The whole Bachelorette gang -- Jillian, Ed, Kiptyn and Reid -- spoke to reporters this morning, and Reid was by far the most illuminating interview of the bunch.

For instance: That tacky airport shuttle that drove him to the final rose ceremony in Hawaii? It was real. Producers didn't send a limo, so he had to get himself to Jillian on his own. Which also explains his outfit. But more on that in a sec.

Reid spoke to reporters from his desk at his real estate business in Philly:

What was with the outfit you wore to propose to Jillian?
I've been asked that every 5 seconds. I was making a fashion statement! Just kidding. I was in a huge rush to get back and I didn't have time to do laundry. I didn't know what was in my luggage. I literally flew back to Hawaii and didn't have any clean clothes. I got there wearing linen pants and sneakers and when I showed up, I guess I looked really bad so I had to put on one of Chris Harrison's jackets. So that's basically what went down.

What happened with the ring? The producers didn't give you one?
No, they flew me to Philadelphia. When they sent me back [to Hawaii], they flew me through L.A. and I went and got a ring. I spent as much as I could at the time, and I flew back to Hawaii.

Were you able to return the ring?
I was able to return it, yes.

When you proposed to Jillian, did you envision it would be as simple as, you showed up, profess your love and you two would run off?
I don't know what I was thinking at the time. I was a little stressed out. I guess I thought there was no competition if I came back and told her how I felt. I almost felt it was a test on her part. But I guess it wasn't. She even said at the [After the Final Rose] taping she would have sent Kiptyn home and it would have been between me and Ed.

Did you know Kiptyn had already been there?
I don't remember. I really was in my own world and kind of nervous and really didn't think there was any competition. I wasn't thinking about any of that.

After seeing them at After the Final Rose, have you changed your mind about Jillian's chemistry with Ed?
A little bit. I think she was legitimately torn. She might even still be torn a little bit. I think because he met her parents and Ed asked her dad for her hand in marriage, that does something to a daughter, and I wasn't there for that. I'm sure that made a huge difference.

What was the second half of that question to Jillian [at ATFR]?
I was going to ask who she had the most fun with in the fantasy suite, Ed or Kiptyn. But because I stopped myself, it made it look like I was going to ask about the big thing everyone made a big deal about with Ed, which I don't think it really happened like that but I don't know since I wasn't there. I had some serious questions, and I was just going to ask that one funny question.

Do you have closure or do you still love her?
I think at this point, I definitely have strong feelings for her, but like I said at the taping I think everything happens for a reason and I've always thought that way. And that helps me have closure right there.

When are you planning to get back into the dating game?
Probably pretty soon. Immediately.

Would you want to be the next Bachelor?
I have been thinking about it and I am not sure yet.

What would you say are the upsides and downsides to being the Bachelor?
The upside is you have 25 girls coming after you which is never a bad thing. I think I trust the process at this point although it's a little unnatural. The downside is it's a ton of work, so it's gonna be really hard to figure out how to keep my business and at the same time do that. The first time around I lost some business. And the whole Bachelor stigma, for the rest of your life you're that guy.

When you meet a girl will you tell her how you feel sooner in the relationship?
You obviously have to open up and tell people who you feel, but it's a little different when you have a controlled situation with 25 guys going after the same girl. But I am more open, so I guess that's a yes.

How has your family reacted?
My mom reads all the blogs. She gets on the blogs and starts believing the bloggers more than her own son. Overall, they're happy with everything. You know with reality TV, you can come off looking like an idiot sometimes, and I think I was true to myself and I was happy with the way I was portrayed.

Are you gonna go out with that girl from AFTR?
She was cute, really cute, but she was younger than 21! I would say 22 is my cutoff.

Recommend (0)

|  Comments (0)

|  Email

|  Share

Share  Facebook Digg del.icio.us