We were very excited to see Michael Stagliano in the hot seat last night on the Bachelor Pad finale and today he told Parade Magazine what was happening behind the scenes regarding his relationship with Rachel and the shocking confrontation.
Rachel was obviously not over Michael and wanted an explanation. Thus we had a major hot seat situation last night as Michael was forced to explain why he led Rachel on. Michael just looked guilty and defensive but denied he did anything wrong. Here is what he said about the major confrontation.
HOT SEAT: Rachel
I was obviously told ahead of time that I would go in the hot seat and that I would talk about how things ended with Rachel, the game, etc. So I had some idea of what I was going to say. I was not ready for that video that played that essentially made me look like a conniving, manipulative, gamer that was just playing with Rachel’s emotions. It very much felt like a “hot seat.” I had never been there before, and I now know why they call it by such a name.
Some things I would like to clarify: First is that I am sorry. I said this repeatedly on camera though it didn’t air. I feel terrible about what happened with Rachel and the point I kept bringing up was that “we just never talked about it.” Rachel and I were NOT there for a long time. From the time we kissed till the time I left (in real time) was 8 or 9 days. Just a little over a week. While some of the other couples were talking about post-show relationships, Rachel and I had not. I swear on my life I did NOT know she was falling in love. Watching it back I could see her saying it in interviews but those words were never said to me. HOWEVER I am equally as “guilty” of not sharing how I felt. We both made mistakes and there was a lack of communication. Jaclyn’s claim that I made it all up and was leading Rachel on is completely inaccurate and Jaclyn has since apologized for even saying it.
The way I acted and the things I said about Rachel were because I LIKED HER. There is a LARGE difference between liking someone and loving someone. I am at the point in my life where I want to get married and I just didn’t see that with Rachel. I had NOT dated someone seriously since Holly so that is why I told that to Rachel. I liked kissing her, so I kissed her. I did what every other guy and girl do when they meet each other on a TV show or not. I dated her, and flirted with her, and played her songs on my guitar… While we were filming, I realized I wasn’t going to marry her or pursue a long-term relationship and I very much regret not being more open with her about that ON THE SHOW. The second I was able to be honest with her OFF THE SHOW, I was.
Hmmmmm, I’m not sure the apology makes Michael any less of an A-hole. Maybe we are being hard on the guy, but seeing him give his diatribe about not being able to be in a long distance relationship with Rachel last night — pretending distance was why he couldn’t date her, seemed disingenuine considering he is very much in love with a girl in Chicago. I just don’t believe that Michael was really available during the show. I don’t buy that he met and fell in love with Emily Tuchsherer from Chicago after the show taped.
The bottom line is Michael got caught between a rock and a hard place. He had to save face with Rachel and America for looking like a D-bag, but he also had to save face with his current girlfriend, Emily, by insisting he wasn’t that into Rachel.
