-Pretty crazy last few days I’d say. I know you all have been wondering why I haven’t been writing or commenting on this situation. Well, here I am to explain exactly what I knew, when I knew it, and what my thoughts are. And for once, I’m going to be objective here giving both sides the benefit of the doubt. Why? Because I’m a great guy, that’s why. Ha ha. Could I have run with this last week and beaten the tabloids to the story? Yes. Why didn’t I? I felt like I didn’t need to. Plus, I have not spoken to either woman, Lindsey or Bethany. In my last posted column (last Wednesday), I ended it by alluding to the fact that “this story has legs.” I said that because I knew both Lindsey and Bethany were going to tell their stories to national magazines. Then I twittered a few times over the weekend about how the “sh** is gonna hit the fan, and just be ready for what’s coming.” Of course, a lot of you jumped on that thinking I was the one breaking the news even though I wrote the words, “This has nothing to do with me. I’m not breaking any news.” Don’t really know how I could’ve been any clearer than that, but whatever. This never had anything to do with me. This was their story, I was going to let them tell it. If they wanted to come to me first, fine. But they didn’t, I knew they wouldn’t, and so they went to the tabloids for a bigger audience. Totally understandable. I did not care that I didn’t break this story since I knew it was coming out in a few days anyway and I would just comment then.
-Obviously, I think most of you are of the opinion right now of, “Ed’s a jerk! I can’t believe she’s standing by him! What’s she thinking! I knew it was too good to be true! How can he do this!” Which is fine. You’re entitled to that. Before I jump on that bandwagon, I just want lay all the information out on the table first. Lets be clear here: This is NOT stuff that I discovered, came up with, am making up, stating as rumor, etc. This is all stuff being alleged by both women here, that being Lindsey Johnson and Bethany Steffen, women who claim to have been in a “relationship” with Ed before he left to do the show AND who are claiming he continued with them during and AFTER filming. However, lets immediately get a few things out of the way for those who haven’t read what’s going on or seen Jillian and Ed appearing on “Good Morning America” yesterday. First, here is the nuts and bolts of what is being alleged, straight from “US Weekly”:
“Bachelorette Betrayed!” – US Weekly
So yesterday, “Good Morning America” did a piece on that exact story knowing it was going to break, and here’s what they aired:
-So here’s what I thought of the “GMA” appearance. I didn’t like it for Jillian and Ed. At all. Here’s why: They spoke in generalizations. Lindsey and Bethany, in their stories, are citing specific dates, specific emails, specific texts, and are quite detail oriented with their timeline and what transpired between them and Ed before, during, and after the show. For Jillian and Ed to go to the “People are just trying to bring us down”, “This is high schoolish” card, that’s fine. But just know that most people are going to hate that answer and you will be criticized for it. Ed saying “not true at all”, “false allegations”, etc is completely evading the specific instances these women are citing. I have no problem with Jillian and Ed giving the easiest and safest response they could to all this, but if you’re gonna do that, expect more questions to be fired at you since you didn’t address ANYTHING other than the overall story. JED (that’s short for Jillian and Ed since I don’t feel like typing both names all the time) fans of course will say, “She believes him, and that’s all that matters.” If she does, great. But it doesn’t mean they won’t get crucified by fans that have more questions about this. It’s part of being on the show. And with the weird dynamic of Ed leaving then coming back, then being the final choice, already people were questioning what the hell happened. Now Lindsey and Bethany throw a monkey wrench into everything to make it ten times worse.
-Jillian is standing by Ed saying that he’s been nothing but honest with her about everything, she knows about both women, and “any text or email to them since the show has ended has been strictly platonic.” Well, that’s not what Lindsey and Bethany are saying. Especially with that “Bring the beer and condoms” crack he allegedly laid on Bethany after coming back from Hawaii. Nice one. Such the romantic. Hell, even if it isn’t true it’s still one of my all-time favorite lines ever. But the generalizations that JED went to in that interview were not good. I want to know, “Ed, did you sent that text message? If you didn’t, why is she saying you did?” “Ed, did you say you weren’t into Jillian? If you didn’t, why is there an email confirming you did?” Well, that part I know is true because I’ve seen that email. He sent it to Bethany three weeks before leaving for the show and told her that he already told the director that if he did the show, he’d be doing it for the wrong reasons because “I am not, in any way, attracted to the chick.” Something Bethany already told the magazines so I’m not breaking any news here. I’m just saying I’ve seen the email. Ed needs to answer specific questions. If he chooses not to, fine. But JED has to understand that they are the final couple on a reality dating show that was watched by 10 million people. When allegations come up, if you’re gonna dismiss them as nothing when these women are giving specific details, you can’t cry “Why don’t they just leave us alone?” Sorry. Doesn’t work that way.
-With that said, how credible are Lindsey and Bethany at this point? Tough to say, but it’s awfully hard to dispute some of the things they’re saying. Why? Go back up and look at the “GMA” piece. In the part where they are showing a shot of Lindsey’s computer, you can see the email exchange between her and Ed. It took place on Friday, April 10th (a time where Ed was in filming), and goes like this:
Lindsey to Ed: “Are you done??? Will it be this weekend? I’m dying 
”
Ed to Lindsey: “I don’t know. I’ll call you when I get my phone back.”
Lindsey to Ed: “Ah yes!!! When u coming home????????”
That is a major red flag if you ask me. First off, we’ve always been led to believe that contestants are to have no contact with the outside world when on this show. Mike Fleiss has stated it, Chris Harrison has stated, and numerous past contestants have stated it. Now we have proof that one of the guys (who just so happened to be the final one in the end), was allowed to use his computer during filming. Based on the email I’ve seen, my guess is Ed agreed to come on the show (because he was very reluctant to three weeks before filming), and negotiated something to where he’d do the show if they let him use his computer for work. I don’t think that’s too far fetched to think based on what I’ve seen. Three weeks before filming the guy didn’t want to be there, admitted as much, told directors he’d be doing the show for the wrong reasons, and now he’s on the show with a computer in hand.
-Also, Lindsey says that while Ed was back home from the show for “business purposes”, they attended a wedding together (with picture included in the “US Weekly” piece), and said she stayed the last “3 or 4 nights with him before he said he was leaving for Texas.” In fact, both women in their story told the magazines he told them he was going to Texas. When in reality, that’s when he went back on the show to Spain, then Hawaii. Lindsey and Bethany are saying that neither of them knew about the other one until all this stuff came to be. Are they scorned? Sure. Do they feel hurt? Of course. But I think what’s interesting to note here is neither of them are crawling at Ed’s feet begging for him to take them back. Neither of them want anything to do with him at this point because they felt lied to, betrayed, and ultimately, embarrassed. If you want to question them running to the tabloids to tell their story, that’s fine. That’s definitely calling into question their credibility. However, if they wanted their story out there, what other way could they have gone about it?
-Do you think if they went to Ed and said, “Hey honey, can you put us in touch with Jillian? We think she should know what you did to us”, he would’ve obliged? Uhhhh, I doubt it. Could they have found Jillian on their own and emailed or asked to speak with her? Sure. But if they did, wouldn’t Jillian have had the same reaction? She’s going to stand by her fiancé whether these women tell their story to a tabloid or they contact her personally. Either way, she’ll dismiss them as scorned former lovers and believe what Ed tells her. And she should. She should stand by her man. But that doesn’t mean what these women say isn’t true. Ultimately it’s her decision on who to believe, and she’s choosing Ed right now. If you think she’s an idiot for it, I’m sure she can handle that. If you think she’s making the right decision, then she’ll accept that too. I don’t think public opinion is going to change whether or not Jillian and Ed stay together. It’ll ultimately come down to if Jillian hears enough information to think maybe Ed wasn’t telling her the whole truth about things. But who knows?
-Now, the email that I’ve read which has Ed stating 3 weeks before the show he’s not into Jillian and would be doing the show for the wrong reasons is something that is debatable. And when I say debatable, I mean that lets take Ed for his word in the email. But what if he got to the show, met Jillian, fell head over heels for her, and his opinion of her completely changed? Could that be possible? Sure it could. He probably wishes now he never wrote that email, but whatever. He can explain that off by telling Jillian he was stupid when he wrote that, he hadn’t met her yet, and that she completely blew him away and changed his mind. Ok. Lets say that’s what happened. The problem is both Lindsey and Bethany are claiming that the first time when he went home for “business purposes”, he spent time with both of them. In fact, Lindsey produced a picture of a wedding they attended and then said she slept with him that night. Ouch. Bethany also claims she saw him in that time period when he was home. So if we’re under the assumption that once Ed got on the show he immediately fell for Jillian, then why is he seeing/dating/being intimate with women during his time home? Remember, after he came back, the reason he said he came back which he told Jillian was because he felt like he made a mistake, and he couldn’t stop thinking of her. Wow. I mean, there’s absolutely two conflicting stories right there if I ever saw one. He needs to address that. He needs to tell people whether or not he attended a wedding with Lindsey while he was back the first time and if she stayed with him that night. I’m sorry, but IF that happened, I’m stressing “IF”, then anything he said on the show from that point on is meaningless and not believable.
-Moving on, lets say that none of that happened. Lets say when Ed was back in Chicago after coming home for “business reasons”, he never saw either woman. Basically just went to work, did what he needed to do, went out a few times, but never went on a date and was never intimate with anyone. So he goes back on the show to Spain and Hawaii, and now he becomes the final one. He leaves Hawaii and engaged man to Jillian and everything is great. Now both women are claiming texts, emails, and even one case of intimacy yet again after coming back from Hawaii. Even telling Lindsey “the show made me do it”, “I still love you”, and he never acknowledged whether he was engaged or not. This is where Lindsey claims she was intimate with him. She asked him questions about the show, he said he couldn’t answer until July 20th, but based on his answers, she felt she could stay with him. Her opinion was that, “Well, if the guy is engaged, he wouldn’t sleep with me. So I guess he’s not.” Lindsey claims he kept telling her to wait until July 20th because then “I can explain everything that’s going on”. Just an ugly, ugly story all around. And answers like, “These stories aren’t true at all” just isn’t gonna cut it in this situation. Lindsey gave specific dates, specific places, and specific emails. He needs to find a way to dispute those or he will be forever guilty in the public eye.
-At this point, I think I’ve said what I needed to say. Lindsey and Bethany have told their stories. You can read those in any magazine this week. I really don’t think they need to come do an interview with me because nothing they tell me they haven’t already told others. I don’t need to print any emails from anyone since the content of it has already been divulged. My one thing that I want in all of this situation is to hear from Ed. That’s it. I know this probably sounds like an easy “guilty” verdict towards him based on things everyone is hearing and the emails I’ve received, but honestly, I’m going to give the guy the benefit of the doubt. Whether he talks to me or talks publicly, whatever the case may be, Ed needs to attack these stories head on. That’s the only way anyone will really know how legitimate these claims are. As of right now, there is so much evidence stacked against him, that its very hard to believe NONE of this is true. Maybe certain parts are embellished, but the facts seem to state that Ed had contact with one, if not both of them, both during and after filming. There are emails to prove it. And if he did, then how are we supposed to believe anything he said to Jillian on the show?
-Both Jillian and Ed say they are happy right now. She says he has not lied to her, he’s been open with her, she knows about both women, and she trusts him. I guess time will tell. Honestly, it’s a sad story really. It’s pathetic. I don’t hate Jillian and Ed. I never hated Jason and Molly. I don’t hate anybody. If these couples end up making it, I will gladly eat crow and congratulate them. But until I see them walk down the aisle, I will always have my doubts. How can I not at this point considering what this show has produced? All I’ve ever wanted in anything was the truth. I’d love to hear Ed’s side of everything in all this. Until then, all I wanted to do today was lay out the stories that are being presented right now, and have all of you make up your own mind on who you want to believe. Is Ed telling the truth? If he’s not, does that mean Jillian should just ditch the guy tomorrow? Is this something they could possibly work through if he did lie about the contact he had with Lindsey and Bethany? This is going to be interesting watching how it’ll play out. I, for one, am going to stand by and observe for the time being.
-I’ve sat on this information for a whole week, and honestly, I’m not any more clear today on how I feel than I was a week ago. Usually when this mountain of evidence comes piling up towards one side, I’m the first guy to beat my chest and scream “Guilty!” And maybe I should in this case. Especially considering how weird I felt this season went with how everything played out. But this is Ed and Jillian’s deal, not mine. Sure, I can give my opinion, which I have numerous times. And my opinion right now is Ed has A LOT to answer to. If he chooses to continue to answer in generalizations, then I know how I’ll feel about the situation and if I had any pull, I’d suggest to Jillian to get out while she can. You know, as badly as I criticized Jason and Molly, they weathered the storm and seem to be happy. Hey, whatever works. Although I think what Jillian is dealing with is far worse than what Molly had to deal with. Everything Molly dealt with was rumors about the show being fake and what not. Jillian is dealing with infidelity issues and accusations against her fiancé that are being supported by evidence. I don’t even think its close. Jason and Molly have it easy compared to what Jillian and Ed have coming up. Lets see how this all plays out and if any new information arises. It will no doubt be interesting to see.
And oh yeah, good riddance Paula Abdul. $20 million? Are you kidding me? So you can babble incoherently and never criticize anyone? You are absolutely nuts and I’m glad you’re gone from the show. Long live Kara! Woo hoo!
Any questions, comments, emails, criticisms, praises, email me at steve@realitysteve.com.
Steve,
Is this really you? My goodness, this is one of the best blogs you have written. I am really quite pleasantly surprised. I think you have given a great summary of all the various stories, evidence, facts, proof, everything. I commend you for being objective and giving a balanced assessment. After reading you bashing Ed for weeks now, I frankly did not think that you would be likely to refrain from really coming down on him hard. But you held back.
I do have questions for the girls. One would be why either of them wanted to continue a relationship with a guy who went on the bachelorette. What’s that all about? I certainly wouldn’t be too thrilled if my boyfriend decided to go on a reality show whose primary purpose is to become engaged. So what gives with that? I realize that they probably had no other option than to go to a magazine to tell their story, but I would think that they could have found a way to contact Jillian. There is something about a woman-to-woman talk that can be very enlightening. It may well have failed to change her mind, but I bet it would have got her thinking.
I don’t see Ed coming out to give a tell-all interview any time soon. He’s going to lay low and hope it all blows over. He has his story and is sticking to it. But some of the information that you highlighted is quite damaging. I don’t know how I feel right now. I am still thinking about it. But I now have something to chew on and mull over. I wish Jillian would just go into seclusion, away from the public, away from Ed and really take some time to think this thing through. It would be much easier to get out now before she marries Ed and has kids. She needs to take this information seriously and ask herself if this guy is for real.
I was hoping this time we would have a real love story. Even with all the scripted nonsense that is this show, I was still holding out for a fairytale ending. I don’t want to see Jillian hurt badly. But there is just too much here to blow it off or ignore it. These girls might have done it differently, maybe they are women scorned seeking revenge, but we are talking about a lifetime commitment. I would want to be sure about the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with.
It’s all a total and absolute mess.
All of the evidence you mentioned is precisely what I have been waiting to hear. I said on other forums that I really would like to hear from the principals involved, meaning Bethany and Lindsay. Then I could at least evaluate their credibility and the strength of their evidence. This is a serious business and I have a high standard that must be met before I will declare someone to be of bad character, untrustworthy, a liar and a cheat. All you have in this life is your good name and character. So it should not be dismissed or trashed lightly. I am glad to see that you seem to feel the same way. Your blog was restrained and devoid of any judgemental and self-indulgent tone.
I am still trying to digest all of this information. I do agree with you that Ed and Jillian did themselves no favors with their appearance on GMA. Jillian was extremely defensive and edgy in her comments. It was obvious that she was angry with the women who came forward with their stories. Ed said practically nothing. I was kind of appalled that he thinks that people would be stupid enough to let him off the hook that easily. Or maybe he just doesn’t care what the public thinks. I got the sense that he has given Jillian his side of the story – call it damage control, a pre-emptive strike, whatever you wish. For the time being she appears to be standing by him. I don’t know it’s denial mixed in with her need to defend her decision to pick him. It could be a little of both.
RE the “More to Love” fans: For about 20 minutes I liked this show. It seemed very refreshing and charming. Then I began noticing that EVERY girl was obsessing about their weight and all the trauma of being unloved because of their size. In fact it became almost non-stop! Oy vey. I’m sorry I thought we were going to enjoy a happy-happy dating show with people who were okay with their size. This is turning into their reality show therapy session, and all I can do is groan. These women are adults and not children. If life is so hard being your size then do something about! But don’t use your one opportunity to be heard or find real love as a vehicle through which to whine and cry about being large. It just seems like a massive waste of time and energy. I mean the main guy seems very accepting of himself. Why would he want someone lacking confidence? Anyway, I doubt I’ll watch another ep.
This whole season was such a mess. Was an Ed fan in the beginning, but when he did his “I need to leave for work” thing the whole show became even more manufactured than it normally is. I don’t know what to think about either of these girls. Am I skeptical in thinking that Ed is probably still with the blond and this is just their way of cashing in? He gets money and publicity from the show, she gets money from “outing” him, eventually they go off into the sunset with their $$$…oh, who knows. All I can say is that the whole thing is really messed up and I feel bad for anyone who was hurt in all of this, excluding Ed. I don’t think the guy has feelings other than horny and “Where’s the liquor?” In terms of GMA, they did a good job with the timeline. Very impressed. I just wished all news organizations were this precise when reporting on more important matters!
HELLO PEOPLE. GMA is on ABC. This whole thing was SET UP!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wasn’t going to post another comment on this particular thread. I like reading what people are saying — but the show is over, for now, and I pretty much don’t feel like analyzing it any more.
But I did just want to post a quote from Jillian that was in an interview posted yesterday on Canada.com. By the way, it was one of the best interviews I’ve read with her, in the sense that she comes across in a really positive light. But yet this part struck me as really funny and ironic. Jillian was talking about how she wants some of the media frenzy and attention to die down, and she was saying that she is getting some offers to do things, but she and Ed are wanting to just have a private life again, etc. Then she says, “The only thing that we have both agreed to do together is to go on Wipeout on ABC. We really want to go on that because we feel like we’ve just been through the wringer the last few weeks, so that would be a great way to lighten things up.”
I’ll say!!!
Here is a link to the interview: http://www.canada.com/entertainment/television/After+Bachelorette+Jillian+Harris+wrestles+with+spotlight/1865843/story.html
Wow, a long link above… in case it doesn’t work, go to the following page and find the headline “After The Bachelorette, Jillian Harris wrestles with the spotlight”: http://www.canada.com/entertainment/television/index.html
I haven’t posted in a comment in a while, but last time I was here, I mentioned I was boycotting the Jillian season due to my dismay over the way Fleiss and ABC handled Jason’s season. While my boycott was successful until I finally caved with three episodes left. It’s true–I’m weak. Darn you, Mike Fleiss with your addictive show–it IS a conspiracy with the queen, the Vatican, the Gettys, the Rothchilds, and the Colonel before he went tents up. Anyway, my first exposure to Ed was the episode where he wore the weird 80s shorts. The immediate impression for me was, “He’s such a douche bag”. Now that this has all come out, I can’t even believe all these women even like him. He’s even not good-looking, especially compared to Kiptyn and Reid.
I concur with the commenters here–this is a complete set-up–scripted and planned, with JED in it for the money and publicity. These two will never get married and I predict a break-up within 6 weeks.
Jason and Molly are legit I think. Their tent chemistry was palpable, but the one potential real love story was ruined by Fleiss’ plotting to make Melissa a pawn in his reality reindeer games.
The sadder thing is that Jillian is talking about giving up dream opportunities so she can concentrate on her relationship with Ed. If this isn’t all one big fakeout on both their parts, her family and friends need to give her head a shake – if the guy really loved, which I doubt, he should be encouraging to take those opportunties. He certainly does not look worth giving them up for at this point in time.
Just to clarify–I don’t think the show was scripted, per se, for Ed to do what he did, I just think that the edit was done to accommodate a potential breakup because of what happened later. She stated that Ed told her “everything” AFTER they were engaged. Personally, I would have preferred BEFORE.. I feel badly for her and can imagine how upsetting it must have been.
Saw the interview from the canada link above. All I have to say is that I agree with Steve. To me, the women are very credible and the article was well documented. US Magazine is a credible magazine with real reporters, unlike a tabloid. To call them liars without any facts just makes her look bad and shows she is really deluding herself if she thinks Ed is a good guy. Didn’t Kiptyn’s mom teach her anything??
I pretty much never leave comments (only read them), but I found this interesting little posting on JokersUpdate (if no one has posted it already)…http://forums.jokersupdates.com/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Board=TheBachelorette&Number=12063504 Back’s up most of what RS has said, and then some…
This was posted on FORT by SDL regarding what went down this season, I thought it was interesting:
“Originally Posted by sdl
I had a conversation last night with the person I most trust to tell me what happened in the production of this show. Much of it is a repeat of what I’ve been saying for the last 2 months, but it is consistent and confirming, and I think it helps to put it all together in one place. These are not my opinions, but what i was told, and the language chosen is generally his and not mine.
Please forgive me if I number my paragraphs, but it helps me to keep the points in order:
1. Ed represented himself to be someone who was a cut above the other contestants. He wanted concessions from the producers that were not allowed for the other contestants, including computer access because of the nature of his work, and guarantees on payment and how he would be treated.
The producers resented the demands from the start but they were having difficulty assembling a cast so the rules were bent.
2. Ed never really clicked with the other guys in the house. His sense of entitlement and aloofness not only got under the skin of the producers, but also the other contestants. He didn’t have a lot of friends, but Jillian liked him from the start.
3. Ed went to the producers early on and said he had personal issues to deal with at home. He did talk about his job but that didn’t seem to be the crux of what was really bothering him. Ultimately, the producers learned that he had relationships back at home that had to be cleared up if he was to continue on. The overriding concern at this point was that Ed had girlfriends in Chicago who could ruin the production if they went public with what they knew during filming.
4. Ed was allowed to leave, using the work excuse, but the clear direction was to clean up his personal business and be back in 2 weeks. Ed’s idea of cleaning up personal business was to sleep with 2-3 girls while he was home, but he did come back on schedule.
5. Wes was a stereotypical Texan with a loose tongue, and a “I don’t give a sh*t” attitude, so they used him as the foil to deflect any Ed rumors. It was the perfect diversion. And they kept that edit for as long as it suited them.
6. When Ed came back, things were even worse. He told these lies about being at a rodeo in Texas, told the girls he loved them, and it was just stupid. He was nailed. But the producers owned him now – because they had all of his dirty secrets. Time to revise the script for a really big finale.
I’ve heard that Ed is a smart guy, that he’s successful, that he’s obviously good at his job – we don’t know that and I’ve never heard any of that from ABC (he was a Microsoft salesman for 4 months – how “married to his job could he be? He was expendable).
The producers thought he was an idiot, a jerk, arrogant and stupid about it. A poser. And he had fatal flaws that would be great for the show.
7. The producers gave him enough rope to hang himself. They let him email and text away, while encouraging poor needy Jillian to take him – boozing them up so they’d think it was love……and the rest you know.
ABC tipped off the tabloids. The girls were badgered until they agreed to go public, but it was all a part of the plan.
8. ABC considers this to be one of the best endings ever. They were really challenged by a weak cast and the expectations generate by the Mesnick debacle, but they love it. They made lemonade out of lemons.
Those are the facts.”
After reading the US article and FORT discussion, I want to voice something that no one has talked about at all, but doesn’t seem to be outside the realm of possibility. If ED was indeed paid, I am of the opinion that Kiptyn was paid too.
Kiptyn had NO interest in Jillian, like, the entire season. It has never beeen so obvious on any season how the F2 isn’t even into the bachelorette. The choice of Kiptyn was so surprising, I didn’t get it. It would only make sense if he was paid to be an F2 – because he was really trying to act!!!!! But miserable at it…that is why no one bought the chemistry between them, it wasn’t real. And what isn’t real is often manufactured…i.e. I think Kiptyn was paid to act the role of the F2. These people were desperate to get a cast together, guys left because no one was attracted to her. The bachelorette season only works if the main character is very attractive, and Jillian is, but not ‘hot’ in the traditional male sense. She is a cute attractive..not a hot attractive and that is where it seems they couldn’t get enough guys. Also, any guy who saw Jason’s season hopefully didn’t agree to be on this season, knowing how much manipulation/distortion goes on.
Also, a big thing that ABC doesn’t seem to realize is, its hurting itself more than anyone else. No one after this season (well no one with any sense whatsoever), will go on this show unless you expect and want to be publicly humiliated ad nauseum.
Let’s just name off humiliated people…Brad Womack, Deanna Pappas (after her stint on her show and esp on Jason’s…), Jason Mesnick, Jillian Harris, Ed, Wes, David, Natalie, Nikki, Molly on and on and on…
The only two people who came off smelling like roses were the two that wouldn’t give ABC the time of day, Melissa and Graham. I’d like to include Jeremy, but he also let himself get humiliated (twice) by them and well Reid, fell for their tactics, hook line and sinker. That is why he is so lost as he is leaving the second time, “I just don’t get it…” well obviously not, you just fell for the oldest trick in the bag that they use. These guys weren’t expecting to be humiliated and used???!! Note to future contestants, WATCH prior seasons…
If Reid decides to do the Bachelor, he is just asking to be nationally humiliated, what amount of money can they offer a person to undergo that? If he takes it, he’ll be unwise and…just incredibly naive. I hope NO ONE signs up for this show…I don’t think it is healthy tv.
@sunny1
Yes, very interesting! [Yes, I'm posting again but this explanation makes more sense than most of the blather and theories that are out there.]
I was referring to post #61 … haven’t read #62 yet.
Just read the US Magazine interview. Even if 1/4 of this stuff is true, poor Jillian. If she don’t wise up and dump this big dumb jackass pronto, she’s got serious emotional issues. Enough with this “stand by your man” crap. I’d have way more respect for her if she told him to hit the pike. He is everything you hate about men rolled into one. I’m glad these women came forward to expose him for the arrogant, conceited jerk that he is. If women see “Hollywood Ed” out, they should shun him. I feel sorry for his poor unassuming parents and what they must be enduring now. Hope Ed enjoys the rest of his “vagina getting” summer.
It’s Official!!! Jillian dumps Ed
Go to ABC Bachelorette boards and the link is there. Yeah!! He was such a jerk!!
Here’s a link, not sure if it’s the same one from FORT or not..but it’s interesting!
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/entertainment/gossip/080709_Exclusive_Bachelorette_Dumps_Fiance
MyFoxPhilly is reporting a breakup between Jillian & Ed.
Here’s another link to the article:
http://webferret.search.com/click?wf6,MyFoxPhilly,,www.myfoxphilly.com%2F,,msn,1
.. this is pretty big news – should it be true
Why don’t larger sites like People, US or TMZ have this story?
Time will tell.
Steve, it’s funny to me, the way you stood by Wes when he obviously said some things that were questionable, explaining how editing works to us, as if we didn’t know. Now there are some emails out there between Ed and these women and you sound like, “Hey, I’m not judging, BUT….there it is, in black and white”. So, according to you, video/voice can be edited, but anything on paper cannot? Interesting theory.
looks like someone jumped the shark, Radaronline has stepped back from their report, JED did show up later for dinner, 3 hours later, perhaps after they saw the report of their untimely demise. Looks like someone overextrapolated the meaning of a cancelled dinner reservation. It can just mean someone decided to order room service.
I have thought, for the last few seasons – well, since Brad’s non-choice – that the producers put in one or two PAID contestants, who aren’t really there to win, but are paid actors, who will play the part of the “winner” if the bach/ette doesn’t want to choose anyone.
Deanna couldn’t decide – and chose Jesse, who played along with the story line, until enough time had passed and they could announce that it “didn’t work out.” I don’t know who it was on Jason’s season, but it very well could have been Molly.
So – maybe on Jillian’s season, a couple of the guys – Kip? Jake? Maybe even Ed? are not really trying to win her hand. They’re there so that if she doesn’t fall in love with one of the REAL contestants, there’s a choice she can make, someone she can pick who will go along with a fake relationship, and pretend to be dating for a while, at least while cameras are rolling, and then announce later that it didn’t work out.
CAN ANYONE PLEASE ANSWER THIS QUESTION???
Hi, I am new to your blog and appreciate your logical disposition. This was the first season in which I’ve watched an entire Bachelorette season, and WHOA! I have a burning question which NO ONE seems to have addressed: How can Ed tell his girlfriend(s) he’s leaving for the Bachelorette, albeit just two weeks, and secure their OK? Worse, how can they eagerly await his return? What woman would allow her man to go audition to be someone else’s husband? Obviously, there had to be an explanation. Was Ed a mole? Was he whom you referred to as having possibly been paid to appear? I mean, the women were actually saying stuff like, “You promised it would only be two weeks”, as though they knew it WASN’T supposed to be real. If I missed something, I’m sorry, but I don’t get why no one else has raised concerns about this. What gives?
I bet US Weekly is sitting on a lot more. They’re going to drop the next shoe on their next cover. Possibly other people at the wedding in Chicago talking. Friends of Ed talking. Who knows, but JED will likely be on the next US Weekly cover. Hold your breath!
Many of the blog readers at this site believe the show is heavily scripted. Each of the (wo)men is edited by the producers to play the selected role. This last season, Wes was the “Bad Boy,” Jake was “Too Perfect,” Dave was the “Drunken Boor,” Tanner “Foot Fetish,” etc. Season before that, Jillian got cast as “Best Friend, not Girlfriend.”
Mike Fleiss has zero interest in producing anything other than a TV show that gets good ratings. That’s his job. There’s an interesting interview that was published in Business Week back in January 2009. Fleiss admits his show’s ratings were slipping until Brad Womack refused to give either woman a final rose. Fleiss admitted he learned that being unpredictable increased ratings. You should read the whole article. Hope the url fits.
http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/jan2009/ca20090113_071334.htm
Ok I am a fifty year old woman trying to figure out this website. Reality Steve, I totally support you, you have opened my eyes to the world of reality tv, not that I was stupid enough to believe it, but your hints of inpropriatry (sp?) has led me to read this site every once in awhile. And I have to say you have been spot on!
On a whole different topic. We now live in New England, but used to live in Southlake before it got so overgrown, in fact, I used to teach @ on of the elementary schools there (Rockebaugh Elem). I know you probably don’t want to give your location, I am trying to figure out where you live. I assume since I had to submit my email address to this site, you can email me back directly.
I appreciate your astuteness and honesty during this whole bachelor/bachorlette process. I would have bought some of your merchandise, but at my age,it was a little tight!
On a whole different topic. We now live in New England, but used to live in Southlake before it got so overgrown, in fact, I used to teach @ on of the elementary schools there (Rockebaugh Elem). I know you probably don’t want to give your location, I am trying to figure out where you live. I assume since I had to submit my email address to this site, you can email me back directly
jillyjo, I am not sure he sees everyone who logs in as the traffic here is handled by an administrator. RS is pretty responsive to PM (privte messages) He probably won’t give you his street address or anything but may tell you his neighborhood if you email him directly: steve@realitysteve.com. He posts his email address at the end of every column.
I just watched GMA and so far nothing about JED. I have not seen any other news source (credible or not) on the breakup.
I agree with RS- I am trying to reserve judgement but it looks REALLY REALLY bad for Ed. And why on earth their handlers had them do a split sreen interview while they were in different cities! That alone made it look like they were not truly committed to the relationship and they were just buying time. They had to have known at least 24 hours in advance that the US Weekly story was coming- plenty of time to make sure that JED were in the same place for their reaction to the story. It makes me thing that Jill just absolutely refused to get on a plane. I always liked Jill- she seemed so real and girl next door-ish. She gota great edit on Jason’s season- then they just ripped her to shreds on her own season. She looked like a drunken, desperate fool. The Ed story was never believable ( leaving for work?? Really? And TPTB let you come back??? Really??) Run away Reid! Don’t let them tear you apart too!
It’s funny that this is all happening now. A co-worker and myself are huge fans of this show (yes, we know it isn’t real, but it gives us something to chat about). She said to me the other day, “do you remember that you said how nervous Ed looked when Chris H. asked the men who, if anyone, had a girlfriend?” She questioned me (she was a Ed fan, I love me some Reid) and watched it again that night on DVR. She came in and said, “Ed’s lying. Even my husband said so. Watch his facial expressions!” She was completely deflated being an Ed supporter.
So, when RS said that Ed went home to see a girlfriend I laughed because I called it. I knew he was suspect. He just was slimy, and no, it wasn’t because of those ridiculous green “Euro” shorts. He was icky, and I’m dying to know if he was paid to go on the show.
Anyway, thanks again RS for putting things into perspective. Love your column. I think the only thing that disappoints me is that you are a KARA fan. YUCK. Cheers to Paula and one less viewer this season!
It’s becoming increasingly clear to me that there is no love between Jill & Ed – it is a business arrangement. They, along with the producers, make a pact to take this thing as far as they can for their own personal agendas. My guess is Jillian wants to host her own TV design show and Ed wants “hometown celebrity status†(women, VIP section in clubs, etc.). If they break up too soon, they won’t maximize this sudden fame and all its opportunities. Kind of like selling your soul to the devil.
I appreciate the fact that you stayed neutral in this post. In my opinion we are all human, and just because Ed decided to go on a reality show doesn’t mean he had everything figured out. Relationships are complicated and life can lead you in different directions. I do believe that parts of these women’s allegations are true, but I also believe that Ed was probably extremely confused during the filming. What started as a fun chance to go on a reality dating show quickly turned into something that he hadn’t expected. You can tell that the episodes leading up to him leaving the show, he seemed distracted and confused. Yes, he blamed it one work, which may or may not have been part of why he left.
Ed obviously had strong feelings for Jillian at the time of leaving the show to go home. Isn’t there a possibility he felt that he needed to go home and spend time with these other women in order to get his mind right. I can’t imagine the intensity of the filming of The Bachelorette. I am sure that he needed to make sure that he was making the right decision in leaving. In the end, it is obvious that he found something in Jillian that was lacking in his connection with these other women.
In the end, Jillian chose Ed over the 30 other guys she was dating (wait, did we all forget that Ed obviously wasn’t the only one dating multiple people…) and Ed chose Jillian over these women, they are hurt as anyone would be. I think it is wrong for them to go to the tabloids for their story, and like you said Steve… it lowers their credibility a bit.
As long as Jillian and Ed are honest with eachother, I believe they can work through this. I support Jillian’s decision to refuse to do this in the public eye. I don’t believe that either of them owe the public any explanation.
Steve, love your posts and I enjoy your insights. Keep it up!!
Since when did women get so stupid?
What “girlfriend” would accept her supposed boyfriend being on a dating show? Ed tells her that he’ll be gone for two weeks and she’s okay with that?
Since when did women become so dumb?
I also think Jillian is a fool for staying engaged to someone when there is SO MUCH information out there….most of it putting Ed in a terrible light. He has yet to explain one darn thing. She is not a good judge of character.
@Teresa123
QUOTE
Isn’t there a possibility he felt that he needed to go home and spend time with these other women in order to get his mind right. END QUOTE
Forgive me for being so very blunt here BUT, I hope you really are a lot smarter than that comment would lead us to believe. Spending time includes exactly what in your mind? In my mind it would not include crawling under the covers and playing hide the snake and throwing down a few beers -condoms included to set things straight in my mind. Again, that is only my mind, however.
This relationship is doomed. My guess is they will never get married. After all the newness wears off, people who really care about Jillian are going to set her straight. There is alot of info out there and much of it is confusing.
She needs someone she truly trusts to sit down, go over every piece of information that’s been made public and figure this out. I would imagine that once she does, Ed is history. they are really a joke.
I wanted to question something I have not heard anyone discuss on any of the message boards. Awhile back, when the season first started, I was reading an issue of Star Magazine in the doctor’s office and they had some background information about the “casting” of the show. They said since the last season, when Melissa was publicly humilated, and the fact that Jillian had more “Tomboy looks” it was hard for them to find men to do the show. They said they had to go to a modeling/acting agency to find cast members, and they even promised some of the men $50,000+ if they made it to a certain level. I know I read this, and even if Star isn’t the most reliable source I found it interesting that I have never heard this discussed. I also wonder if this could also account for why Jillian had the 5 extra men on her season. Maybe some were the network decoys, and some were there for her own choosing. I think Kypton must have been a decoy, maybe they were setting it up for him to be the next Bachelor but he turned out to be so boring they are reconsidering. Also, given Ed’s green mini swim trunks and powder-blue suit I wonder if ABC had a little fun with him and wrote these ridiculous get-ups into his contract.
Steve, you are so right about this show! Man it’s like watching a trainwreck though, you just gotta tune in cuz it’s so bad and you know the ending is always THEY DONT STAY TOGETHER in the end! *excluded Trista and Ryan* but yeah…. you know what I’m saying.
One point though about your views and is evident in your blogging; You tend to assume these are normal, rational people with some type of logic to what they are doing! No, dont give them so much credit! Yes, a NORMAL person; A. wouldn’t go on this show in the first place. B. wouldn’t think that you could hide a girlfiend (or two) back home and be on national tv with another thinking you wouldn’t get caught. C. believe that you wouldn’t be under a GIANT media microscope for the rest of your relationship after it was all said and done.
I smile when I read your rational approach but g-d these people aren’t thinking here. Maybe it’s the 15 minutes of fame, or camera in the face. I dont know… but alot of these contestants are idiots in general. Maybe normal common sense doesn’t apply?!?
Just sayin….
@Jordan
Right?! I mean, not all women are dumb, of course, but I want to know the same thing you asked. Why isn’t anyone asking these girls why they were ok with Ed going on a dating/marriage show? Or, maybe they have asked and I just haven’t seen the answer.
AND how long did they think a business trip to Texas should last?
In Ed’s defense, can we really expect that he didn’t have a life before he went on the show?
And even if the rumors are true, Lindsey needs to own up to her part in this.
First clue that its over: your boyfriend tells you: Hon, I’m going on a dating reality show to possibly get engaged to another woman, oh, and by the way, give me a lift to the airport?
I mean, really???? Come on, Lindsey!
She accepted this? Now she’s SHOCKED that he’s engaged to another woman?
I know, and I’ve learned the hard way that men don’t think like women do. He may say he loves you blah blah blah, I’ll be home in two weeks blah blah blah… Don’t listen to a mans words, watch his ACTIONS. Boyfriend going on dating show screams: I’m just not that into you… its over! (but we can still have sex)
No one held a gun to his head to make him go on the show and he didn’t get paid to go on either (I don’t believe).
I’m sure that many of the ‘contestants’ that go on the show have someone on the back burner at home; not very nice, but it probably happens more often than we’d like to think.
I know I’m giving Ed the benefit of the dought, and I’m not sure that he deserves it.
He’s gonna have to work real hard to gain back Jillian’s trust, as there must be some seed of dought planted in the back of her mind.
I don’t think Ed is totally innocent, but I feel Lindsey and Bethany are hurt and want REVENGE. Its so easy to tarnish someone’s reputation… emails can be faked…and how could he have written them if they weren’t allowed to use computers/blackberries, etc?
And how mean-spirited to go to the media with these allagations? Ed was telling them EXACTLY how he felt about them when he told them he was going on this show… maybe they don’t want to admit that they deceived themselves?
My heart goes out to Jillian; she seems like a genuinely good and kind person. I hope these allagations aren’t true, and that they can work it out and be happy together. I wish them the best of luck!!
You guys are making excellent points. If I am in any kind of dating relationship with a guy and he tells me he’s going on a reality show, wouldnt I want details? What is the show name? Why are you doing this? Are we not exclusive? Did i read more into this relationship than you did?
And if he told her he was going on the Bachelorette, WHY would she stick around? Is she that desperate? Does she not have any self esteem at all? No self respecting woman would be okay with her boyfriend going on a dating reality show. Sorry, it just aint gonna happen.
there is something VERY fishy going on here.
One side says one thing…..the other side says another….and the truth is somewhere in the middle.
It occurred to me last night while watching Hell’s Kitchen that the “paid actor in a reality show” is spreading. In the 2nd or 3rd show this season a contestant wanted to duke it out with Chef Ramsey – he was right up in his face yelling, etc. Thinking back on it now, I think he was paid to be there for a couple shows, then cause trouble and make a fast exit. It was so bizarre – there’s no way any of the regular contestants would ever behave this way. He acted like he really didn’t want to be there – and the season had just started. C.R. ended up throwing him out. Of course it made for a cliff-hanging end to one show, with the actor threatening to fight C.R.; hoping to boost the ratings I suppose.
Jillian gets to have sex with three guys and Ed gets to have sex with three women. That makes this the fairest season ever. I love that in the GMA piece ED says they are being targeted because they are one of the few successful couples from the show. How long has it been? You’re not in the success column yet pal.
How can so many people call Lindsey and Bethany sell outs or skanks for going to the tabloids? Why wouldn’t they? Beyond Steve’s reasons think about the situation, if it’s true, their boyfriend tricks them into letting him go on the show, comes home sleeps with them, then lies to go back on the show. All the while you are being made a fool of on national television. All your friends and family think he is your boyfriend until they watch him fall all over Jill. Most normal people I know would be very pissed if it happened to them and would be looking for a little revenge. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if their friends and family had encouraged them to do it.
My two favorite ironies this season are, 1. The first guy Jill sends home from a one on one date is because he has never had is heart broken. One of the F2 is also a guy that has never had his heart broken. Two- she always claimed that Wes exactly the kind of man she always pictured herself with, Texan country boy. She let him go finally because he was there for the wrong reason and had a girl friend at home. That part turned out to be a lie and the irony is she ended up with the city boy, playboy who actually had two girlfriends back home. So she had the man of her dreams right there but ABC steered the show so would end up with a creep for some drama.
This sounds sort of logical. We know that most of the guys had signed up to be the bachelor and not this show. I’m sure they were all told that if they got far enough they would be the next bachelor. You’re right about Jill’s looks too. Most of the guys on here could most likely pick up a girl exactly like her in a bar any weekend they wanted to. It’s TV so you want someone that is amazing.
Also the money angle would make sense with the two girls claiming Ed was theirs all along. That could have been what he told them, “hey honey all I have to do is stay on the show for X number of weeks and they will pay me X number of dollars. That much money will pay for our wedding” or fill in the blank.
Gee Wes should know when to keep his mouth shut,at this point,the heat was off him.But so much for his honour code,on the show he was adament,re girlfriends,so much for his man up,he said,he hated rats squeelers,re girlfriends,he wouldn’t do it,not his place.man code…He was under my radar,until he squeeled like a pig,and that was priceless,his Us magazine quote,and sided with Dave,the dick,mr sour grapes that never,got the kiss,shot down Jiily “your as is hot”oh but he was going to be the bachelor…Yeah,Wes that is your man code buddy Dave,the guy that could not just want to beat up a guy,Juan,but wanted to tie him to a tree,then beat him up…Do you know what that sounds like?Read between my lines,who ever tied a guy to a tree to beat them,well If you don’t,sounds life a low life to me.I gave Wes the benefit of the doubt,but he should have said no comment to US,after all he went through,he would of been a better man,I guess when a magazine came calling,Wes and that bigot,Dave bonded…the two that broke that man code,about girlfriends…to a tabloid,sad really…Wes should of just moved on,and I am re thinking his interview with you.Sorry if this is a rant I am pissed,I was happy that Wes was getting his life back,really…til his non mancode bah Dave,the bigot,and he,”we knew Ed had a girlfriend don’t tell Jill,let’s tell Us…Guess Us waterboarded them.Thanks for letting me post Steve.
No offense, but your post is very hard to understand. I have no idea what you are saying.
Where are you, RS? I’m dying to hear anything about this from your perspective.
@Jordan -
I completely agree with you! I would think it would be a huge red flag if my boyfriend said he was going on TV reality show whose purpose is to find true love and get engaged. I am tired of women playing the victim card. Are these two women incapable of independent thought? They are not bound to listen to whatever Ed tells them. As for his promise to marry Lindsay by the end of the year, I can only echo Beyonce’s song –
“If you wanted it, you shoulda put a ring on it”. No ring, no promise. Lindsay should have been concerned as soon as Ed decided to go on the show.
I don’t care if he told her it was for money, that’s ridiculous! So she should be okay with it if he’s going to make money? That’s the worst reason I can think of for going on this show! Sorry, but that was a huge red flag that should have told both women that Ed wasn’t all that into them. When dealing with men, it’s what they DO, not what they SAY. Ed wasn’t engaged or married when he was dating these women. I know people who have dated more than one person at a time. The way some here are carrying on, you would think that this is the first time in history that a man did anything like this.
These women may well be telling the truth, but they don’t get brownie points for going to a gossip mag and selling their story for money. There are far worse things that happen when you are out there in the dating world. They should move on and be glad that it’s over. As for Ed, he behaved badly towards these women and it would appear that he’s not ready for marriage. If I was in Jillian’s shoes, I would think long and hard before I married him. The worst allegation was Lindsay saying that Ed slept with her AFTER he was engaged to Jillian. Unfortunately, there’s no way to prove it. It’s he said/she said. Jillian has to decide if Ed is trustworthy.
I don’t think anyone comes out of this smelling like a rose.
Well what to believe,I guess not US magazine,if they did say,that Wes and Dave talked about a girlfriend.I just read a people online article about Wes,which sounds more like Wes,so if that article stands.I owe Wes an apology and am sorry for some of my comments.As for Dave if he is quoted right in the Austin Statesmen.I was angry and should not have lumped Wes in with Dave,whom I still think is classless and clueless.
Great post, Steve, but we miss you… Where are you? A couple weeks into all this mess – what do you think now? Any new insight?
Very interesting posts above, everyone! Enjoyable!
I just want to add that People online has an agreement with ABC so that Jillian was blogging every week about her “experience”. As such, People is going to be very careful about what they print either online or in the magazine about Jillian and Ed–nothing unfavorable, very much giving them the benefit of the doubt. I highly doubt Lindsey and Bethany would have been welcome by People, even with enough solid evidence to convict in a court of law.
Having said that, US can be pretty sleazy (especially with the invasive paparazzi photos), but they rarely cross the line where they need to run retractions (good lawyers). But, US gets good scoop.
My uneducated guess is Lindsey and Bethany are nothing more than very nice but low self-esteemed females who wanted to believe Ed so much that they ignored the all-too-obvious warning signs for all-too-long. This is one of those “wow, I could have had a V-8″ moments in life where they’re probably looking back and saying to themselves, “What was I thinking?” Women with low self-esteem do things like that. I truly hope they get help to build their esteem & learn from this. They both deserve better.
So, if I was them and I knew what had gone down, I was totally pissed and I wanted revenge, what would I do? Jillian would never listen to this directly, and if she says otherwise she’s fooling herself. No female would listen to this. Go to People? No, People wouldn’t touch this. TMZ? No, TMZ hasn’t really been involved in this story. EW.com? No, they have a contract with ABC, too, so they won’t touch anything that’s critical of the Bachelor series either.
Of the other weeklies, which one has the best circulation? Why, of course: US Weekly! And if I got paid a few bucks in the process, so much the better for my pain and suffering. After all, US is going to make a ton of money off of my story. It would make sense to me.
So, Steve, let’s hear from you! This is just a fun diversion from our lives and you make it much more fun with your insight & sophomoric wit! Enlighten us!
Have a great day everyone!