Not sure if it’s safe to come back in here, but I wanted to come back today and give you my final thoughts now that everything is out in the open. I completely understand that many, if not most, of you are upset at what went down. It’s not up to me to judge whether Jason was right or wrong in doing what he did. That’s for you guys to decide and debate. I hate that he hurt Melissa like he did but I also see the other side. I spent time with him and Molly and have talked to both of them several times since we shot After the Final Rose part 1. I don’t know if it makes it any easier for you to swallow but they are in love and are fighting like hell under an extreme amount of pressure to make this work. I told him that he must really love Molly to have done this. The easy thing for him to have done was break up with Melissa and just let it all go away, but that’s not the choice he made and that’s what we showed you.
I found it very interesting to hear what the bachelorettes who came back had to say. Most of them are very good friends with Melissa, but they saw firsthand what really happened this season. I can tell you now that we all thought it was Melissa from the start. I remember thinking that first night that it was going to be hard for us to hide the fact that Jason was so in love with her. Even the other women could tell it was Melissa. But they also said that they could see his feelings for Molly grow stronger toward the end. It will be debated for some time to come what was right and what was wrong, and I’m happy to hear all of your opinions. I really am. I find it fascinating to hear how you feel about all this. We all bring our own baggage into this discussion and that definitely helps shape our thoughts and feelings. I’m not here to apologize or excuse anything that Jason said or did, but let me say this publicly about everybody involved: I consider all three of them to be friends. I’ve talked to Melissa and know she’s doing fine. You’ll see her this week telling her story to Ellen and in the magazines. By the way, I will also be dishing on Ellen’s show Wednesday. I wish Melissa the best and know that we’ll keep in touch and that she’ll be fine. I also consider Molly and Jason to be friends now and wish them nothing but the best. After taping the special Friday night, Jason, Molly, Jillian, my wife, and my friends all hung out in my dressing room and had a cold one. We talked about what was about to happen this week. Jason and Molly are well aware that many don’t appreciate what happened and hold ill feelings toward them. They are going to have a lot of pressure on them and all they can do is just rely on each other and do the best they can. I wish you all could have hung out with us and just seen that these are real people going through life just like you and I are. It just so happens that what they do is magnified times a thousand because they are on TV.
There will be a lot said and written about this season of The Bachelor. For better or worse, it’s one for the history books. I can’t do much about the rumors and flat-out lies that are being told out there. I have been as honest and as detailed with you as I could possibly have been. I am sorry that this is hurting some of my friends but they are strong people and will come out on the other side of this just fine. I’ve never been a part of anything like this before and will be perfectly happy if it never happens again. Ratings aside and contrary to what some of you may believe, I didn’t enjoy one bit of what happened. I would love to show you a great love story every time but that’s not how life works, and in the end we may have indeed brought you a love story after all. Five years down the road, when Jason and Molly are married, I wonder if many of you will feel different about this.
Let me just wrap this up by saying, I’m very excited to announce Jillian as our next Bachelorette. I think it always speaks volumes about our show when the good people like Jillian decide to come back. I think it also helps that I showed her the script for next season, and although she’s not happy about having octuplets, she does like the guy we picked for her so she’s all good. Seriously, Jillian is the best. We couldn’t have found a more down to earth, funny, thoughtful woman. I hope she finds what she’s looking for but be warned – even if she does, we just learned it may not happen exactly how you like!
A quick thank you to the wonderful crew I work with on The Bachelor year in and year out. I love you all like family. My thanks to my new friends at EW. When I started this I had never blogged before and now that it’s done it’s safe to say I’ll never do it again. Kidding…I’ll be back blogging about Jillian when we premiere in May. Until then, thank you for watching.
For everyone who’s been a part of this one, I’m Chris Harrison. Good Night!
Now check out our exclusive deleted scene from the finale and then read Kristen Baldwin’s ‘Bachelor’ recap if you haven’t already…or even if you have. It’s hilarious.
Read more: ‘The Bachelor’
‘The Bachelor’ photo gallery: Where are they now?
Chris Harrison blogs ‘The Bachelor’ finale and ‘After the Final Rose’
‘The Bachelor’ recap: This is (not) your wife
‘Bachelor’ Jason Mesnick confesses his sins to Jimmy Kimmel
‘The Bachelor’: 17 burning questions
More on ‘The Bachelor’:
Chris Harrison blogs ‘The Bachelor’:
the finale and After the Final Rose, part 1
‘The Bachelor’ finale recap: This is (not) your wife
Comments (1-30) of 1265 Add your comment
I’m so glad that you will be back blogging The Bachelorette. I was pissed yesterday, and still think the whole situation is more than a little uncomfortable, but I (think?) I understand it. I still think Jason is a bit of a confused shmuck, but like you said- he must really care about Molly to go through all this crap in the public eye. The most interesting moment for me? When he said “I guess I wanted my best friend” — all I could think about was Jillian! She said it to him first, it just wasn’t her as the best friend that he wanted!
Hope you enjoy your break, Chris, and hope people here don’t eat you alive. Here’s hoping for a great season with Jillian!
The worst thing Jason said tonight was when he declared that Melissa would be a great “wife,” but that Molly “challenges” him more. How denigrating and misogynistic. It’s bad enough that he hurt Melissa, but this guy just can’t stop himself from sticking the knife in further and further. To imply that Melissa’s intelligence is lacking or not up to par with his own laughable intellect is just base. Melissa is definitely better off.
it seems like you are too fast to forget the days you pimped jason as the best bachelor ever. i won’t be shocked jillian will be the best bachelorette until you need to throw her under the bus to save your behind.
it has been 17 seasons and not once you showed a love story including trista.
take your script and shovel it to your behind.
Mr. Harrison, I think you have been an excellent spokesperson for this show and the blog was terrific. Thanks for doing this! ABC and the staff and crew of The Bachelor could do alot to regain the confidence of the viewers by being more transparent about the inner workings of this and past bachelors. Why can’t the past contestants speak about the show without the threat of a 5 million dollar lawsuit hanging over their head? What is so incredibly important to keep secret if the show is truly a love story that you just happen to film? Again, thanks for everything. Depending on ABC’s reaction to this season I might…or might not tune in next time. Either way, I wish you personally all the best. Cheers!
You’re as much of a liar as Jason is and I hope ABC and you two are pleased with yourself for hurting Melissa just to get ratings.
And don’t tell us Melissa is fine. Unless you paid her to be. Then I’d like to be paid too not to feel totally lied to.
I can’t believe ABC manage to get their claws on Jillian for the next bachelorette. I thought Jillian would have known better especially over what happen with Jason this season. That being said, it was very smart to get Jillian on ABC part as I pretty much vowed to never watch the Bachelor again after this season, but I deeply care about Jillian and will probably get sucked into that season. I just hope Jillian finds someone who can be her ‘rock’ so she doesn’t have to be so strong any more, whether it’s on the next Bachelorette season or later down the road.
Chris,
Falling out of love is not a crime; purposely humiliating someone on national TV should be. I realize contracts are involved, but there is also a thing called human dignity. It would have been one thing had Jason and Melissa come out on the show and said (jointly) their relationship wasn’t working and they were going their separate ways. But for Jason to “dump” Melissa like that was cruel, and poor dumb Molly must be blinded by love to not see the potential down the road for a similar heartache. To actually say on TV she was happy it had all happened showed her coldness and immaturity. It will be intersting to see how all this plays out. Life has a way of “rewarding” people as they deserve.
Thanks again for your patience and composure, Chris. You write a great blog (I miss your old website from the Andrew/Jen days). Great to have you back!
I support what you said here and wish Jason/Molly the best.
I hope Jillian finds the one next time. PLEASE get a good mix of decent candidates on the show. People who have been yada yada’ing these few days will come back.
I’m not going to lie…I just felt icky watching tonight’s show. What Jason did to Melissa is unexcusable. It’s great to follow your heart…I’m all for it, in general at least. You know, unless your heart is telling you to dump someone you claim to care about on national television. In that case, I’m pretty sure following your heart just makes you a bastard.
I’m excited to see Jillian as the Bachelorette though. I actually didn’t like her for most of the season (I know I’m in the minority) but she grew on me. And I liked her in interviews after the show. Hopefully her season will have a happier ending…
http://corefourreviews.blogspot.com/
Chris,
What people are most upset about is that Jason dumped Melissa on television rather than in private, which would have been the classy and correct thing to do.
The AFTR 2 show didn’t challenge him on this because, of course, AFTR was complicit in all this because you guys were more interested in compelling television drama than giving Jason and Melissa an opportunity to finish things before their appearance on the couch.
Kudos to Jimmy Kimmel for calling out Jason for dumping Melissa on television and ditto Lost’s Evangeline Lilly for thumbing her nose at Jason’s actions on Kimmel’s show.
The mails have been leaked and confirm RS
http://www.accesshollywood.com/content/pdfs/BachelorEmails.pdf
Thanks for doing the blogs this season Chris and look forward to them during the Bachelorette.
The emails between Melissa and Jason definitely suggest that at least the last part of the show was choreographed. He admits to being the pawn of the producers and Melissa confronts him about it. Jason is so unappealing with his watery eyes and self-centered attitude. Melissa will find someone more worthy.
I want the down and dirty sordid details of EXACTLY WHY they ‘lost’ their connection. WHAT happened??? I want ALL the nitty gritty details!!!! I am guessing she wasn’t so warm and fuzzy with Ty over the holidays….and the passion??? what is that about exactly? I need details here! If we had legitimate details, maybe we could understand better….so spill!!!!!
This show just proves the point of the homosexuals. Saying we’ve made a mockery of love and commitment, they’re right! Look at this train wreck! They should be allowed to get married if this is all we think of engagement and love. God, people. Grow a friggin` brain and either stop portraying this as acceptable behavior or let the gay people get married!
How would anyone know after 8 weeks that they LOVE someone?? Give the guy a break love comes in time and Molly is the one he could not stop thinking about after 16 weeks…I find that much more realistic and possible! I loved Melissa from the start and at first I was heart broken she is a good person but Molly is the spark that kept the fire burning and I wish them much happiness!! This is life and you only have one to live…XOXO
You are a class act Chris. You have always handled anything that came along – sh*t happens! It was a fun season and the ending was fine. People are in love and that’s a good thing.
Ignore the rest that only annoys.
Gosh Chris … I’ll miss your blog until May. You are one with honesty, integrity and feelings. Jillian will make a great Bachelorette too and I wish her GOOD luck in finding her prince. My wish is one for you and your wife and that’s to have a great time until we see you again in May!!!! Your friend in Bonney Lake, WA P.S. I’ll have to mosey on over to Kirkland some day and maybe run into Jason, Molly and Ty at a Starbucks store. **grin**
After all of that you made me laugh with your Jillian octuplets. I came here wanting to be angry but you are impossible to be upset with. What a difference a day makes!
I think you were in the dark as well until just before it all happened.
okay okay okay its over already!!!! ABC is the true winner… reality t.v lives!!!! And I love it!!!
I cannot believe all the negativity here… I find it interesting. None of us really know them, so I do not feel we have the right to judge, it is all personal opinion. I do agree the comment about Molly being more of a challenge seems typcial, since men are hunters and really do not want things to easy… then again, that is also an opinion. All in all I commend you Chris on being bravae to blog here.. I live in Washington, and Hope Molly can handle all the rain in Seattle… maybe they should move here to the San Juan Islands where we have 1/3 less rain than Seattle. I am also happy Jillian will be the next Bachelortte, she displayed honesty, integrity and maturity and she surely deserves an awesome Man!… Will look forward to a little escape in may.
oh darnit, chris. here I commented earlier about how I will NOT watch the bachelor EVER again and now I find out jillian’s coming back. well I’ll stick to what I said and won’t watch the bachelor, but WILL watch the bachelorette. I loved jillian, whacky hot dog theories and all. I think jason was what she called a mustard guy, funny that he turned out to be a total WEINER! godspeed to him and molly b/c I know there are a lot of people out there not on their team. more power to them. looking fwd to your insightful blogs yet again next season.
I cannot believe all the negativity here… I find it interesting. None of us really know them, so I do not feel we have the right to judge, it is all personal opinion. I do agree the comment about Molly being more of a challenge seems typcial, since men are hunters and really do not want things to easy… then again, that is also an opinion. All in all I commend you Chris on being bravae to blog here.. I live in Washington, and Hope Molly can handle all the rain in Seattle… maybe they should move here to the San Juan Islands where we have 1/3 less rain than Seattle. I am also happy Jillian will be the next Bachelortte, she displayed honesty, integrity and maturity and she surely deserves an awesome Man!… Will look forward to a little escape in may.
Dammit Chris, as much as I HATE what happened this season and how things went down; I still can’t help but adore you. You truly sound like this wasn’t how you wanted things to happen and you wish things were different and maybe you’re just towing the company line, but I’m a sucker like that I guess. I’ll make it VERY clear that at this moment, I can’t stand Jason and think his actions are reprehensible, but I certainly don’t hold YOU responsible. Jason has to be held accountable for his decisions and he’s being appropriately taken to task, IMHO. I live in the Seattle area, I know what the people around here are saying and believe you me, Jason & Molly have their work cut out for them around here. Thanks for sharing things with us Chris and I can’t WAIT to see Jillian go through her *journey* /drink
I think the worse part of last night was Molly making out with Jason right after he broke up with Melissa and then tonight saying she had so many questions after the first show before she committed to him. Molly have some dignity and pride in yourself. Then tonight she’s smiling while the clip of Jason breaking up with Melissa is on. PLEASE this was all set up and her face last night and tonight is proof. You guys should remember that the truth always comes out and karma always rears it’s ugly head!!
Cheryl, You ask “How can anyone know after 8 weeks that they love someone?” I’m living proof of that. We’ve been married for almost 15 years and we knew after one month! And that was at age 41 and 43, both with kids (a blended family)! Sometimes you “just know”!!!!
Hey Chris!
I was going to leave a comment for you last night, but I figured it was probably a lost cause, seeing as there were so many! Anyway…just wanted to say that I have sooooo enjoyed your blog from day 1, and I just think you’re such a sweet guy. I’m sorry there are so many people out there who can’t separate you from “the company” and the situation…but we’re not ALL haters out here, and the show wouldn’t be the same without you. So…pour me some more Kool Aid babeee…looking forward to your Bachelorette blogs! And no matter how nasty things get, just remember, you have a friend in Denver who thinks you’re fab! xoxo
It is unfortunate that there were rumors that the show made Jason do this in national tv.
I believe that it shows the character flaws of both Jason and Molly and it just shows America that relationships are nothing more than a change of clothes and it’s ok to bail out over something as fickle as what Jason articulated…because in the end, something trivial justifies ending a relationship.
I really have enjoyed your first few Bachelor/Bachelorette seasons…even though most didn’t end up together, it didn’t feel as skanky as it does now.
I like you Chris, I wish you hadn’t had encouraged this or had stood up against the producers of the show and say no to what happened.
Well I stand by my first opinion and am on Jason and Molly’s side supporting them! It is so sad that people on the net have nothing better to do then sit and talk BS about others like they are so perfect and would never do anything such as this, or anything wrong for that matter. I do not buy it. The net is full of wanna-be’s such as one known blogger. First I must say, when you are in love with someone, you will do whatever it takes to be with the one you love, no matter what others think. This is one reason we have so many unhappy married couples together because no one wants to do the right thing and break it off. More children would have parents together instead of part time custody if they would just stop and look at what they are doing and the long term effects. People need to pull their heads out of that dream bubble they live in. Life nor love is fair and there is no guarantees. Good luck on next season, I will be watching. I adore Jillian. Excellent choice!