Bachelor star Amanda Stanton defends bringing daughters to peaceful Black Lives Matter protest

Former star of The Bachelor, Amanda Stanton, has defended bringing her daughters to a peaceful protest supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.

The 30-year-old reality star brought her daughters – Kinsley, eight, and Charlie, six- to the BLM rally in Newport Beach, California on Wednesday.

She shared an image of herself and her younger daughter holding up signs made on cardboard while donning black face masks.

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As some of the protests have turned violent with looting, Stanton seemingly got her fair share of criticism for bringing her kids.

She addressed those concerns in an Instagram Story in which she wrote: ‘I understand not everyone is comfortable protesting or bringing kids and I totally understand that!

‘I went back and forth on it and it was a decision I made so they could learn from an early age to use their voice and exercise their rights to stand up for something that’s so important.’

Stanton did not seem to regret the decision at all as she believes that her daughters had learned several valuable lessons.

She explained: ‘It was peaceful and powerful. I didn’t expect to get emotional as I did. No books or words can ever teach them the passion and emotion behind what they experienced firsthand today. 

‘I hope it encourages them to be braver than I was growing up when it comes to using their voice and taking action.’

She also suggested that any parents uncomfortable with bringing kids to protests should show them videos as ‘It’s a great way to educate them!’

Stanton also shared an Instagram Story of older daughter Kinsley making the signs.

The family were featured on the news as Amanda shared screenshot of the appearance with the caption ‘silence is violence.’

 She also shared a list of tips she had received for bringing kids to the gathering including wearing comfortable clothes.

Stanton has made quite the habit of defending her decisions on social media as weeks ago she fought off criticism for driving from California to Arizona to get her hair done amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The reality star  – who lives in Laguna Beach, California – documented her trip to The Copper State as businesses there including hair salons have been allowed to reopen.

It all began when Stanton shared a selfie of her newly done locks with the caption: ‘Drove very very far to get my hair done & may have peed on the side of a dirt road because I’m scared to use public restrooms. [laughing while crying emoji] but it was worth it.’

She went on to tagging hairstylist Chrissy Rasmussen and a make-up artist named Natalie before writing: ‘Thank you both I feel like a new person [praying hands and heart eyes emojis].’

Shortly after the post, Stanton found herself on the receiving end of plenty of criticism as several suggested that she should have stayed home due to the coronavirus pandemic and California’s shelter in place orders.

She responded with a lengthy Instagram Story featuring a statement defending her choice as she explained she and daughters -Kinsley, eight, and Charlie, four, – have been strict about staying home since March 14.

The star of season 20 of The Bachelor went on to write: ‘I haven’t even gone to the grocery store. I hadn’t had my hair done since January and my hair stylist who I have been going to for years JUST opened her salon.’

Stanton also insisted that her aim was to get an appointment before several other patrons had been into the salon and claimed to have known and trusted the other people who were currently inside of the salon at the time.

She said: ‘Not a single person in there was a stranger or even close.’

As she was joined by daughter Kinsley, she said that they had both been tested before crossing state lines adding: ‘We got TESTED before we left and were negative. 

‘We got gas in Orange County and drove and didn’t stop anywhere.’ 

However she did post an Instagram Story of a ‘pee stop’ on California State Route 177. 

She continued: ‘We’re heading home and going to quarantine again before we see family or anyone.

‘Some might think this is going to great lengths to get my hair done but honestly, I have nothing else to do and isolating for a couple weeks when I get home was something I was willing to do. To each their own!

‘I’m confident that I’ve been making responsible choices during this time and am proud of myself’

She went on to say that she was trying to be transparent and reiterated that she has been doing her best to self-isolate.

Stanton concluded: ‘I choose to be honest with you guys when I could choose not to be.

‘I’ve seen so many people traveling by plane, hanging out in groups etc and doing much worse and not receiving ANY hate. I feel really good about doing my part during this pandemic. That’s all!’

She shares her daughters with her ex-husband Nick Buonfiglio, whom she divorced in 2015 and shares physical custody with. 

Amanda was engaged to her Bachelor in Paradise co-star Josh Murray on the season finale of the show in September 2016 before ultimately splitting three months later. 

The single-mom released a memoir in October, titled Now Accepting Roses, and she tore into their relationship in the pages. 

She calls his behavior controlling and shares he tried to control who she talked to. 

While appearing on Nick Viall’s podcast the excerpt said ‘If he doesn’t turn into your prince, stop kissing him. Josh’s behavior was very frog-like. There were control issues, more than a few untruths told, plus other red flags along the way.

‘I knew Josh was kind of controlling when we were filming, but the second we got home from the show, he went full throttle.’

She has been unlucky in love as April she was ‘completely blindsided’ by a breakup from professional volleyball player Bobby Jacobs. 

‘First of all, I want to let y’all know I am totally fine,’ she said in an Instagram post at the time. ‘I wanted to confirm — just because it’s already been confirmed — but I wanted you guys to hear it from me that yes, Bobby and I broke up.’ 

 The pair first struck up a romance in February 2018 before recently moving in to a Laguna Beach home together in March 2019.

Their relationship was the subject of much scrutiny when she was arrested in September 2018 on domestic violence charges after reportedly shoving Jacobs in a Las Vegas hotel room.

However in December, Amanda Stanton headed to court in the Nevada city, where her case was dismissed, her lawyer told E! News at the time.

During the September incident, the Bachelor star tried to intervene after a hotel security came to their room because of a noise complaint. The allegedly intoxicated star shoved Bobby, which was enough to warrant security to call the cops, TMZ reported at the time.