After four seasons and four breakups, the more romantic viewers of "The Bachelor" were no doubt hoping that Jesse Palmer and Jessica Bowlin would break the show's curse and stay together until at least the ABC show returned to our screens. In the end, the couple went their separate ways just a month after their finale episode aired.
In a 2004 statement released to Extra (via Entertainment Weekly) at the time, Palmer said, "Jessica and I shared an incredible romantic journey on the show that began with a friendship that remains strong today. We simply realized that, individually, our next steps take us in different directions." While that all sounds relatively amicable and drama-free, the former NFL star did admit on "George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight" eight years later that he was left heartbroken by the split.
Palmer said, "Well, that was devastating. The last part of that, when I was 24 years old and realizing that was not going to work out, that was tough." Asked if he'd "give[n] up on love," however, he went on to quip with a laugh, "Yeah, and on life. I'm slowly bouncing back. In my old age now of 34, I'm still trying to turn the corner." Of course, the separation proved to be a blessing in disguise as, in 2020, Palmer walked down the aisle with the true love of his life, Brazilian model Emely Fardo.
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