Demi Burnett reveals how she masked autism on 'The Bachelor' before diagnosis

Demi Burnett has finally revealed that she had “copious amounts of alcohol” to “mask” any symptoms of autism on The Bachelor prior to diagnosis.

While conversing with PEOPLE magazine, the 3-year-old American TV personality, who shared her disease publicly in February 2022, said, “While you're waiting for your diagnosis, it's a lot of anxiety. You just want that validation and that relief; that way you can start getting the tools you need to live a happier and more independent life.”

Burnett admitted that she felt “so relieved” after being diagnosed with autism because “it help[ed] me understand myself.”

“Say I'm not meshing with people as well as everyone else is. Instead of being like, ‘Oh, my gosh, what's wrong with me? Why can't I make friends with people?’ I'm just like, ‘Okay, I know that maybe people just aren't getting me yet and it might take them a little bit to get used to me. Maybe I'm not showing them my best self. I know it just might take a little time, and I'm not going to take it personally,’” she noted.

Burnett, who receives tonnes of support on Instagram, went on to add, “Lots of support on Instagram, but then on TikTok, I get all the comments of people being like, ‘You weren't like this on The Bachelor. You really switched it up.'"

“And I think that they are right in saying that. I was consuming copious amounts of alcohol during The Bachelor, so it should be a great example of seeing how someone can use alcohol to mask," she stated.