed which unexpected Bravolebrity reached out with a supporting hand.
DECIDER: Did your past experience on The Bachelor make you feel more prepared to film In The City, or did it not factor in at all?
WHITNEY FRANSWAY: In some ways, I did feel better because I had been around cameras before. You find that the cameras just melt away and you forget that they’re there. However, I did feel more nervous starting In The City than The Bachelor just because Bravo is known to love the drama. So, I felt a bit protective over my relationship with Kenny.
You are not the first Bachelor Nation alum to cross over to Bravo. Did you reach out or hear from Jasmine Goode, Salley Carson or Ashley Iaconetti before starting filming?
I actually just met Salley. Jasmine was on my season of The Bachelor so I had talked to her just briefly, I talked to Ashley more recently. She was in a similar situation as me as she also entered into a new friend group. It was nice to connect with her and relate on that level. The girls have a lot of concerns about yours and Kenny’s relationship.
Did you ever imagine you two would be a focal point of group conversation?
I didn’t think our relationship would be under such a microscope. I know I moved across the country for him without a ring, but it’s pretty normal to live with someone before you get engaged.
I agree. How did you and Kenny handle all the chatter surround your relationship?
We just made sure to communicate. We knew we had to be a united front with people questioning this and that. We knew where we stood with each other, which was the most important thing. Other people’s opinions don’t really matter when they’re not asked for.
Let’s get into last week’s episode. You said Lindsay “plays the single mom card” with the room situation with Yvonne. Did you think Lexi Sundin was going to immediately go and tell the other woman what you said?
I didn’t think that she would immediately do it [laughs]. I thought I had built this safe space with Lexi, but at the end of the day, I’m not surprised. She’s known Lindsay for longer and she is really close to her. Of course, she would relay that information.
There was no malicious intention behind that comment. It was the example I used when I felt like she should have put herself and her needs aside for her friendship with Yvonne. That was what I meant. Maybe I could have picked better way to express that, but I just felt like she should’ve started mending the friendship with Yvonne. That small gesture would have meant a lot. That’s what I would have done as a friend. That was the point I was trying to make.
In the reunion trailer, Lindsay seemingly tells you that she cried for six months about what you said, even though you already apologized in the season finale. Do you feel like you got to tell your side at the reunion?
I was shocked by her comment. In this week’s episode, people saw that I was very clear with my what my intent was. She took it down a whole different lane that it wasn’t even about. I was really caught by surprise with that.
Kenny has that mic drop line in the reunion trailer where he says to Lindsay, “you collect apologies like you collect souls.” While he may have been a tad harsh, did it feel good that he had your back?
Of course. He did step in and stand up for me, which was nice. Again, my comment was not meant to an attack against her as a mom, which is how I guess she took it. I see how her and Georgina show up as parents. They’re incredible mothers, and I totally respect them. The whole thing is a little confusing to me.
I know you’ve done a “Women Tell All” before for The Bachelor, but what was your experience like at your first In The City reunion?
It was terrifying [laughs]. It was a lot more intense than I thought. I felt like I knew what I was walking into with the “Women Tell All.” I was definitely a little more naive with my first In The City reunion. I thought we were going to address things there and move forward. I didn’t expect, you know, screaming matches. [Laughs] But I should have expected it. It’s Bravo.
And you’re now a part of the Bravo family forever! Outside of your own cast, who has reached out to you and made you feel the most welcomed?
Surprisingly, Paige DeSorbo reached out to me. She sent me a really sweet message last week, just saying that she’s here if I need any advice. She knows this experience can be a lot. It was nice to feel the support from her.
In The City airs Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.