Molly's Man

Kirkland’s Jason Mesnick No Longer a Bachelor

He was America’s most-famous bachelor when he starred in ABC’s hit TV show “The Bachelor” last winter. Then he quickly became the most-controversial bachelor when he withdrew his proposal during the follow-up show and asked the runner-up for a second chance.

A year later, Kirkland’s Jason Mesnick still says he made the right choice and that he’s madly in love with Molly Malaney — he’s grateful she agreed to give him another shot.

“I didn’t pick Molly because our relationship was so young and fun and playful, and I thought, well, that’s the stuff that eventually goes away anyway,” Mesnick explained. “But then I realized, well, that’s a stupid reason to not pick somebody, and realized that there was so much feeling attached to everything with Molly.”

After the cameras stopped rolling between the season finale and the follow-up show that made Mesnick realize he made two huge mistakes: First, asking Melissa Rycroft to marry him. And letting Malaney go.

On the follow-up show, “After the Final Rose,” Mesnick told Rycroft that he still had feelings for Malaney. From the shock on Rycroft’s face and her subsequent reaction walking out, everyone who was watching the show assumed she was just as taken aback as the rest of America. And worse, that he broke her heart on national TV.

Not the case, says Mesnick. “I actually broke up beforehand with Melissa, but it was edited so it looked like we didn’t.” In any case, that move immediately made Mesnick the most controversial Bachelor in the show’s history. The Web — including 425magazine.com — was abuzz with people weighing in. Everyone had an opinion. A lot of folks thought the charming Mesnick was heartless.

But there was one person who was as shocked as the viewers — Malaney.

After the initial show finished filming, Malaney was selected to be the next “Bachelorette.” Mesnick’s contract with ABC forbid him from contacting Malaney before the “After the Final Rose” taping, he explained. If he wanted a second chance with Malaney, he was going to have to do it on television.

“I think that most people would have done the same thing in my shoes,” Mesnick said. “I wasn’t going to take a chance on losing out on Molly again, so I did it all on television.” Mesnick says that he “can’t judge anybody for how they feel,” but had to do what was right for him and take care of himself.

Maybe they had to lose one another to realize they were meant to be.

During the taping of the show Molly says she “was really uncomfortable with the cameras” and “never really got emotional with Jason.” But the tears started to flow when he didn’t pick her the first time around.  “It opened up a new window for him to see me in a different way …and that really resonated with him, I think, after I left,” she said.

But when Mesnick changed his mind and wanted Malaney back, she was cautious. He not only had to win her back – but convince her family and friends that he was worthy of her heart. She had feelings to sort out, too.
 
“I had a lot of insecurities after he didn’t choose me and it took a while to get past it. I knew I wanted to take it slow, but I also knew what an incredible person he was from the show, and I knew I wanted to give this incredible person another chance,” Malaney said.

In the weeks after the follow-up show, they started all over again without the cameras and, “really slowed things down and took our time. We took the time to be a real-life couple, not a TV couple,” Malaney said. The two spent a lot of time on the phone, sending e-mails and on Skype while Malaney was in Milwaukee, and would even switch off every weekend flying to see the other person. “We were on planes all the time,” Mesnick said. “It sucked.”

In October, Malaney moved to the Northwest. “She wouldn’t be moving here if it wasn’t serious,” Mesnick said. “It’s a big thing to uproot your whole life.” Eventually they plan to marry, but for now are taking the relationship one step at a time. Right now, they are trying to be a “normal couple.”
Jason’s son, Ty, plays a big part in their relationship as well. Although Malaney was initially nervous about how it would be between her and Ty, she says they get along great. There are competitive games of Chutes and Ladders and Candyland, and Ty is teaching her to play Wii. The three of them are also taking up hobbies together — learning how to play tennis and golf.

So what do they think about the experience on the show, now that it’s all over and they have had time to reflect — and find each other?

“I wanted to do it for the great experience, and it’s amazing that I found the person I want to spend the rest of my life with,” Malaney said. Mesnick is just glad it worked out. “It wouldn’t have been worth it if I didn’t meet Molly. I got to do great things, and I learned a lot about myself, but if I hadn’t met Molly, I would think it was a boneheaded move,” he said. “But, since I did meet Molly, I think, way to go, good call.”

They enjoyed exotic, exciting dates on the show. Now what?

 “We’re just an ordinary couple like everyone else,” Malaney said. “We started in an unusual way.” Their favorite date nights are the simple ones — a dinner and movie at home, wearing sweatpants and sipping wine.

“The way we started was so unusual — with camera men and 20-plus people on our dates — so we really appreciate the time alone together,” Malaney said.

Ashley Breckel is a freelance writer in Bellevue. She interviewed Mesnick last year for 425 magazine after he appeared on “The Bachelorette” and before the taping of “The Bachelor.” Brooke Clark owns Studio B Portraits in Issaquah and says it was a lot of fun photographing the happy couple.

For the full story pick up the latest copy of 425 magazine. Subscriptions are available by phone at 425.646.1380 or you may order your subscription online.