The Bachelorette alum Kaitlyn Bristowe has revealed that she and ex-fiance Jason Tartick aren't ruling out the possibility of reconciling and getting back together in the future.
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When asked how she's holding up post-split, Kaitlyn responded to TMZ, "I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm okay."
Kaitlyn acknowledged that she's going through "tough times," but the 38-year-old The Bachelorette alum shared, "The easiest part is that we respect each other and love each other, and we're okay."
Kaitlyn declined to reveal specifics on why she and Jason, 34, had decided to part ways.
When asked whether the exes "grew out of love," the Dancing with the Stars 29 winner replied, "I don't even know."
The "Off the Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe" podcast host continued with a laugh, "Don't try to get me to say [that kind of stuff], I'm saving it for my own podcast!"
Kaitlyn did reveal, however, that her breakup with Jason was mutual.
"Honestly, it was both of our [decision to end things]. We keep saying, too, you know, the door isn't permanently closed -- that's why there's handles on it. We don't know what's going on," The Bachelor alum noted.
The paparazzo therefore noted how it sounded like Kaitlyn and Jason are open to reconciling.
"We just love and respect each other," Kaitlyn reiterated. "We don't have any [animosity]. We're sharing dogs!"
The Bachelorette alum admitted with a laugh that if it were up to her, she'd have full custody of both their dogs, Ramen and Pinot.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW"We're co-parenting the dogs. You could even see us walking the dogs together on a Sunday. We're still good," Kaitlyn shared.
TMZ proceeded to ask Kaitlyn -- who apparently previously shared that she's bisexual on her podcast -- if she'll be open to dating women in the future.
Kaitlyn confirmed, "I'm just open to love in general. But not any time soon."
The Season 11 The Bachelorette star explained how she's going to be taking some time for herself.
As for what will happen to Kaitlyn's beautiful engagement ring, Kaitlyn admitted she and Jason "haven't really gotten that far" in conversation.
"But, I mean, he gave that to me. It's up to him. It's up to him," Kaitlyn said.
Kaitlyn also insisted the "Trading Secrets" podcast host and former banker is "not that type of guy" to demand the ring back.
"He's a great guy," Kaitlyn said. "You never know. You never know. That's my whole attitude here: you never know."
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Kaitlyn concluded her short interview by saying that she's keeping herself "very busy" and she thinks filming "something" with The Golden Bachelor's leading man, Gerry Turner, "should be fun."
Kaitlyn and Jason began dating in early 2019 and got engaged in May 2021. They announced their breakup in a joint Instagram statement on August 6.
Hours after posting their joint breakup statement on their respective Instagram accounts, Jason had to record the intro for his "Trading Secrets" podcast episode that was released on Monday, August 7.
Jason could be heard getting choked up and trying to compose himself at the beginning of the episode, and he admitted it was a struggle to even return to his podcast with a broken heart.
"This is my second attempt at this [recording]. My first attempt -- it did not go well, I'll tell you that much. Maybe at some point, I will release it," Jason said.
He continued, "So the intro will be short, it will be sweet... It's been a little bit of a challenge today and tonight."
Jason went on to say, "When I feel prepared and feel ready to talk through how these things also impact my life and what's next for me, I will share those. I always try to hold my standard to share specifically what I ask of my guests."
After recording the podcast episode, Jason took to Instagram Stories to compliment his former fiancee, saying that she's "a beautiful person" and he's "beyond heartbroken."
Kaitlyn, meanwhile, posted a selfie of herself crying via Instagram Stories and revealed how she'll be taking a break from social media as she heals from her split from The Bachelorette 14 alum.
"See you soon. Bye for now," Kaitlyn wrote. "If everyone can say some sort of prayer for both of our hearts, we would love that. I just know social media can be awful, so taking a little break."
When Kaitlyn and Jason announced their split on August 6, they wrote the following in their joint statement: "After sharing the news with family and close friends first, and taking the time to properly process it ourselves, we are saddened with heavy hearts to share that we have decided to end our engagement.
We are thankful for all of you who gave us the time and space to process this life altering decision as there are many emotions and changes to navigate."
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The Bachelor Nation exes, however, admitted their decision to part ways was "heartbreaking" for the both of them and that it was "sad to say goodbye."
Jason and Kaitlyn continued, "But our care and admiration for one another will never die. We are beyond thankful for the memories made together and for your support of us and the boys throughout the years. Moving forward we will always have that level of support for each other."
Jason and the former The Bachelorette co-host concluded how they "don't know what the future holds," and so they're asking fans to "please try to hold space for us in your hearts."
The Bachelorette fans were speculating for months -- if not years -- about whether Kaitlyn and Jason's relationship was happy and healthy because they seemingly weren't putting any effort into planning a wedding after Jason popped the question.
Breakup rumors then began to swirl in July because Kaitlyn and Jason hadn't posted anything about each other on Instagram for about a month. Jason also took a solo trip to see his mother in New York last week, and he posted photos with his dogs during a fun day out in Nashville -- but Kaitlyn didn't participate.
And when Instagram users flooded The Bachelorette alums' comments with questions and concerns about the status of their relationship, neither Kaitlyn or Jason responded.
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Kaitlyn fueled speculation her romance was on the rocks -- or over completely -- when she took to Instagram Stories on August 1 with an angry message.
"I cannot believe the audacity of people to expect things from me when I haven't even been able to process things for myself," Kaitlyn wrote, according to Us Weekly.
Needing to "process things" seemed to suggest she and Jason had split up and called off their engagement.
The former The Bachelorette co-host continued, "Have a f-cking heart. You're scaring me with your comments and demands. I'm almost worried about YOU."
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Kaitlyn subsequently uploaded a permanent post on Instagram featuring lyrics to her 2020 song "If I'm Being Honest."
Kaitlyn highlighted the following lyrics: "Just 'cause I'm an open book / Don't mean you get the whole story."
She continued, "And if I'm being honest / I'm not always as tough as I seem / And I can have my moments / But words can get the best of me / And the words that I say to myself / Are the ones that hit the hardest."
Kaitlyn had also uploaded cryptic posts on Instagram in recent weeks about self-improvement, saying she needed to "toughen up" in order to "fight the noise."
And in July, Kaitlyn suddenly got three tattoos to represent her "what is my life" era, and she was spotted without her engagement ring on a beach vacation.
While Kaitlyn and Jason breakup rumors were circulating, Kaitlyn's first fiance, her The Bachelorette 11 winner Shawn Booth, announced he's going to be a dad with a woman named Audrey "Dre" Joseph, who had taken professional and promotional photos of him and is a member at his gym.
Kaitlyn and Shawn were together for about three years and announced their breakup in November 2018.
Jason, who initially competed for Becca Kufrin's heart on The Bachelorette's fourteenth season in 2018, asked Kaitlyn out on their first date in January 2019, and their romance moved quickly.
Jason moved from his place in Seattle, WA, to live with Kaitlyn in Nashville, TN, in June 2019, and then the couple adopted their two dogs together. Jason then popped the question in Spring 2021.
Earlier this year, Kaitlyn explained in the media how she and Jason had been distracted when it came to wedding planning and were in no rush to exchange vows.
When asked about her nuptials on the February 5 episode of "The Most Dramatic Podcast Ever with Chris Harrison," Kaitlyn confessed with a laugh, "We suck."
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"And that sounds so terrible because it should be a priority, but it doesn't feel like one -- and we're both okay with that."
Chris, who hosted The Bachelor franchise for nearly two decades, assured his friend, "That's all that matters," and Kaitlyn agreed.
"I feel like there's so much noise, like, 'Why aren't you guys talking about the wedding? Why is there not a wedding happening?!'" Kaitlyn shared.
"And it's like, 'I don't need to prove my relationship through a wedding.' I don't know, I just don't."
Kaitlyn and Jason were initially hoping to tie the knot by the end of 2022, possibly with a grand New Year's Eve wedding, but that clearly never happened.
"We both literally sat down the other day to maybe go through [our friends] and start a guest list," Kaitlyn recalled of her night with Jason, "and then we saw Yahtzee and a bottle of wine, and we were like, 'Should we just play Yahtzee and drink wine instead?' And so that's what we did!"
Kaitlyn insisted at the time that she and Jason were still happy together and in love. She also talked about how she couldn't wait to start a family with Jason.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
