Continuing his apology publicity tour, Jason Mesnick insists he never cheated on The Bachelor winner Melissa Rycroft with runner-up Molly Malaney before he publicly dumped the former for the latter on the "After the Final Rose" special.
It's not easy being "the most hated man in America right now," or so Jason said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show this morning, where he offered this to fans:
"I think what I want to do is to apologize to everybody out there. All the fans of the show because thank you for watching, but this was my real life."
"It was the hardest thing I've had to do," Jason said of the controversial switcheroo.
"I made some big mistakes and that's what I wanted to sit here and talk about today - the mistakes I made. But in the end I found my true love."
He also expressed regret over telling Melissa Rycroft on camera about Molly (Melissa said Jason lied about her yesterday in her own interview on Ellen).
"I completely regret doing that," Mesnick said with seeming sincerity and Molly Malaney by his side. "I regretted it every single day since that happened."
"I will regret it every day for the rest of my life. The producers obviously really wanted me to do it on the show, but I take responsibility for my actions."
Follow the jump for more reactions from Jason Mesnick and Molly Malaney, and a video of their interview with Ellen DeGeneres ...
"I could've not shown up and when I look back, I was just trying to do what I thought was right for me. If I could go back and do it again I would not do that."
Despite Melissa Rycroft's speculation that Jason Mesnick had been talking to Molly again prior to humiliating her on TV, he swears he hadn't, saying asking for Molly back was "one of the scariest things that I've had to do."
Then there's Molly Malaney herself, in the tough situation of feeling sorry for Melissa, but genuinely happy for herself with the guy she ended up landing.
"You know, there were moments where I sympathized with Melissa for sure," she said. "I was heartbroken by this guy, too. So I know what she was going through."
"But I do give him a lot of credit for doing what he did," the 24-year-old native of Grand Rapids, Mich., added. Because he is standing up for what is best for him. I think if there is any time to be selfish, it's when love is involved."
They're not getting married anytime soon, but she says she's moving to Seattle at some point. The two happy and taking life a day at a time, and trying to get America to stop the hate one talk show and People magazine cover at time.
Check out the video of Jason and Molly on The Ellen DeGeneres Show below (with Melissa's interview on the same show the previous day below that):
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18 Comments
March 6th, 2009 2:36 PM
The whole time me and my husband were watching Jason pick Melissa, we were like what the heck is he doing? Melissa is a great girl, but comme on, there was no doubt to most of us watching that Molly had Jason early on. I wish I would have been there to hit him with the obvious...would have saved us a lot of drama.
March 6th, 2009 3:29 PM
Melissa said that 25 girls were all trying to impress Jason and it's one sided and Jason was not interviewed by the girls. Isn’t that what she supposed to find out while going out on dates with Jason to see if he is a good match for her instead of just to please him so that she can be the winner of the show in the end? So after the finale, she wondered what is it about Jason that worth her fighting for. If she was not sure about Jason, why did she led him on by telling him that she loved him? Just so that she can win in the end? What a looser!
Jason has a life and he is there sincerely looking for a relationship with somebody. I think it’s very irresponsible for Melissa to go on the show and throw herself at Jason apparently based on what she claimed on Ellen’s show that she is not even sure of his good qualities and she had to find out all of this after he proposed to her.
If I were Jason, I would have dumped her as well because I think she screwed the poor guy. It’s even upsetting that it’s not just him that’s involved in this, his son is in it too ……
Melissa is pretty much in this to win. As to Melissa’s accusation of Jason lied to her about Molly, I am sorry if the guy already broke up with Melissa, it’s really not his responsibility to tell Melissa what is going on in his love life any more. He has the right to do whatever and it’s not Melissa’s business that Jason decided to date Molly. Melissa is a looser and a slud!
March 6th, 2009 4:24 PM
Jason Mesnick is so out of touch, he is starting a website for single parents..Are you kidding me? You subjected yourself to the worst of conditions, did everything opposite of the experts say to do with children. Who do you think you are to be giving advice on parenting. I would rahter get advice from Nadya Suleman on parenting you loser!
March 6th, 2009 5:22 PM
Most of the viewers do not care that Jason had a change of heart. We watched it for pure entertainment purpose since these "showmances" usually do not survive even a few months after they're off the air. But, he is definitely NOT sincere. Any guys with an ounce of sincerity would not do what he did on national tv. He said what he did was just following his heart. Did his heart tell him to humiliate a girl in front of 15 millions viewers? That was a big load of crap!
March 6th, 2009 6:56 PM
Thank god you finally figured out it was molly. if it wasn't for deAnna saying don't go with the wildcard, he would have picked Molly. DUH? if you can't stop thinking about someone and she drives you nuts....THATS THE ONE YOU PICK THE FIRST TIME...DON'T BE SAFE.
March 7th, 2009 5:11 AM
Jason S Mesnick
13426 NE 136th Pl
Kirkland, WA 98034
4258255834
Howdy fans of mine! I am doing a relationship radio show here in Seattle. I will talk about love, how to find it, keep it, marry it!!!!
Please be part of the show! Thanks for all your support!
Love Jason, Molly & Ty
March 8th, 2009 1:24 AM
Jason should have never listened to Deonna. I think she came to try and get back with him, the day of the rose ceromony, but when this did not happen, she said, " Don't pick the wild card."
She knew he would listen to her. They connected in the last season. It was plain to see.
He did listen to her and chose Mellisa based on Deonna's appearence.
I think she figured, If I can't have him no one can.
So ultimately I blame the extra drama and the heartaches of all three Jason, Molly , and ,Mellisa on Deonna. She had no buisness coming back on the show after braking his heart!
March 8th, 2009 1:40 AM
Jason is just a wimp who is desperate for people to like him again. His huge self absorbed ego can't take all the bad press. As for these silly girls who would get engaged to some guy who they have known for a month and a half on a reality show, they deserve everything they get!
March 8th, 2009 9:49 AM
it isn't that he wanted molly in the end - it is how jason did it!!!!!!!!!! on national tv when jason got upset over the fact that deanna let him get down on one knee - this is 1000,000 times worse. jason is a jerk. now go cry on the balcony again that is one ugly cry!!!!!!!!!!
March 8th, 2009 9:51 AM
come one jason's fan now blaming deanna this isn't some young high school boy! jason has ben married had a child JASON should know his own heart and mind. get real, if he drinks and drives who fault will that be? molly for letting him. lol