The Bachelor couple Ben Higgins, Lauren Bushnell break up; engagement ends
Today, the two parties confirmed per People Magazine that their engagement is over, and they are moving forward with their lives. They released a joint statement, where they had the following to say:
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce our decision to go our separate ways … We feel fortunate for the time we had together, and will remain friends with much love and respect for one another. We wish nothing but the best for each other, and ask for your support and understanding at this time.”
Ben and Lauren first got together on the 2016 season of The Bachelor, where she made it to the end of the season and eventually received the final rose. From there, they of course made a number of appearances together, and eventually starred in the Freeform reality show entitled Ben and Lauren: Happily Ever After?, where they documented their engagement and their attempts to plan for the future. There was conflict here and there, but also a spirit of happiness.
However, there were starting to be rumors many weeks ago that the relationship could be on its last legs, as the two were seen increasingly apart both in life and in posts on social media. This breakup means that Sean Lowe remains the most recent Bachelor star to marry the woman he proposed to on the show; since that time, Desiree Hartsock and Chris Siegfried also married and started a family. There have been some success stories on Bachelor in Paradise, with Jade Roper and Tanner Tolbert topping the list after they were married during a recent special celebrating the show.
Ultimately, it’s easy to feel for Ben and Lauren in this circumstance, mostly because of the fact that the majority of the couples who make it through this crazy experience simply don’t make it to the other side. It doesn’t have much to do with anything other than statistics. The majority of people who start dating in real life don’t end up getting married, and when it comes to the show, the same can ultimately be said. They’ve had some successful runs here and there, but there are still some engaged couples including JoJo Fletcher / Jordan Rodgers, Kaitlyn Bristowe / Shawn Booth, and most recently Nick Viall / Vanessa Grimaldi.
Are you surprised by the breakup news for Ben and Lauren? Share in the comments! (Photo: Freeform.)