Chris Harrison had no choice but to play the middleman in Andi Dorfman and Nick Viall's relationship following their rough breakup on national television.
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About one month ago, Viall first approached the show host to meet with Dorfman after getting his heart broken on The Bachelorette's tenth-season finale.
"At the time, Andi was in Mexico and she was just beginning her new relationship with [fiance Josh Murray], so she didn't think it was the appropriate time. I understood both sides in this case. Nick essentially had a Band-Aid just ripped off of him and there was no closure whatsoever. He was being extremely cool about the whole thing and his approach was kind and respectful, not angry or vengeful," Harrison wrote in his Entertainment Weekly blog.
"Because of that when he showed up to talk to Andi at The Men Tell All I sat down to talk to him... One thing that wasn't shown is how I explained to him that although I respected his emotions and thought he was handling this very professionally I made it very clear that I respect Josh and his relationship with Andi."
Harrison apparently explained to Viall that Dorfman and Murray's relationship and engagement was very real.
"I wasn't about to just let him go up and surprise her if it could ruin that. He told me that wasn't his intention and that he really didn't even want to question her as much as he wanted to just make his feelings known... He just couldn't imagine how his feelings and this relationship could possibly be that one-sided," Harrison wrote.
"How had he been so blind? How could he be this wrong? Those are brutal questions to have to face after a break up with someone you love. Many of us have been in his shoes and it sucks. The only difference is many times in other relationships you get some sort of closure or answers, but Nick understandably didn't feel satisfied with his."
Yet Viall was shot down once again at The Men Tell All. Dorfman just wasn't prepared to confront him face-to-face yet.
"When I told Andi that Nick was in the building at The Men Tell All special, she wasn't too pleased. She wasn't ready to face him and definitely didn't want to be surprised by a visit," the host told EW.
"I fully understand her position. She made her decision and she did the best to make it very clear to him in the Dominican why she was making that decision. She knew she would be sitting down with him a week later on After the Final Rose, so she decided that would be the appropriate time and place to do so."
Viall finally got his opportunity to talk to Dorfman during After the Final Rose, but it seemed like he had forgotten everything he had planned to say. Viall was clearly shaken up, and Dorfman's apparent cold demeanor worsened things.
"When Nick walked onto the stage, I've never seen him like that. He was nervous, scared, hurt, and shaking like a leaf. He was so emotional he was having trouble expressing his thoughts and feelings. I was doing my best to just let him talk, but at the same time with it being a live show... I have to keep things moving -- that next break is coming whether I like it or not," Harrison explained.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW"When they sat down, you could feel the tension on the stage. If Nick was nervous and emotional before, I don't even know how to describe how he was while Andi was out there. His voice was weak, his hands were shaking, and in that moment he just didn't know what to do or say."
While many viewers were surprised by Viall's behavior following his breakup, Harrison insisted he thought it was completely normal given the circumstances.
"There really isn't anything at that point to do or say that's going to make anything easier or better. Being dumped sucks, period. What Andi had to do in that situation sucked. But in the Dominican she handled it the classiest way she could. She really let him off the hook by not making him show up that final day knowing her mind was made up. But Nick was in love with her and we've all been there," he said.
"I felt terrible for Nick, but I also felt really bad for Andi. She delicately and respectfully handled Nick last night just like I knew she would. She was strong and aggressive, but sensitive in her comments. I know for a fact that she cared very much for Nick during the show."
Dorfman, however, admitted she had never been in love with Viall, prompting the devastated suitor to make a remark about her having "made love" to him in the fantasy suite.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
