Melissa Sounds Off On 'Bachelor' Split

Access Hollywood - March 4, 2009 1:01 PM PST
Story photo: Melissa Sounds Off On 'Bachelor' Split'Bachelor' contestant Melissa RycroftABCAccess Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Fans may be in an uproar over "Bachelor" Jason Mesnick 's dumping of Melissa Rycroft on national TV - but Melissa said she doesn't want anyone to feel sorry for her.

In a statement released to Access Hollywood on Wednesday, Melissa said she has no regrets over her "Bachelor" experience.

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"This was definitely one of those experiences that changes your life, and makes you so much more aware of who you are and what you want out of life. Strange as it may sound, I am doing really well," she said. "I'm back in Dallas, pursuing the teaching thing, and attempting to get my life back to normal (if it was every really normal to begin with). I still have my same life mottos: Live life with no regrets, and keep smiling no matter what happens... I don't regret anything that happened over the past few months; because I know I wouldn't be where I am today had none of it happened."

In a separate interview with People, Melissa admitted that heading into the taping of the "After the Final Rose" special, where Jason broke off the engagement, she knew things had changed between the couple.

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"The few times we did see each other, we were trying to find what it was on the show that attracted us to each other," she told People. "I had to step back and ask myself: 'Why do you feel you have to fight to save a relationship that maybe isn't as great as you thought it was?'"

And while Jason had previously told reporters he was contractually obligated to keep Melissa in the dark about his break-up plans until the two were on TV, in a new interview with the Los Angeles Times, the "Bachelor" said he ended the relationship a week before the taping.

"If you watched carefully, she wasn't wearing her ring," Jason told the LA Times.

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So if Melissa knew about the split ahead of time, had the two gone over how they were going to act for the dramatic TV reveal?

"No. Her response had been, 'How do you want me to react to that?'" Jason added. "I wasn't going to coach her. I just told her that we were going to talk about things again [on the show] and however she felt is how she was going to react. I'm never going to tell anyone what to say."

But regardless of what she did or didn't know prior to the taping, Melissa said she has moved on and is just fine with how it all played out.

"I don't want people to feel sorry for me or that I was a victim in all of this," Melissa told People. "I am okay."

Yet, she added, her reality TV days have to an end.

"I have, however, decided to move on from my reality television days, and get some sense of normalcy back to my life.... I think it's time for me to move on from my television days, and see what my future holds back in Dallas," Melissa added in her statement to Access.

Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
PLAY IT NOW: Inside 'The Bachelor' Finale, Part I
PLAY IT NOW: Inside 'The Bachelor' Finale, Part II

MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: The Bachelor - Reality TV - TV - ABC

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  • Kathryn B
    MELISSA.....KEEP DANCING...
    report abuseposted March 8, 2009 3:54 PM PDT
  • Kathryn B
    Melissa, You are the winner here. Look at Jason's eyes. They tell a story. He will dump Molly too. He can't be dedicated to any one, as he is too full of himself. You go ahead withyour life and don't be tied down to anyone who cannot do you justice. He is phony. You and Rihanna are too good to be tied down to a jerk. Good luck , my dear. Dance up a storm.
    report abuseposted March 8, 2009 3:53 PM PDT
  • blackfoxx2004 b
    Jason Mesnick is everything Melissa called him and then some. I was cheering so hard for him to find true love, and I seen it with Melissa and him more then him and Molly, but this A@#HOLE just couldn"t choose between two women , so what does he do he chooses both, first Melissa then Molly. I think Molly is so stupid for wanting to be Jason"s sloppy seconds, after being dumped
    report abuseposted March 6, 2009 9:26 PM PST
  • truth
    THATS LIFE ON T.V. WE PPL TAKE THINGS TO SERIOUS LETS GET A LIFE AND REALIZE THIS IS T.V. THEY DO WHATEVER TO GET OUR ATTENTOIN AND THEY DID,GO ON WITH YOUR LIFE LADY AND GOOD LUCK JASON
    report abuseposted March 5, 2009 10:15 PM PST
  • Wendy
    You were not deserving of Jason. He has class and from the beginning I thought you were too fake and in it for the publicity and fame. Sure is funny that all of a sudden you now have some one in your life if you are so upset about being dumped. The only thing I agree on is that it that it should have been done in private. But he made the right choice for him and TY! Now you have a Ty also. BYE
    report abuseposted March 5, 2009 5:11 PM PST
  • Jane
    Melissa, you are very beautiful. As for Molly, her eyes are too big and her mouth is curvy, and she cant say I love you, but rather "I luv ya"...
    report abuseposted March 5, 2009 3:02 PM PST
  • Amanda
    I love you melissa!!! Molly and Jason deserve each other they are both jerks!!! i hate them both!!! you were the best on for jason!!!! when i first saw you get out the car at the beginnig i said thats the girl i want to win. you are beautiful. you deserve much better than jason!!!!!!!
    report abuseposted March 5, 2009 1:48 PM PST
  • ALISIA
    YOU KNOW GOD KNOWS WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU MAYBE HE WAS NOT THE BEST FOR YOU AND LIKE I SAID IN A EMAIL TO HIM WHAT GOES AROUND COMES BACK AROUND SOMEDAY HE WILL HAVE A FAMILY OF HIS OWN A SON DAUGHTER AND ONE CAN NOT TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED AS FOR YOU I WISH YOU THE BEST AND I LIKE HOW ONE WOMEN CAN HANDLE HERSELF WITH THOSE WHO JUST ARE NOT A MAN ENOUGH I WONDER HOW HE GOT HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE
    report abuseposted March 5, 2009 1:36 PM PST
  • K J
    Jason & Molly are better suited for each other. Molly has a full life as does Jason. Melissa was willing to make Jason her whole life and made him "feel" more loved. Molly on the other hand will make Jason a part of her life but not lose herself. Where Melissa would be happy just to stay home and stare into Jason's eyes.. Melissa will say.. let's go h
    report abuseposted March 5, 2009 12:05 PM PST
  • Cadence
    Why does every one think that a man crying is so bad? I felt the reason Jason was teary eyed was because the decisions he had to make concerning the girls were hard to make. I wish my husband would cry once in while. It would show me that he was caring and the things he did that were unkind bothered him. But no, I never see tears. Go ahead and be teary-eyed Jason, I loved it. Good-Luck!
    report abuseposted March 5, 2009 11:37 AM PST
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