'I Don’t Think He Thought It Through’: Becca Kufrin Opens Up About Arie Luyendyk Jr. Ending Their Engagement
It was one of the biggest shocks in Bachelor history. Arie Luyendyk Jr. picked the safe choice, Becca, only to unceremoniously drop her after proposing.
A Difficult Choice
The moment happened midway through the show's massive, two-hour season finale. Viewers watched as Arie debated over whether to go with love of his life Lauren or the more logical option, Becca Sufrin. After taking advice from his family, Arie seemed to make up his mind and went with Becca, proposing to her and, seemingly, making both of their dreams come true.
The two soon got down to the business of name changes and baby planning, all the while taking part in cute bonding activities including pizza making and hammock-based cuddling, only for Arie to have a sudden change of heart. After admitting he couldn't stop thinking about Lauren, Arie very awkwardly met up with Becca and told her it was over.
The scene was pretty brutal, with several fans claiming it shouldn't even have aired on television in the first place, given how humiliating it was for poor Becca. And, although the rest of the Bachelor finale has yet to air, it's evident where Arie is heading.
Setting The Record Straight
Now, Sufrin is speaking out about her split from Luyendyk Jr., and how it felt to be subjected to such public embarrassment as a result.
"He's a good person, I don't think he ... purposely did this to hurt me ... At the end of the day ... I don't think he thought it through, but I don't think he did it maliciously to break my heart," she told PEOPLE.
She admits that getting engaged to Luyendyk Jr. felt right, and that she was ecstatic when it finally happened. But Sufrin also acknowledges his cowardice in dumping her so soon afterwards.
"I never thought for a million years that once the going started to get tough that he would throw in the towel and jump ship and say, 'Oh sorry, I changed my mind,'" she said.
Kufrin admits that she was embarrassed by being broken up with on camera by Luyendyk Jr., acknowledging that there was probably a kinder way to do it.
"There was a better and more tactful way to do it. ... It was like a slap in the face. I wish he would have been more honest with me," she said.
Although she wishes he hadn't proposed, Kufrin confirmed that she forgives Luyendyk Jr. for how he treated her. She doesn't blame his new paramour either, acknowledging the two can't help that they fell in love with the same person.
The Bachelor finale continues tonight at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
