
Despite Bachelor reject Melissa Rycroft’s claims, Jason Mesnick says he never cheated on her with runner-up Molly Malaney.
Appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show Friday, Mesnick says he never spoke to Malaney before the After the Final Rose show.
He says he merely took a chance by asking Malaney to be with him — in front of Rycroft — on national television. That’s why he appeared so nervous on the special.
“If I had been talking to Molly, I would’ve known that she would have waited for me,” he says. “It was one of the scariest things that I’ve had to do … I hate that it was on TV, absolutely. But I would have never known if Molly would’ve said yes, because she would have moved on. Obviously, they were considering her for the show [The Bachelorette].”
Malaney says she also was “very surprised” by Mesnick’s confession on the special.”I looked at [host Chris Harrison] and said, ‘Am I getting punk’d right now, because this is not a funny joke!’” she says. “I had so many emotions running through my mind at that moment. I didn’t know if it was real. I was confused.”
Malaney says “there were moments” where she sympathized with Melissa.”I was heart-broken by this guy, too,” she says. “So I know what she was going through, but I do give [Mesnick] a lot of credit for doing what he did. He is standing up for what is best for him. I think if there is anytime to be selfish, it’s when love is involved.”
Looking back, Mesnick says he feels bad about dumping Rycroft, his fiancee, on television.
“I regretted it every single day since that happened, and I will regret probably every day for the rest of my life,” he says. “The producers obviously really wanted me to do it on the show, but I take full responsibility for my actions.”
He adds, “I could’ve not shown up, and if I look back, I was just trying to do what I thought was right for me. If I could go back and do it again, I would not do that. There is no way I would do that. Period.”Mesnick also apologizes to Rycroft and fans.
“I made some big mistakes … but in the end, I found my true love,” he says. “I really am happy right now, and I know I hurt somebody that I never wanted to hurt, and I really regret that.”
Both Mesnick and Malaney admit the public scrutiny has been tough.
Says Malaney, “This should be the happiest time for us right now, but we’re surrounded by so much negativity. We’re just trying to stay positive and focus on what matters.”
What’s next for Mesnick and Malaney (whom he describes as his “partner”)?
“Right now, we’re just trying to adjust to being a real couple in the real world,” says Malaney, who plans to move to Seattle to be with Mesnick. “We’re just taking things at our own pace.”
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Posted Friday, March 6th, 2009 at 8:08am
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