Reality television personality Demi Burnett recently spoke about using alcohol to hide signs of autism during her appearance on The Bachelor in 2019. The discussion follows her public disclosure of an autism diagnosis in February 2022.
Burnett, who competed on Colton Underwood’s season 23 of The Bachelor, stated she consumed "copious amounts of alcohol" during filming, describing it as a method to "mask" her symptoms before she understood them. She has been sober for nearly four years.
She noted a contrast in online reactions to her current openness about autism compared to her televised behavior. While she receives support on platforms like Instagram, commenters on TikTok suggest she has changed or is putting on an act now. Burnett acknowledged the change, stating her on-screen persona was clearly someone "putting on a show."
Burnett also participated in seasons 6 and 7 of Bachelor in Paradise, where she came out as bisexual and became engaged to Kristian Haggerty before announcing their split months later. She has discussed her dating life candidly, noting she was celibate for two years and plans to appear on a future Netflix dating show.
Reflecting on her diagnosis, Demi Burnett expressed relief, stating it helps her understand herself and navigate social interactions without taking perceived challenges personally.
She expressed a positive view of reality television environments for neurodivergent individuals, citing the support she felt from producers and staff during her time on the shows.
Addressing recent comments by Robert F Kennedy Jr regarding autism, Burnett refuted the assertion that people with autism cannot hold jobs, date, or pay taxes. She described such claims as "very dangerous" and based on stereotypes, advocating for government funds to support autistic people and families with autism instead of perpetuating fear.
