Emily Maynard and Jef Holm announce split
Emily Maynard and Jef Holm have been hinting at a split for weeks now. From Twitter photos, to a Facebook status, their break-up seemed clear, but they said nothing. The two had gotten engaged on the eighth season of The Bachelorette just six months ago and while fans, as always, had high hopes that this reality love could last, they have officially called it quits.
“I am sorry to tell you that Jef and I have, indeed, parted ways,” Emily tells PEOPLE Magazine. “It was a very difficult and heartbreaking decision. As you know, at first I wasn’t sure that I should even be The Bachelorette, but I am a hopeless romantic and I do believe in the show. I have no regrets because I did find love and shared an incredible journey with a really special person – and you know what, we tried our best because the love between us was so real.”
According to previous reports, Emily and Jef had been instructed by ABC to wait to announce their split because of Ben Flajnik and Courtney Robertson‘s recent break-up. Apparently, multiple couples calling it quits at the same time isn’t good for the show’s image.
“I have nothing but respect and love for Jef and his family, but ultimately we are just at different points in our lives.” she adds. “I’ve learned so much and I’m grateful for all of the support I’ve received. I’m excited and hopeful for the next chapter in my life with my daughter, Ricki. I do hope that you will respect our privacy and allow us the time we need to heal.”
Jef, who planned to wed Emily in the Spring, also released a statement about their split saying, “Meeting Emily on The Bachelorette was an incredible experience, we’ve had quite the journey. I’ve never loved someone so much in my whole life, Emily is the best person and mom I have ever met. She opened up her world to me and I fell in love with her, [her daughter] Ricki, her family and the Hendricks. She has a great group of people who surround her. What we shared was completely genuine and real and it breaks my heart but we have decided to break up.”
“Emily will always have a special place in my heart. I don’t regret a single second I spent with her or Ricki. They both have been a huge part of my life. Who knows what tomorrow will bring but we are moving on to the next chapter of our lives,” he continues. “Emily and I are great friends and I hope we can continue to be friends forever. Everyone wants a salacious story to break, but the truth is we are just two people who fell in love and tried our hardest to make it work. I will always love her.”
It sounds civil enough, but was it really? Some claim that Jef just never got over Emily’s alleged texting scandal with football star Matt Leinhart.
