Ben Flajnik: The Bachelorette Proposal and Breakup Didn't Have to Be Brutal
We have all been dumped before, but how many of us were led on to the point where we found ourselves in a suit, with an engagement ring in our pocket, transported onto an island in a friggin' plane, all the while having a camera crew in our nostrils?
The scenario above is what happened to fan favorite Bachelorette contestant Ben Flajnik.
The potential of getting dumped is what 25 men on Ashley Hebert's season signed up for. Some contestants appear on the show with ulterior motives, while others like Ben are genuinely open to the dating experience. Ben fell hard. Ashley not only allowed him to go bended knee, due to the nature of the show, she also led him on.
Ben told Ashley, "I didn't see that one coming," but we, as viewers, did. What bothers me about Ben being dumped is everything he said before he got the axe. Why did ABC air so much of his embarrassing and revealing comments? Because it's good for ratings, no matter how much it scars the contestant.
When contestants are filmed virtually 24 hours a day, you suddenly remember how simple it would be to leave any portion of footage on the cutting room floor. ABC should have just deleted the interview segment where Ben's tear shedding about how his father has passed away, but now he has a new member in the family: Ashley. That was cruel.
On last season's finale of The Bachelorette, Ali Fedotowsky sent runner-up Chris Lambton home a day before his scheduled proposal. Unlike ABC, Ali knew that just because there will only be one winner does not mean that the runner-up has to look like such a loser, especially considering just how difficult it was for each emotionally invested contestant to make it that far.
Jump in for the video of the heartbreaking drama!
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Twitter
August 2nd, 2011 11:04 PM
I completely agree with you. Ashley led Ben on because she did not want him to reject her, even tho she wanted JP. How sick. And ABC could have edited differently to downplay her evilness as well as Ben's heartfelt comments. How sad. Ali got it right for sure!
August 2nd, 2011 3:48 PM
My heart just breaks for Ben. Poor guy. I agree, ABC didn't need to air all of that, but then hey, it's ratings and they all knew what they were subject to when they were cast. For all we know, Ben could have said more sweet things that we are not privy too. ~~~Ashley is in love though with JP. I really wanted Ben cause he just seems like the better of the two, kind of like a Ryan type that married Trista. Ben would make it work even if there were problems. JP doesn't strike me as the type that would really stick around if tough stuff rocked their relationship. Who am I to judge though. JP is the guy. Ashley made her choice. Hope this is another lasting relationship. -- Only time will tell