Ben Higgins Opens Up About His Relationship Dynamics with Ex Lauren Bushnell
Former Bachelor star Ben Higgins shares insights on his relationship with Lauren Bushnell, describing their dynamic as professional during off-camera moments
Ben Higgins is sharing details about the final stages of his relationship with Lauren Bushnell. The Bachelor season 20 alum discussed the situation on the “Bachelor Happy Hour” podcast on Tuesday, May 28. During the filming of Ben & Lauren: Happily Ever After?, the couple was barely communicating and had started attending couples therapy.
Ben & Lauren, a spinoff featuring Higgins, 35, and Bushnell, 34, in their lives after The Bachelor but before getting married, aired for one season until the couple broke up in 2017.
Higgins explained to podcast hosts Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt that they were having disagreements and conflicts.
Higgins and I were more like work associates during that time. Even though we lived in the same house, we didn't really talk to each other off camera. The cameras would stop rolling at 9 o'clock, and we would be too exhausted to engage in conversation. I had to go to work the next day, while she was still doing her job as a flight attendant. We were both just dead tired.
Ben Higgins and Ex Lauren Bushnell Were Like Work Associates Before Split 2
Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell had a tough time making their relationship work while filming their own show. In September 2023, Ben shared on Jason Tartick's "Trading Secrets" podcast that filming Ben & Lauren made it difficult for them to maintain a healthy relationship.
Higgins shared with Amabile and Pitt that Chris Harrison, the previous host, had suggested televising his wedding with Bushnell. However, they were already in counseling and focused on making their relationship work at that time.
In the end, despite their efforts, Higgins and Bushnell were leading separate lives. Towards the conclusion of their spinoff series, both acknowledged that marriage was not in their future.
He mentioned that they hadn't been communicating much for weeks. They decided to end their relationship over the phone the day after filming ended because it had become unhealthy for both of them.
Both of them have gotten married since then. Bushnell married Chris Lane in 2019 and they now have sons named Baker and Dutton Walker. On the other hand, Higgins met Jessica Clarke on Instagram in 2018 and the two tied the knot in 2021.
Higgins shared with Us in April 2019 that Clarke is a very kind, pure, empathetic, and supportive person in general. He mentioned that she is not only like that towards him but also towards everyone around her. Higgins expressed how Clarke challenges him to be more empathetic, loving, caring, and kind. He expressed his happiness with their relationship.
Editor's P/S:
Ben Higgins's candid account of his relationship with Lauren Bushnell sheds light on the challenges couples face when their lives are under the constant scrutiny of reality television. The filming of their spinoff show, "Ben & Lauren: Happily Ever After?," exacerbated their communication issues and ultimately contributed to their breakup. The constant exhaustion and lack of privacy took a toll on their relationship, highlighting the unrealistic expectations that reality TV can create.
Despite their failed relationship, both Higgins and Bushnell have found happiness with other partners. Higgins's praise for his wife, Jessica Clarke, emphasizes the importance of finding a supportive and empathetic companion. Their relationship serves as a reminder that true love can be found outside the spotlight of reality television.
