Some time has passed since Brad Womack turned down both women on the season finale of The Bachelor but fans are still scratching their heads and wondering what happened. We didn’t get too many answers on the “After The Final Rose” special which aired the night after the finale, either. Brad only said that he wouldn’t apologize for not falling in love but that he still cared for both women very much. Today, BuddyTV readers will get some answers and perhaps, a little closure after the shocking finale. DeAnna Pappas talked to BuddyTV today about whether or not she has had contact with Brad, how she felt when Jenni was dumped, and life after The Bachelor. Could she be the next Bachelorette? Read on to find out!
Below, you will find the complete transcript and mp3 of the interview.
Hey everybody, this is Gina from BuddyTV and I’m talking to DeAnna from The Bachelor. Hey DeAnna, how are you doing?
I’m doing very well, thank you.
Well let me tell you, we had a lot of angry readers after the finale. People went insane. You would have thought that they were the ones who got broken up with on national television. Were you surprised at the reaction from the fans?
You know, honestly, I really kind of was. I didn’t expect all the outpour of support and reactions from the show, and it just makes me so thankful and appreciative for everyone’s continued support. I am very, very grateful.
Did you actually watch the finale when it aired? Or did you decide to skip it?
No, I did actually watch it. It was kind of hard for me to watch, but I watched it.
And when you watched it, did you have any sympathetic feelings toward Jenni?
Of course I did. Jenni is a great person. She has a big heart. And to see her standing there smiling, I mean I don’t feel like she had any clue that he wasn’t going to pick her, and my heart just went out to here. I was so upset that she got her heart broken like that.
They mentioned very briefly on that after the final rose special, that your dad was flown out for the engagement. What happened? I mean, did you get to see him and talk to him after everything went down?
You know I did get to talk to my dad. When I came back to my apartment the day after the final rose, my dad was there. I did get to talk to him and he was just as confused as I was because he had no idea. He just knew that I didn’t get chosen after he was already there.
I was actually really happy that you stood up to Brad you know, because Jenni was just sort of sad and quiet and you told him exactly what you thought.
I am a very blunt, honest, and outspoken person. I guess sometimes that can be good and sometimes that can be bad. I express the way that I feel and if I’m upset, I want someone to know that. And If I’m happy I really want people to know that as well. So, it’s important for me to stick up for myself because I believe that I am a great person, and I believe that I show people the same respect. So Brad should show me the same respect.
Now how long into the process did you really start to think that things could be serious with Brad?
I knew from the first moment that I sat down and talked to Brad that I had a very strong connection with this man. I truly felt like I was meant to be with this person. But it wasn’t until he went to my hometown and Brad got to meet my family, is when I realized that I was actually falling in love with this person.
How weird is it to do interviews with people about breaking-up with somebody? Because that’s not something you do everyday of your life.
It’s not really weird, it’s actually kind of good for me because I get to talk about it. And it’s some sort of help for me to try to get over it and move on.
Did you film the “After the Final Rose” special after you were with Brad? Or was it more of a recent taping?
It was a recent taping.
And was it hard for you to come back and do that? Because it should have been “the happy couple” and it was such the opposite.
It was very hard. Walking on the stage, when I saw Brad, it was very hard for me to even look at him. I wasn’t really sure how I was supposed to act. If I was supposed to hug him. If I should be happy to see him. I just didn’t know what to do. It was very hard for me to even look at him.
And you really didn’t have much to say to him, even though he was trying to tell you nice things, or things that he felt for you. Have you guys had any contact since?
I have had contact with Brad. Yes.
There’s a lot of rumors going around as to why he didn’t end up picking either of you. Do you, at this point, have any idea as to why he opted out of staying with you?
I do have an idea, and I don’t believe any of the rumors. I don’t listen to them because I know that Brad is a very genuine person. He is a great person and one of the most amazing men that I’ve ever met. So the rumors I don’t listen to and I don’t believe. I truly believe that in this experience he got completely confused. He didn’t know what was real and what wasn’t real, and I’m not sure that he even knows today.
Do you know if he’s still trying to figure out if what he had with you was real? Or are both of you trying to move on from this?
You know what? I don’t know. I’m definitely trying to move on. For Brad, I’m not really sure what he’s doing.
Well we did a poll on BuddyTV’s website, and there are a lot of people who would like to see you be The Bachelorette. What would your thought be on that?
You know if Mike Fleiss thought enough to ask me to do the show, I absolutely would. I believe in the show. I believe in the experience and I believe that you can find love. It just depends on how hard you’re willing to try at it.
Well what’s life been like since the show has aired? Have you been trying to just get back to your everyday, normal life?
Yeah, definitely. For two and half months between the final rose and the final rose ceremony, it was very hard for me. That’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do I just tell everybody: ‘You just have to wait and see until the end of the show.’ Because everybody thought that I won. So, that was very hard for me and since the final rose ceremony I’ve really been trying to get back to a normal life. Focus on my real estate, work, and just try to get back to, you know, normal things.
At this point do you still feel upset and hurt? Or do you think that you’re starting to be okay with everything that happened?
You know, it kind of stings a little, but I’m okay. I am a very strong person. I’ve had plenty of heart-ache in my life and it’s made me the type of person I am today, and I’m very thankful for that. So it does still sting, but hey, I’m okay. I’m moving on with my life and I have spoke to brad. I have the strongest family in the entire world and they have been my support system and I’m very thankful for all of them.
Well I know the fans are going to be so happy to hear from you. You were extremely popular with the readers. I mean, honestly I have rarely seen the readers be so good to girls on the show. To you and Jenni. You both were really classy to watch on the show.
Oh, thank you so much. I know that I appreciate it and Jen would appreciate it as well. It was probably the craziest, but most amazing experience that I’ve ever, ever gone through in my entire life. I’m extremely thankful for everyone’s support.
Well we just wanted to wish you good luck. Thank you so much DeAnna.
Thank you so much Gina, it was very nice to talk to you.
You too. Have a great day.
– Gina Scarpa, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image courtesy of ABC)
Staff Writer, BuddyTV
