On the Breakup of Chris and Whitney: 4 Reasons Why Bachelor Couples Rarely Work

On the Breakup of Chris and Whitney: 4 Reasons Why Bachelor Couples Rarely Work June 1, 2015

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Many of you have asked me my thoughts about the recent breakup of Chris and Whitney. Let me just say that I feel bad for both of them. I don’t know either one of them all that well but they seem to be nice people, and I’m sorry they’ve had to experience such a public breakup. To be honest, I’m not comfortable guessing as to what may or may not have lead to the breakup, and it’s really none of my business.  So, instead I’m going to give you some simple truths as to why these Bachelor relationships rarely work.

First, let’s cover the most obvious- you are meeting in a fantasy land that cultivates the feeling of love. While on the show, you’re being whisked away to some of the most beautiful and romantic places in the world and experiencing things that most people will never have the chance to experience (like fireside dinners in an ice castle). It’s real easy to fall in love when you don’t have the real world to contend with.

Second, love takes a lot of work. If you’re married or have been in a long-term relationship then you know that loving your significant other can be challenging at times. Catherine and I have been pretty honest about the amount of work we’ve had to put in to our relationship. Catherine and I come from different types of families, we lived in different parts of the country, we had different views on a lot of different things that never came up in conversation on the show. When the cameras stop, the reality sets in and it’s then that you realize it’s not going to be as easy as you might have thought.

Third, the “fame” plays a big factor. Luckily for me, everyone loves my wife more than they love me.  But I know taking a backseat — so to speak — has been tough for some of the men and women who end up with the bachelor or bachelorette once the show is over. Obviously both people in any relationship should be on an even playing field but it never seems to work out that way after The Bachelor. The bachelor or bachelorette will always receive more media attention than the person they select.


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