Brad Womack believes heavy media coverage and the fact they were living in different cities are why his relationship with Emily Maynard failed.

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The paparazzi "became a huge game-changer," Womack told People in a cover story published in the magazine's July 11 issue.

"I failed [Emily] in the respect that I should have protected her."

Womack, a 38-year-old bar owner from Austin, TX, said his temper flared over media reports about his relationship with Maynard and he often took his frustration out on the former fifteenth-season The Bachelor bachelorette.

"I would get so angry and would feel almost violated. I would keep those feelings bottled up, and by the time I had the chance to speak to Em... I would let that negative emotion come flooding out, and it was almost as if she was being attacked," Womack explained.

In addition, Womack said that trying to maintain a long-distance relationship played a significant role in the couple's demise, as Maynard, a 25-year-old Charlotte, NC resident, lived almost 1,200 miles away from him.

"Distance didn't allow me the opportunity to simply put my arms around her after a disagreement and admit that I'm wrong," Womack said.

The former The Bachelor star also told People he took sole responsibility for his relationship with Maynard falling apart.

"The demise of our relationship was completely my fault. I gave Em every reason under the sun to get out much sooner than she did. She hung in there with me much, much longer than she should have," he added.

While Maynard refused to put all the blame on Womack, she said she does agree the paparazzi were intrusive and cameras would irritatingly follow her and her six-year-old daughter Ricki around everywhere.

"I had photographers outside of my house waiting for me to go somewhere," Maynard told People. "I thought, 'Oh, it will die down.' But it didn't."

However, Maynard insisted media coverage of the couple wasn't the only factor that led to their break-up and the causes also included Womack's "inability to fully embrace the concept of being a 24-7 parent," according to People.  

"He didn't understand why I couldn't go on a random vacation the next day," Maynard told the magazine. "It's hard for me to say, 'I am so tired, I want to go to bed at eight,' and for him to understand."

The couple -- who got engaged during ABC's broadcast of The Bachelor's fifteenth-season finale in March -- had also been on and off for awhile, and Maynard felt relocating to Texas with Ricki wouldn't solve the issue.

"I need stability. I can't just say I'll figure it out when I get there. I didn't feel it would be a good move to take my daughter away from her life for a guy if I don't know if it's going to work out a month down the road," Maynard explained.

Maynard also disagreed with Womack's claim that he was completely responsible for the relationship's demise, suggesting the problems the couple encountered were no one's fault in particular.

"It wasn't him hurting me or me hurting him," Maynard told People. "There was no huge blow-up fight. It was two adults having the maturity to step away and realize that just because we love each other doesn't mean we're right for each other."

She was also rejected the idea that the pair's split had anything to do with Womack's alleged fear of commitment.

"He's smart enough to know when it's right and when it's not," Maynard told People. "We both thought it was right this time. He's been such a gentleman. I feel confident had we lived in the same city and met at church, we could have made it."

According to Womack, the relationship ended when Maynard finally didn't reject one of his repeated suggestions that they just call it quits and end months of attempts to settle their differences.

"We didn't want to announce anything until we knew for sure. I was okay with it, but I think it was hard on him," Maynard said.

Although Maynard claimed she's unsure whether she and Womack -- who still reportedly keep in touch via phone and text messaging -- will ever give their relationship another shot, she didn't completely rule out the idea of a future reconciliation.

"I don't know," Maynard told People. "Right now, I need a break from everything. I don't know what's going to happen in the future. I know that I love him, and more than anything he's been a friend to me."

Womack also told People he believes he'll never fully get over the woman he considers the love of his life.

"She was the one," Womack said. "She's the only woman I ever wanted to marry. I will always be in love with Em."

But while Maynard is forcing herself to move on, she told People that, contrary to rumors, becoming the star of The Bachelorette is not in the cards for her -- at least not anytime soon.

"Right now, my main focus is being a mom. The last thing on my mind is to do this all over again," she said.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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