Molly and Jason Mesnick. Image by Getty Images

Disgraced Bachelor, Arie Luyendyk, faced the world Tuesday night on ABC’s “After the Final Rose” to talk about why he proposed to one woman, Becca Kufrin, on national television only to break it off a month later and run back to runner-up, Lauren Burnham.

Luckily, he was not alone. Former Bachelor Jason Mesnick turned up with his wife, Molly Malaney, to give Luyendyk some advice about how to handle what is sure to be an onslaught of hate from the media consuming masses over the next couple of months.

Mesnick, one of the few Jewish people to land the starring role of Bachelor/Bachelorette in the hit reality series, made a similar misstep during his season. He initially proposed to Melissa Rycroft before breaking off the engagement and requesting the hand of runner-up Malaney, to whom he has now been married for eight years.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

“This show can really mess someone up,” Mesnick told the rancorous crowd Tuesday evening. “Unless you’ve been through it, you just don’t get it.”

With Malaney by his side, Mesnick urged Luyendyk to buy a plane ticket and get the heck out of dodge for a couple of months until Middle America’s housewives have recalled their flying monkeys and focused their rage elsewhere.

The much-anticipated special ended with a proposal — this time, America hopes, to the right person, Lauren Burnham. The happy couple say they intend to take Mesnick’s advice and have already purchased their plane tickets.

Probably a good idea.

Becky Scott is the editor of The Schmooze. Follow her on Twitter, @arr_scott

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount