How many times can a single mother use the “I’m a hopeless romantic” excuse to abandon their baby to be on a reality TV show that guarantees a happily ever after? Apparently the third time may be the charm for Bachelor loser and most recent Bachelorette star Emily Maynard. We watched her swear at bachelors who didn’t like her daughter Ricki, and scoffed when she ultimately fell in love with former polygamist (allegedly) and suave entrepreneur Jef Holm. The shorties, both blonde, seemed to click in a “we’re down to earth at heart but really high maintenance and superficial on the surface” way. They went skeet shooting, held hands, and made plans for a family. So what went wrong? Could reality TV not be the place where dreams come true?
On Tuesday, multiple sources confirmed to Us Weekly that the Bachelorettestar, 26, and Jef Holm had finally pulled the plug on their fraught relationship and five-month engagement — following an ugly August 19 blowout (spurred on by Maynard’s sexting with Matt Leinart), Holm’s flirty recent night out with another woman in early October, and months of a carefully fabricated, PDA parade for the cameras. “Emily just decided that she’s had enough. Emily was extremely miserable. She was like, ‘I’m dying, I’m dying here.'”
Emily also opened up to People magazine in a statement: “I am sorry to tell you that Jef and I have, indeed, parted ways. It was a very difficult and heartbreaking decision. As you know, at first I wasn’t sure that I should even be The Bachelorette, but I am a hopeless romantic and I do believe in the show. I have no regrets because I did find love and shared an incredible journey with a really special person – and you know what, we tried our best because the love between us was so real. I have nothing but respect and love for Jef and his family, but ultimately we are just at different points in our lives. I’ve learned so much and I’m grateful for all of the support I’ve received. I’m excited and hopeful for the next chapter in my life with my daughter, Ricki. I do hope that you will respect our privacy and allow us the time we need to heal.”
Before I show you Jef’s statement, I think we need to break Emily’s down a little bit. Okay, break ups are hard, check. We can agree on that. I have to wonder about the “incredible journey” though. Her life is going to be really exhausting if all of her serious relationships start with “I love you” on day one and end six months later. Basically, Emily got an extended vacation, publicity, and probably free childcare, abandoned her daughter, acted like a slut, and now asks for “the time we need to heal.” No one died! Maybe the healing is for the shock she got when she watched the final cut of her season and saw how fake her hair extensions look?
Jef’s statement to People is a lot easier on the stomach. It is actually so typical and polite, I wouldn’t be surprised if one of his people wrote it for him. “Meeting Emily on The Bachelorette was an incredible experience, we’ve had quite the journey. I’ve never loved someone so much in my whole life, Emily is the best person and mom I have ever met. She opened up her world to me and I fell in love with her, [her daughter] Ricki, her family and the Hendricks. She has a great group of people who surround her. What we shared was completely genuine and real and it breaks my heart but we have decided to break up. Emily will always have a special place in my heart. I don’t regret a single second I spent with her or Ricki. They both have been a huge part of my life. Who knows what tomorrow will bring but we are moving on to the next chapter of our lives. Emily and I are great friends and I hope we can continue to be friends forever. Everyone wants a salacious story to break, but the truth is we are just two people who fell in love and tried our hardest to make it work. I will always love her.”
No surprising twists and turns. Just, “it was real love, she is wonderful, BFF, we tried.” If only all of the Bachelor and Bachelorette break ups could be so simple and down to earth! What do you think of the split? Did you think their love was strong enough to stand the tide of scrutiny and After the Final Rose segments? The couple has been apart for a while, but you have to remember: dividing all the hair product and determine whose skinny jeans are whose can take weeks. Let’s give them space to heal.
