Ashley Iaconetti insists her latest Bachelor in Paradise tears over Jared Haibon weren't as pathetic as they seemed because he had given her false hope prior to filming.
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Not only did Iaconetti tell Chris Harrison in Paradise that Haibon went to second base with her after taping last summer's edition, she also told Sean Lowe and Michelle Collins during After Paradise on Tuesday night, "He has led me on in certain ways. And he'll admit that now."
Two Bachelor in Paradise seasons in a row, Iaconetti was arguably obsessed and infatuated with Haibon despite his pursuits to find love with other women and complete lack of romantic interest in Iaconetti.
In Tuesday night's episode, Haibon got extremely frustrated over Iaconetti's emotional state because he was trying to make things work with Caila Quinn, who was holding back in fear she'd offend or upset her friend.
Although Iaconetti still had nothing but good things to say about Haibon, her dear close friend, she suggested on After Paradise that Haibon is technically to blame for the situation.
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"We've had an on and off-again relationship over the past year... I would say we really developed a friendship over the fall and then it was more than friendship during the winter," Iaconetti explained.
Collins asked Iaconetti how exactly Haibon led her on, and it quickly became clear his friendly gestures could have easily been mistaken for romantic ones.
"We'd barely go a day without texting. We FaceTimed at least once a week. I've met his family multiple times. He's met my family multiple times. He's sent me roses and he's gone all out for my birthday," Iaconetti rattled off.
"Like, if people knew all this and are close friends, they understand that I was led on. But he was just trying to be sweet, and he is! He's just the sweetest person you will ever meet. And he didn't understand that I could misinterpret that, which I did!"
America was polled on whether they'd like to see Haibon, Quinn or Iaconetti go home on the show, and although 58% of people voted for Iaconetti to leave, Lowe stood up for her.
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"Jared shouldn't lead you on like this... He's been stringing [you] along for a little bit," said Lowe, a former The Bachelor star.
Iaconetti emphasized she and Haibon WERE just friends entering Season 3 of Bachelor in Paradise, but that doesn't mean she gave up faith their relationship could grow into something more.
"I could've gone in and Jared would've been there for a week or so, would've gone on dates with other girls and gotten to know everyone, and then he would've said, 'You know what? Ashley, one of my best friends, is the girl I'm supposed to be with,'" she envisioned upon agreeing to go on the show again.
Iaconetti additionally revealed what Quinn had allegedly told her before Paradise began filming.
"[Caila] said things like, 'I hope it works out for you and [Jared] this time. I'm excited to see this love story unfold if it's going to happen,'" Iaconetti said, confirming the fact she had called Quinn "a fake b-tch" on the show.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski