Television September 12, 2018
Annaliese Puccini Gets Emotional After ‘BIP’ Reunion Breakup – Is It Really Over with Kamil Nicalek?
ABC
On last night's “Bachelor in Paradise” reunion, Annaliese Puccini was dumped on television by Kamil Nicalek.
Just moments after Annaliese revealed that she was “in a good spot” with Nicalek, he blindsided her with a surprising admission about their relationship. He told Chris Harrison, “I know Annaliese is ready for a guy to get down on one knee right now and get engaged, and you deserve the best, and I think I might not be the guy for you. I lost that spark we had in Paradise after leaving.”
He told Annaliese, “You're great, Annaliese. You're an amazing woman, and I don't want to just string you along and pretend that we have something special still. It's just not working out for me, and I think it would be best for us to slowly part ways.”
After Kamil's comments, Puccini pointed out that she considered ending their relationship earlier this month, saying, “I literally tried to break up with you two weeks ago. You said, 'I don't want to lose you. I'm going to fight for you.'”
The day after their breakup aired, “Extra” online correspondent Hannah Kahn sat down with Annaliese, who opened up about watching the episode. Joined by fellow “Bachelor in Paradise” contestant Eric Bigger, she said, “It was hard, and I think re-watching it last night was almost harder, 'cause it made it feel like it was more final. I think when it happened a couple weeks ago, I still felt like, 'Okay, maybe there's still a chance for us.' And then re-watching it last night, it was just really hard.”
“It was an emotional night. I was sitting there with my mom and she started tearing up watching me, and then I started crying watching her,” Puccini admitted as Eric tried to comfort her.
Annaliese and Kamil have talked since the shocking televised breakup. She revealed, “After we filmed the reunion, he and I continued to talk, and actually it was probably, there was like a week there that was probably the best… We weren't together as a couple, but it was like the best our relationship had ever been. I think it was just 'cause there was no pressure on it anymore, so we had very deep conversations, and I think that was why I was thinking, 'Oh, this still could be something.'”
Despite what went down, Annaliese said she is able to forgive Kamil. She explained, “I just hope that America gives him a little bit of forgiveness and is just kind, because at the end of the day, we did have a strong relationship. It wasn't all depicted on television. But I know the person that he is, and I just, I feel bad that people are being so hard on him now. Obviously, how the show was last night, I feel like it was understandable, 'cause people are angry. But he is a good person.”
Along with forgiveness, Puccini isn't closing the door on their relationshp. She said, “We sort of decided… to be friends, and maybe if he's in San Francisco or I'm in New York and we see each other and go on a date and see where things go. I don't know if that's still the case, just because obviously last night, it's just been very hard on both of us. So I just think there's a lot of emotions and anger and hurt on both parts. So I think it's just gonna take a little bit of time for both of us to heal, and then, who knows? I really care about him as a person and I hope that at least, if nothing else, we can be friends.”
