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Bachelor Jason Mesnick says contract forced the public breakup after his change of heart

March 5, 2009

Jason Mesnick is the bachelor for the reality series' 13th season. (ABC)

Somewhere along the way, "The Bachelor's" Jason Mesnick lost that lovin' feeling for Melissa Rycroft. His only recourse: Publicly dump her in favor of runner-up Molly Malaney, Mesnick told People in an interview posted on the magazine's Web site on Wednesday.

Mesnick said he would have preferred to deliver the news to Rycroft off camera.

"There were things I needed to tell her in person, and I was not allowed to see her. That was part of the deal. I signed up for it in my contract. Your relationship is—good and bad—in front of everybody," said Mesnick, who talked to People about the surprising switcheroo on Monday night's finale.

But "Bachelor" host Chris Harrison told Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show Wednesday that he thought Rycroft was a great match for Mesnick. Harrison also addressed rumors that the dramatic switch was planned.

"That was the one thing that did upset me about all of this," Harrison said. "When the rumors went from how this ends to 'this is completely contrived and scripted,' questioning not only the show's integrity but my integrity and honesty, that's where I got a little upset."

One person emerging from all the controversy smelling like a rose is bachelorette Jillian Harris, who finished in third place. Harris will headline the new season of "The Bachelorette," ABC announced Tuesday night.

The interior designer from Canada jokingly thanked Mesnick for giving her the chance to have 25 men compete for her affections.

"It's a great opportunity for me," she said.