'I CRUMBLED'
The Bachelor’s Michelle Young fights back tears as she slams Matt James for ‘refusing to talk to her’ after dumping her
MICHELLE Young fought back tears as she slammed Matt James for "refusing" to talk to her after dumping her.
star broke up with Michelle in the finale, instead despite her attendance at a "racist" plantation-style party.
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Michelle, 27, talked about her devastation following her split from , 29, in Monday night's After The Final Rose special.
"I needed to say my piece because I didn't get the chance to," she told host Emmanuel Acho of their breakup.
"I asked if I could talk to Matt for two minutes - and not to change his [mind], to not get in the way of the relationship that he was pursuing that was still there. Just for me to say my piece.
"But he refused to have that conversation with me. I think I deserved the two minutes to get my closure and move on."
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Michelle became tearful as she then faced Matt for the first time since their split months earlier.
"This is hard to sit here, watching that entire night and everything that that was. I mean, you said that you needed to move forward - to do this on your own, or without me, or in the other relationship - and you left," she said.
"The moment you left, I completely crumbled. I had to walk away without closure, and I had to fill in the gaps of what our relationship really was.
"I wasn't okay at all. And producers were in my room, seeing how bad I was hurting."
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The elementary school teacher added through tears: "And I asked you for a conversation, and it was not a conversation where I was trying to change your trajectory or trying to change your mind or fight for you.
"It was a conversation so that I could have my inner peace when I left Pennsylvania. And you said no."
Matt apologized for his actions and insisted if he'd known how she was feeling he'd have "fought" to have that conversation.
"There's no justification for why I didn't have that conversation, and if I would've known that this is how you were feeling in that moment, then I would've fought to have that conversation," he said.
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"In terms of there being any doubt of how I felt about you, what I can tell you is that when you showed up when you did, it was a breath of fresh air. And I always tell people who ask that you weren't late - you were right on time."
Michelle joined the dating competition as a contestant in week three.
Matt added: "I would hope you would know that I really did care about you, and everything you had shared with me and seeing your heart.
"And the way that you carried yourself throughout the show and the emotional labor you took on and continue to take on as a Black woman in your position, showing grace and composure through a lot of situations where I probably would've snapped. My respect and admiration for you is through the roof."
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He went on: "If I could do it over again, I would've had that conversation with you, knowing how you feel. And all I can say now is I'm sorry."
Michelle told her ex: "I care about you. We went through a lot together, we laughed a lot together, and I'm a very forgiving person.
"I mean, you and me talking about it right now - I've honestly already put it down. And I'm not in love [with Matt] like I was leaving the show, but it does help hearing that what you felt for me was real and what I was feeling - we were on the same page somewhat up until that point.
"But I think that was what I was really struggling with the most, so I do appreciate [your apology]."
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The confrontation ended on a friendlier note, with the pair laughing after Michelle teasingly told Matt: "I hope you find your happiness, I hope you move on with kissing with your eyes closed and I hope you come up with more phrases than just, 'Thanks for sharing.'"
Matt sparked furious backlash when he gave his final rose in the season 25 finale.
Despite emphasizing that he is "ready to find" his wife all season, he didn't propose to Rachael as is typical Bachelor tradition.
, 24, has after photos emerged of her in 2018.
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She was also in the past.
Rachael and Matt after he ended their relationship.
Matt said in the emotional reunion that he was "heartbroken" to discover the photos of Rachael at the plantation-style party.
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Rachael previously issued an Instagram statement to the “communities and individuals that my actions harmed and offended.”
Meanwhile, The Sun has .
Chris Harrison will not host the next season of The Bachelorette.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
It was announced on Friday that former Bachelorette stars and Kaitlyn Bristowe will take over as the hosts.
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