Bachelorette Ashley Hebert: I "Understand" Ben's Post-Proposal Anger
Credit: ABC/MATT KLITSCHER
Ben Flajnik may have let anger get the best of him on Monday's Bachelorette finale when Ashley Hebert made him propose before sending him home, but Hebert says she understands where his emotions were coming from.
Proposing first in Fiji before eventual winner JP Rosenbaum, 28-year-old winemaker Flajnik admitted he was in "shock and utter disbelief" at her rejection.
VIDEO: JP and Ashley's cutest Bachelorette moments
"I'm sorry. I know this was unexpected, and I want you to know this is the hardest thing I've done here. This is not easy," Hebert said as Flajnik walked away in stunned, angry silence. "You can't leave something like this on good terms. It's not possible," replied Flajnik. "Good things don't end unless they end badly."
Later, on ABC's After the Final Rose finale special, Flajnik admitted that he had few memories of that day -- and his behavior.
VIDEO: Ashley says her time in Fiji with Ben was "like a honeymoon"
"It's difficult to watch," Flajnik told Bachelorette host Chris Harrison after viewing his proposal. "When you're going through the whole proposal, you're almost kind of blacked out and instinct takes over. All I remember from that day is me being down on one knee and her saying no, and having the courage to stand up. That was the hardest part: Getting back up," he said. "I was in love with her. It takes a lot for me to fall in love."
Adding insult to injury for Flajnik? He had to travel straight from Fiji to his best friend's wedding. "That was a long flight home," he told Harrison. "We had multiple stops on the way home and I was stewing in my head."
VIDEO: Watch Ben's angry reaction to Ashley's rejection
While Hebert was no doubt shaken by his angry reaction at the time, the happily engaged reality star says she has come to terms with his anger.
"There was a period of time where I thought you were the one I was going to be living with, and there gets to be a point where you just have to follow your heart and that's what I did," she told Flajnik, explaining the point when she knew he wasn't The One. "I never thought that the day I'd get engaged would be so gut-wrenching. To know I was the one who was causing that type of pain to somebody was hard. I felt anger [from you] and I'd never felt that. In the moment, I was surprised, but watching it back, I completely understand."
PHOTOS: Ben and JP's exotic final dates with Ashley
All things considered, Flajnik says he has no regrets, and credits Hebert with helping him move on in the wake of his father's passing.
"I lost a little bit of dignity, that's what it was," he said. "I couldn't have gotten to where I was without [Ashley], so for that I thank you. Having gone through something like [finding love on The Bachelorette], that's so special, I'd like to feel that again, but only time will tell."
Tell Us: Did Ben overreact after Ashley rejected him?
By Allison Corneau for Us Weekly. For more Channel Surfing, click here.
















Tell Us What You Think
12Is Ben Jewish also?
The show is totally STUPID! People in real life can't date that many people at the same time without getting yelled at by the many that get hurt. Ben deserves much better than that little twit. I hope he is ready soon to find his ONE and ONLY.
Ashley you do not let Ben get down and make a ass of himself you have no shame.
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I truly think Ashley needs to grow up, and I feel she made a terrible decision, all JP wanted was publicity, like "Jake & Vienna" Ben most definitely. was the better choice for Ashley........however time will only tell!!!
Ok, yes he did say before you say anything and then went down, but she could have and SHOULD have as a LADY, stopped him and said No Ben. Yes she might have been "rude" for a millisecond but he would have thanked her for it and been grateful in the long run for the "interruption". Don't excuse bad behavior by saying oh she didn't have a chance, she had chances, she is just so lame she probably actually considered it for a minute since she was so wishy washy right up to the end. I'm GLAD this season is over, it was BORING and if this is what the future seasons are like, they should just cancel it now.
No, I found Ben's reaction honest and true. He is an amazing guy and will find a great match. Ashely were one lucky girl with the last four guys she had. But it was clear that JP was it from early on. Best of luck to this guy!
ok, sorry, just went back and watched the video ( you can follow links on above story and find both proposals). Ben holds her hand and says "I don't see a ring on your finger" and she bites her lips and says "umm, I.." and than he said "before you say anything...." and goes into his proposal. You can see she is uncomfortable from the time he comes until she tells him. I can't imagine being in her position.....they were both awesome guys!
Altho if you remember she did try to speak first.. I believe she tried to save him from the humiliation.. but he stopped her and said b4 you say anything.... and went ahead..
To Rebecca and Melissa...I watched last night and just before he got down on his knee, she said " I have to say something"...and he said "before you say anything...and than went into his proposal". She DID try to stop him, but didn't force it by yelling NO DON'T PROPOSE.
I agree Melissa, she should never have let him get down on one knee..that was just not cool.
Haven't watched the show, but from following entertainment news, I've gotten the whole storyline. Ashley should be ashamed of herself. She was humiliated several times by Wesley and should have even been more understanding of the forum and sensitive to feelings, yet she put Ben through a marriage proposal knowing she was going to pick the other guy? And she's surprised that Ben reacted angrily? Bad karma.