HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — With Reid voted off Monday night, Jillian Harris has narrowed her list of potential suitors to Ed and Kiptyn as the season finale of ABC's "The Bachelorette" looms next week.
Here's a transcript of Jillian's teleconference with the media heading into the final episode:
Cathy Rehl: Hi everybody and thank you for joining us this afternoon as we get down to the final week of our series and our special season finale next Monday and our After the Final Rose special next Tuesday.
Jillian's here to talk to you about what her experience has been like and you will understand when she won't be able to answer certain of your questions about what's coming up in the next week. With that, I'm going to turn it over for questions.
Operator: At this time I would like to remind everyone in order to ask a question please press star then the number 1 on your telephone keypad. We'll pause for just a moment to compile the Q&A roster. Your first question comes from Paulette Cohn with ET Online.
Paulette Cohn: Good morning.
Jillian Harris: Hi Paulette, how are you?
Paulette Cohn: I'm good. I'm good. So we saw that Reid's coming back in the promo. I'm sure you can't tell us too much, but what can you tell us about his return?
Jillian Harris: I can't tell you anything actually. I'll tell you (unintelligible).
Cathy Rehl: Why is the - there's a phone line having trouble.
Jillian Harris: Just a second, I'm just going to - is that better?
Paulette Cohn: Yes. Much.
Jillian Harris: Oh, okay. That's too bad because I love walking around and talking on the phone but I'm going to have to sit on the landline.
I can't really tell you too much. I'llll you anything actually. I'll tell you (unintelligible).
Cathy Rehl: Why is the - there's a phone li tell you that when I watched the tease for the finale, I was - even though I was there and I experienced everything, they did a very - like it is a great - it is an exciting episode, and it was a crazy day. But I can't tell you really who comes back or who - like it's all very dramatic unfortunately.
Paulette Cohn: Okay. Well then can you do this? Can you tell me what the best quality is of all three of the top guys?
Jillian Harris:Sure. I would definitely have to say Reid, it would be his sense of humor and just his quirkiness. I'll have to say Kiptyn is just his, you know, he's just so genuine and he's got such a huge heart.
And with Ed, I would just say it's his balance. I think he's got a good balance in life in between personal and business and family, and he's just a very well-rounded individual.
Paulette Cohn: Great. Okay, thank you.
Jillian Harris: No problem.
Operator: Your next question comes from Gina Scarpa with Realitywanted.com.
Gina Scarpa: It's Scarpa. Hi, Jillian. How are you?
Jillian Harris: Great. How are you?
Gina Scarpa: I'm good. I have a question. When you were on the Bachelor, you only had one person to focus on and have feelings for. Being the Bachelorette, were you surprised by how many guys you ended up really caring about and having emotions and attachments too?
Jillian Harris: It was - I'm not sure if I was surprised because, you know, I'm - I've always been a very loving person and I've always been very affectionate and I've stayed friends with all of my ex's.
I've never been - I've never fallen in love with more than one person. So when I started to have like romantic connections with the final, you know, like six guys even, that was very confusing for me.
I wasn't surprised because I knew it could happen. I've just never been that lucky in my life to have that many guys with that big of a caliber - like that caliber of guys in my life before. So it was overwhelming, but I knew it could happen. I've just never had that many cool guys in my life before.
Gina Scarpa: And going into the finale, obviously I know you can't say much, but how difficult is it at this stage of the game to say goodbye to some people and leave one person in the end.
Jillian Harris: Oh, my gosh. Well, you know, the thing is in real life you might know, you know, have you ever heard the expression "he's Mr. Right, but not Mr. Right Now?"
Or he's "Mr. Right Now," you know, it's like the thing is that during this process in the last I'd say - well not so much Wes maybe, but, you know, some of the guys like Michael Stagliano and Reid, it's hard to let them go even though you know they're not the one for you or you think they're not the ones for you.
It's hard to let them go because you're just not ready, that times not done yet. So it's very difficult. It's very heart breaking either way.
Gina Scarpa: All right. Thanks so much. Best of luck.
Jillian Harris: No problem.
Operator: Your next question comes from Monica Garske with Flash News.
Jillian Harris: Hey Monica.
Monica Garske: Hi Jillian. Thanks for your time today.
Jillian Harris: No problem.
Monica Garske: So now that you've been through this whole experience, can you tell us just a little bit about what a whirlwind it is? I mean you're dating so many guys all at once. Is it kind of hard to keep them straight?
Jillian Harris: It's not so hard to keep them straight I don't think. I mean after - at this point - I mean at this point there's two guys so obviously their unique personalities are completely defined and their obviously separate individuals.
At the very beginning, it's very hard to separate them. But it isn't, you know, even when you're down to like 13 guys or 15 guys, all their unique personalities come through and you really - it's really easy to identify with them and really easy to separate them.
But what's overwhelming is just the fact that, you know, don't try to date 30 guys at any point in your life, especially if you're doing it within two months because it's - like there's no days off.
So, it's just constant - if you're not going on a date with a guy, then you're staying up until 6:00 in the morning doing interviews talking about them. And so that gets a little bit draining, believe it or not.
Monica Garske: Yes, definitely. Did you ever, kind of - more towards the beginning, do any goofs on like their names or anything like that, or you thought you knew something about one person but it was really another person you were talking about or something like that?
Jillian Harris: Yes, I called Jesse Josh twice actually. Yes, so that was a little bit embarrassing. And then I noticed like around Spain I was asking questions and the guys would say well we've already talked about this.
Monica Garske: Oh, okay.
Jillian Harris: But I would say oh, you're right. But I knew we had talked about it but I just couldn't remember who it was with and so I felt a little bit guilty about that. But I'm sure it's normal.
I remember Jason doing that to me last year. I had talked to him about surfing about three times and on the fourth time he was like oh, you surf. And I'm like ,what? We talked about this already. So I figure that it's so much - there's just so much going on that there's certain conversations that you forget.
Monica Garske:Yes, definitely. Now, you know, after this whole experience, what was the most surprising thing for you about this show? I mean I know you were saying you went in with some expectations but not too many.
Jillian Harris: My gosh. The most surprising thing, I mean I'm not going to complain because I'm so happy I did it, but the most surprising thing I think was how draining it was.
I think because I was so serious about it, but I did have fun and I stayed awake late and I, you know, I had fun but I also was very emotional and there's just so many emotions.
So many highs and so many lows. I expected that, you know, in normal life I feel like I deal with drama and emotion very well. But on the show I felt like I was just so exhausted that even the simplest, you know, conversation would sometimes get me teary-eyed.
So I think, you know, the stress of it is what probably surprised me the most and how I dealt with it. I felt like I was a little bit more emotional than I am in real life. But other than that, you know, it was every girl's dream.
Monica Garske: Exactly. Well you were great to watch. Thank you so much.
Jillian Harris: Thank you so much.
Operator: Your next question comes from Suzanne Ellis with City News CA.
Jillian Harris: Hey Suzanne.
Suzanne Ellis: Hey, Jillian, how are you? First question, thinking back to when you were shooting the finale. Do you think you were ready to engaged at that moment? I know you can't give away too much, but what was going through your head when you were shooting all of that?
Jillian Harris: You know, what's funny is that when I spoke to my parents when - right after the guys met them and I think - I don't know if this is on camera or off camera, but I kind of said to my dad, you know, I really like both of these guys.
I'm crazy about both of them. I'm falling in love with them, but, you know, in a real life scenario I wouldn't be ready for a proposal with either one of these guys. What should I do?
And my dad - it was funny because my dad is very protective over me and he's like, "Babe, you signed up for this." He said, "Getting a proposal doesn't mean you're walking down the aisle right then."
"Getting a proposal in this scenario signifies it's - for me signifies I'm ready, I like you, I love you. I'm happy that we've gone from 0 to 60. Let's have a proposal and let's get engaged and let's start a life together and a year from now see where things are at and then get married."
Suzanne Ellis: Absolutely.
Jillian Harris: And my dad was very right. It's like, you know, was I ready to get engaged after that amount of time? No - maybe not. I mean who really is? But I was not going to accept a proposal from somebody that I was not madly in love with.
Suzanne Ellis: Absolutely. That actually leads into my next question. Next week we see your family meeting Ed and Kiptyn. How did your parents feel about the whole thing at the outset, and what can be expected to see from your family and these meetings with the two guys?
Jillian Harris:Well, I think as the world has sort of seen my family is a very liberal family and I think that's probably one of the reasons why I'm so liberal about a lot of things.
They're very, very supportive of any decision I've ever made when it comes to guys or friends or travel or business or real estate. Whatever it's been, they've always been supportive.
They were worried more about my career because I'm very serious about my career. But, you know, my parents want grandkids like you would not believe. So, I think they were sort of like, you know, just get out there and find a guy and bring him home and have babies.
Suzanne Ellis: Thanks so much, Jillian, appreciate it.
Jillian Harris: You're welcome.
Operator: Your next question comes from Al Mellis with tvgrapevine.com.
Jillian Harris: Hey, Al. How's it going?
Al Mellis: How are you doing, Jillian? How's Vancouver treating you?
Jillian Harris: Well it's good, but I'm actually in L.A. right now.
Al Mellis: Well, that's good too.
Jillian Harris: I know. I'm sitting in a lonely hotel room drinking my coffee.
Al Mellis: Well I can't imagine you being lonely at the best of times.
Jillian Harris: Thanks, Al.
Al Mellis: Bravo on your appearance on the Bachelorette. You've done an awesome job.
Jillian Harris: Thank you so much.
Al Mellis: Yes. I was sitting here listening to all the trials and tribulations of the long hours and the late nights and going boy, many people would have cracked under the same amount of pressure.
Jillian Harris: Well and I do believe I did slightly crack under pressure. But it's funny, you know. And I will never want - it's like I feel like when I talk about that it's like, you know, a movie star or model complaining about their long hours. And you're like well, whatever, you know. You get riches or you get to travel.
Or, you know, I don't want to complain. I'm not complaining about it. But that was the one thing that surprised me. I always thought of being a bachelorette I would wake up at 10:00 a.m. with a bluebird on my shoulder and somebody serving me bacon and eggs. But it didn't really go down like that.
Al Mellis: Okay. Well I've got an easy question for you because you're doing it.
Jillian Harris: Sure.
Al Mellis: How do you sort out the logic between the emotional and the analytical when you're down to this depth?
Jillian Harris: I don't - unfortunately, I don't think I was thinking that smart at the time. I don't know. I feel like, oh my god, when I was down to the final two guys - emotional and analytical.
You know, it's funny because most of the time I was just emotion. And I was just how do I feel about these guys? How do they make me feel? And that's sort of what got me down to the final six guys or even four guys.
But then that's when I started to get analytical. And I would say okay, I really love this person, or I feel like I'm falling in love with them. But how is this going to work, and how do they treat me in this situation, and how do they, you know, it's like Wes is the easiest picture to paint.
Yes. I kind of, you know, I kind of like the guy. I'm attracted to him for some reason. But am I attracted to him because our friendship, our relationship is a train wreck? Really how would our relationship work in real life?
So, I think when it comes down to the final four, I really started to overanalyze everything, you know. Where would we live? How - would I love, you know, would I love Chicago? Would I love San Diego or, you know, all of those things?
So, there's a lot going through your mind. I'm telling you. You don't think about anything else when you're doing this. But you just lie in bed thinking about everything that could possibly go wrong or right in the relationship after it's over.
Al Mellis: Okay. Now for the tricky question.
Jillian Harris: Sure.
Al Mellis: What are the specific qualities that you're looking for now that you're down to the final two?
Jillian Harris: You know, I mean, and overall in general I think I've said it several times, I'm looking for somebody who has a good sense of humor, who's open, who's honest, who is compassionate, who loves the outdoors, who's close to their family.
When it gets down to the two guys, what am I really looking for at that point? You know, commitment is important. And that doesn't mean an engagement. And I'm not even sure if that means the L word, you know, saying I love you.
But it's saying, you know, I don't want to lose you. And, you know, I don't want to lose you, and this is important to me, and let's figure this out together. It's sort of that team - what I'm looking for in my life is I'm looking for a partner. I'm looking for a teammate.
In order for me to have a teammate, I need somebody to work with me. I don't want it to feel like I'm always pulling teeth from somebody. So I guess it's that sense of ease and that willingness to say okay, this is bananas and this is crazy, but let's figure out how we're going to make it work.
Al Mellis: Well thank you, Jillian. I think you gave us a big clue.
Jillian Harris: Oh, really?
Cathy Rehl: I don't think so.
Jillian Harris: I don't think so. Well I - you've got to wait and watch the finale.
Al Mellis: Oh, for sure.
Jillian Harris: Yes.
Al Mellis: I wouldn't miss it. But I will be back to ask more questions...
Cathy Rehl: Okay. We need to move on, okay? Everybody, two questions and we need to move on because Jillian's got a packed day today.
Operator: Your next question comes from Cassandra Belek with US Weekly.
Cassandra Belek: Hi, Jillian. How are you?
Jillian Harris: Good. How are you?
Cassandra Belek: I'm good, thanks. I just wanted to ask did you get an opportunity to talk to Jason and Molly at the Men Tell All taping. And if so what did you guys talk about?
Jillian Harris: They - I was in my trailer - in my dressing trailer. And before I went on stage and the two of them popped in to say "hi." And we really didn't get to talk about too much because I was getting ready. But they just popped in and said "hi" and gave me a hug.
And then as I was - before I got on stage, I saw them again and we watched the guys on a screen together for a few minutes. But we had to be very quiet. We couldn't say too much. But that was about it. We didn't really talk about anything interesting.
Molly and I, you know, talked last week just through text messaging and just seeing, you know, what did you do this weekend. And we were both at weddings.
She was in Grand Rapids and I was in Colona. But it's very anticlimactic, nothing really exciting to report, just sort of how are you doing, what are you up to, wish you the best types of things.
Cassandra Belek: Okay, thank you.
Jillian Harris: No problem.
Operator: Your next question comes from Kara Feigeles with InTouch Weekly.
Jillian Harris: Is that (Tara)?
Kara Feigeles: Kara.
Jillian Harris: Hey, Kara. How's it going?
Kara Feigeles: Good. How are you, Jillian?
Jillian Harris: Good.
Kara Feigeles: Could we go back for a second to Reid?
Jillian Harris: Sure.
Kara Feigeles: So how does it make you feel your watching that episode and you saw that he said that he wished he had told you he loved you?
Jillian Harris: I had felt that from him on the bench. So it wasn't really a surprise to me. Yes, I mean it's always hard to hear somebody regretful for, you know, the things that they did or didn't say. But I guess for me it's like, you know, it's funny. The show as we were taping was one thing. And it was very emotional for me and very hard on me.
Now that the taping of the show is over and I've essentially made all of the decisions I need to make on the show and I've, you know, been very happy with them, watching it played back to me is just television, right?
And yes, there's times I get emotional, you know, when the guys, you know, when Michael, you know, last night had gotten a little bit teary-eyed and watching Reid go. I - it brings back memories on how hard it was to let him go that day. But I'm just, yes, just emotional.
Kara Feigeles: So you can't regret letting him go after watching that.
Jillian Harris: No. I have no regrets from anything this season. You know, part of me says maybe I should have let Wes go sooner.
Kara Feigeles: Right.
Jillian Harris: Part of me wishes that I would have been a little bit harder on Dave for being so crass and so rude. But those aren't really regrets. So no, I don't regret anything.
Kara Feigeles: Okay.
Jillian Harris: Put it this way. Put it this way. If I regretted anything I would - to me there's no regret that you can't change. So if I regretted something, then I would go back and see if I could make it work a second time.
Kara Feigeles: Great. Thank you so much.
Jillian Harris: You know what I mean? Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from Cassandra Clarkston with Canadian Press.
Jillian Harris: Hey, Cassandra. How's it going?
Cassandra Clarkston: Hi, Jillian. Good, how are you?
Jillian Harris: Great.
Cassandra Clarkston: You've got a lot of Canadian fans up here.
Jillian Harris: Thank you guys so much. It means the world to me.
Cassandra Clarkston: Yes. I was just wondering. I know you can't give too much away about the ending. But are you still living in Vancouver or have you moved to the states?
Jillian Harris: No. I'm still living in Vancouver. And I've just been loving ever since I got back. The weather's been beautiful and I've been spending time gardening and organizing. And I'll be living in Vancouver until further notice.
Cassandra Clarkston: So, is your guy with you in Vancouver then?
Jillian Harris: Well, we don't know whether there is a guy or not.
Cathy Rehl: We don't know that there is a guy.
Cassandra Clarkston: Okay. Well...
Cathy Rehl: That wouldn't be - by the way that wouldn't be possible.
Jillian Harris: Nice try.
Cassandra Clarkston: What wouldn't be possible?
Cathy Rehl: For whoever.
Cassandra Clarkston: I mean, you said they'd have to...
Cathy Rehl: No matter what - no matter what edition it was they aren't allowed to be together if she has somebody...
Cassandra Clarkston: I see.
Cathy Rehl:...until the show's over.
Jillian Harris: Yes.
Cathy Rehl: So.
Cassandra Clarkston: Okay. Well, I know you gave up your career to pursue love on the show. So professionally speaking, I'm just wondering I guess is that still on hold then I guess until...
Jillian Harris: Yes. Well, but I'm still...
Cassandra Clarkston:...work on any projects.
Jillian Harris: Yes. I'm still in contact with the company that I worked with before. And it wasn't, you know, I didn't really - it was a combination of me losing - not losing my job, but it was a combination of me leaving and them saying, you know, I think the bottom line was I've been coming and going for the last eight months.
And it's almost impossible for a growing company like Browns to keep somebody like me on who is an integral part of their growth when I'm only there 10% of the time.
So, I think for them, you know, they wanted a commitment from me. And because of what I had signed up to do and not knowing what my future holds it wasn't fair for me to say that I could commit myself to them.
So, I did step out of the picture for a little bit. I've been in contact with them. And I may do some projects with them on a consulting basis in the future.
But I've started up my own company and I'm going to continue to design restaurants after this is all over. And we'll see if I continue to work for that company or not. But my career still stands. And I still am a restaurant designer. It just depends on who I'm going to be working with.
Cassandra Clarkston: What's the name of your company?
Jillian Harris: My company is just Jillian Harris Design.
Cassandra Clarkston: Okay, because you seem really comfortable on TV, and I was just wondering if there's - you thought about dovetailing the two. You know, like there are a lot of designers on TV with their own show.
Jillian Harris: Yes. I mean it's not my biggest priority right now. I know a lot of my friends and family are just itching for me to get back on TV and to do a design show or something to do with fashion.
The decision I made at the end of the show is really my biggest priority right now. So that is my biggest priority. And after that, you know, I will see if there's any - I'm an opportunist.
So, if something comes my way, and I know that all the other important things in my life aren't going to suffer from doing that, I would definitely take it on. But in the meantime, I'm going to pursue my own company.
Cassandra Clarkston: Great, thank you.
Jillian Harris: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from Jackie Strause with the New York Post.
Jillian Harris: Hey, Jackie.
Jackie Strause: Hi, Jillian. How are you?
Jillian Harris: I'm wonderful.
Jackie Strause: So I have a question about Wes who basically has come out now and said that he was badly edited and he didn't admit that he had a girlfriend. He was just repeating what someone said. Does any of that change your opinion about him or are you still, you know, kind of like you said earlier wishing that you let him go sooner?
Jillian Harris: No, no. My opinion doesn't change of him because I'm a super stubborn girl. And my opinion that I had from him on the show when I was there is the same opinion that I have of him now.
You know, girlfriend, no girlfriend, career, no career, I let him go, not because of my suspicions of why he was there or if he had a girlfriend, I let him go because we weren't a good match. And because there were just - it was always too much conflict and too much drama and I just don't want that in my life.
But, you know, the thing is I'll have to be honest with everybody. I am so disappointed by the amount of negative stuff that is out there on the Internet and out in the media about Wes and even me. And there's also - there's lots of great stuff. There's good stuff and then there's bad stuff.
But I just believe, like I will tell you firsthand it is so stressful seeing negative things about yourself on the Internet that no matter what Wes did or why he was there, nothing can prepare you for that sort of, you know, feeling of people talking about you that way.
So, you know, he deserves to be happy. I hope he finds himself. I hope he never signs up for a reality show ever again. And, you know, I hope he learns now that words are very powerful whether you mean them or whether you don't. You have to be very careful about what comes out of your mouth.
And, you know, all I want for everybody, including the people who say negative things on the Internet. I just want everybody to be happy, you know. And with Wes - and that includes Wes. So, you know, I think he's got a big heart. He just needs to put that forward and put the other stuff behind him.
Jackie Strause:Well said.
Jillian Harris: Thank you.
Jackie Strause: And also obviously not choosing from Ed, Kiptyn or Reid, but of the other guys who do you think would make the best Bachelor for next time?
Jillian Harris: I think Michael Stagliano and his brother would make a good Bachelor. I just think that they have such good energy and they are ready to be married and they're ready to have kids and they're not big drinkers.
Like I just I feel like America and Canada is really looking for some wholesome TV. And I believe that viewers, you know, we all watch, you know, we all watch "Extreme Home Makeover" and stuff like that. And I believe that the Stagliano brothers would make excellent Bachelors and would bring back a different level to the show.
Jackie Strause: Well thank you so much and can't wait to see who you choose.
Jillian Harris: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from Paige Wiser with Chicago Sun-Times.
Paige Wiser: Hi, Jillian.
Jillian Harris: Hi, what was your name?
Paige Wiser: Paige.
Jillian Harris: Paige. Hey, Paige. How's it going?
Paige Wiser: I'm on Team Ed.
Jillian Harris: Of course. So you're from Chicago.
Paige Wiser: Right, but I would be anyway. You mentioned you never had a day off. Do you have some great tips on how to deal with hangovers every day?
Jillian Harris: My gosh, yes, coconut water.
Paige Wiser: No.
Jillian Harris: Yes. I started drinking coconut water on the show and because actually I only really drank really, really hard three of the nights. The first Rose Ceremony, the second Rose Ceremony and the snowmobiling date. Those are the only three days I drank really hard.
But the other days, you know, the only - the times that I looked really tired and really exhausted, I wasn't drinking coconut water. But when you drink coconut water, it's like drinking ten Gatorades but with no sugar. I'm a huge fan now. I'm hooked.
Paige Wiser:What are Mango Mango shoes?
Jillian Harris: Mango Mango toenail polish is by Revlon.
Paige Wiser: Oh, I was Googling them for shoes, okay.
Jillian Harris: Yes. Mango Mango is the brand. And I think it's called Make Mine Mango now. I think Revlon changed the name to Make Mine Mango.
Paige Wiser: Okay, and you're recommending it.
Jillian Harris: Yes. And, yes. So yes. Tanner really loved that color. And then, what was the other one? My Chihuahua Bites by OPI.
Paige Wiser: What about - I mean obviously you're probably really used to the cameras at this point. Is there anything looking back that you do wish you could have kept private, a moment or an incident that you wish hadn't made it to TV?
Jillian Harris: Well I cringed when they showed that Aloe Vera scene with Ed and I. I was like squealing and like covering my eyes. But...
Paige Wiser: What scene?
Jillian Harris: The scene where I was rubbing Aloe Vera all over Ed. And, you know, yes. That scene was a little interesting. I think last season when I was talking about my mom and her depression, I think that that was something that should have been kept a little bit more private for her sake.
Paige Wiser: Yes.
Jillian Harris: But other than that, like I said I'm a pretty liberal girl. And I signed up for this knowing that my love life would be on display and that there would be assumptions associated with that. So you know what? No, I don't really have any other things that I wish I would have concealed.
Paige Wiser: Well thank you so much for your time, and go Ed.
Jillian Harris: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from Lorilee Craker with Grand Rapids Express.
Jillian Harris: Hey, Laurie. How's it going?
Lorilee Craker: Hi, yes. That's not quite my name, but that's okay. I'll jump in.
Jillian Harris: Sorry. What's your name?
Lorilee Craker: Well listen, Jillian, I spoke to you before in another conference call and I'm Canadian too. And...
Jillian Harris: Right. I remember this.
Lorilee Craker:...I'm a big fan of yours. Yes. Listen I have two questions. I'm wondering about - we talked about - or you talked about Jason and Molly a little bit. What do you when you see them so happy and together and, you know, just such a solid couple and they're moving towards marriage, what do you feel about that? What do you think?
Jillian Harris: I just think, you know, good for them for being - you know, I'll tell you guys it is not easy. Like I would say 80%, 90% of the people who watch my show love me and support me and are just behind me all the way.
And even that 10% of people who are critical it just tears me up. Like it is so hard for me to deal with that. I want to reach out to every one of those people and tell them like I'm a nice person. Please be nice to me. I know I have a big nose...
Lorilee Craker: Right, right.
Jillian Harris:...but I'm a good person. And so how Jason and Molly dealt with that and they're still together is beyond me.
And I - to me, you know, I don't think anybody is perfect. I think they have both learned a lot about themselves as individuals throughout this. And if you can get through something like that and still be a team I think that's a really good indication of strong character.
Lorilee Craker: Yes, yes.
Jillian Harris: Yes.
Lorilee Craker: I do too. And also what - I'm also on Team Ed, I would have to say, from day one.
Jillian Harris: There's lots of Ed lovers - there's lots of - those last final three we're always the favorites.
Lorilee Craker: Yes, seriously. I also like Jake and Jesse so, but you know...
Jillian Harris: Yes, Jake...
Lorilee Craker:...they're not...
Jillian Harris:(Unintelligible).
Lorilee Craker: Good guys, not in the running. What can you tell us about that mysterious night with Ed? It's kind of shrouded in mystery. And I know it was probably edited in a certain way to suggest certain things, but what can you tell us about that...
Jillian Harris: Well, you know, I don't know if you guys remember a while back how somebody from I think it was TV Guide asking me a personal question like this, and I kind of lost it on them.
I was like that's so inappropriate. I don't want to talk about it. And really a bottom line is, you know, whatever is shown on TV is what you get to see and you can assume and anything can be insinuated from that.
Lorilee Craker: Right.
Jillian Harris:Having said that, because a lot of assumptions were very specific from that episode, I will just paint the picture of what that day was like. We were both stressed out.
I think Ed was almost on the verge of nervous breakdown just from all the stress of what he was going through. His parents were there. We got both - like I'm talking sunburns like blisters the next day. That day...
Lorilee Craker: Yes.
Jillian Harris:...I was nauseous. I wasn't feeling well. And there was no AC in the room because the AC makes noise so they have to shut it off in order to film.
Lorilee Craker: Oh my gosh.
Jillian Harris: And it was probably about - it was probably in the 90s in that room or in the 80s. Like it was sweltering hot. And I was talking to him about ex-girlfriends and just really uncomfortable conversation. And I think he was ready to throw up.
So by the time, you know - and when I was rubbing oil on him they made it look really sexy, but I am telling you it was nothing sexy about it. It was Aloe Vera and we were both so awkward.
And by the time the camera left, we just both passed out. And in the morning I think we were both just very nervous - not nervous, but very stressed out that we hadn't used our time to see if we had a physical connection.
Lorilee Craker: Right, right.
Jillian Harris: And I think that that was a big - very stressful on both of us. But, you know, everything else that was - I, you know, I think that people will always assume what they want to assume and that's the nature of the beast.
Lorilee Craker: Right, right.
Jillian Harris: Yes.
Lorilee Craker: Okay. Well thank you, Jillian and I wish you all the best.
Jillian Harris: Thank you so much.
Lorilee Craker: Okay.
Operator: Your next question comes from Delaina Dixon with delainadixon.com.
Delaina Dixon: Hey, Jillian. How are you?
Jillian Harris: Hey, great to talk to you again.
Delaina Dixon: Great. I wanted to ask you growing up did you have a dream wedding and what was your dream wedding growing up and is it still the same picture today?
Jillian Harris: Totally the same picture. I have this dream wedding of being like somewhere in the Canadian Rockies or like in the Okanagan in a field and there's mountains all around us and there's gingham table cloths, you know, like, maybe like white and red gingham table cloths.
And there's a band, a live band, hopefully the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and just tons of people, but nothing really fancy. Like I'm talking like cabbage rolls and ham that my Aunty (Becky) is probably, you know, would probably make and lots of kids running around and just like very down to earth and nothing really over the top.
Delaina Dixon: That sounds great. Now are you going to keep in touch with any of the eliminated Bachelors that are already off the show?
Jillian Harris: I would love to. I mean I - I didn't really get to chat with them as much as I would have liked at "The Men Tell All." But there's a lot of them that I believe are - would either make great friends or that are just very unique characters.
You know, Michael Stagliano is definitely one of them. Tanner P., I would love to check in with Wes and just see how he's doing with all of this chaos because he's still somebody that, you know, I do respect as an individual whether or not people think he deserves that. I do. And so, yes, there's a few people that I would love to stay in touch with.
Delaina Dixon: Sounds great. Well best of luck. I hope you actually get that wedding. It sounds amazing.
Jillian Harris: Thank you very much. Thank you.
Delaina Dixon: Take care.
Jillian Harris: Thank you, you too.
Operator: Your next question comes from Greg David with TV Guide Canada.
Greg David: Hey, Jillian. How are you doing?
Jillian Harris: Great. How are you, Greg?
Greg David: Not bad, thanks.
Jillian Harris: Good.
Greg David: I've got two questions for you. One is are you going to buy Wes's first single "Love Don't Come Easy?"
Jillian Harris: I've already downloaded it.
Greg David: Have you really?
Jillian Harris: Yes. I've already downloaded his full CD.
Greg David: Excellent.
Jillian Harris: Yes. I honestly I'm just - I'm not going to lie. I think - I personally I love country music. I think the guy's a good singer.
Greg David: It's one of those songs where it just kind of gets stuck in your head...
Jillian Harris: It does get stuck in your head.
Greg David: Yes.
Jillian Harris: Yes. The whole Wes thing is very controversial. I don't know if I'll ever be able to just truly explain it. But, yes, I've downloaded it already.
Greg David: Okay. And then the second question is about Dave. And before you met Dave and you were on the show, had you ever heard of a "man code" before?
Jillian Harris: Sort of. I mean I'm sort of a tom boy and I hang out with guys a lot. So I've heard of this "man code", but I've always bashed it.
Greg David: Okay. And is there a "girl code?" And if so, what are some of the rules?
Jillian Harris: "Girl code," "girl code," I think with girls, you know, girls tend to stand by each other and I think they're very protective of each other. And I think if they hear or see a guy cheating or flirting or doing something inappropriate, nine times out of ten the girl will figure out how to tell - let the girlfriend know.
Greg David: Right.
Jillian Harris: I think that's a big one. I think I'm very impressed with a lot of the girls that I've met that do that "girl code." What else? God, I don't know. It's like don't hit on your friend's boyfriend. That's for sure.
Greg David: Yes.
Jillian Harris: Yes. And I think it's just to be honest and to be, you know, to be a good person.
Greg David: Great. Thanks a lot.
Jillian Harris: No problem.
Operator: Your next question comes from Meghan Carlson with Buddy TV.
Meghan Carlson: Hi, Jillian. How are you?
Jillian Harris: Great, Meghan. How are you?
Meghan Carlson: Great. I wanted to know if you could tell us a little bit more about your reaction to the Men Tell All and how those guys were really going after each other?
Jillian Harris: Yes. I was super disappointed. I was actually waiting in the trailer. I was supposed to be waiting in the trailer for an hour. And 4-1/2 hours went by and I was like getting - like losing my mind. It was like when am I going to go out there?
And finally, that's when I was told that they had been bickering this whole time. And I just was like, come on you guys. This is our one chance to redeem yourselves and to show that we're adults. And I was very shocked on how hard they were on Jake. You know, I was very, very shocked on David and his attitude.
You know, knowing - I didn't get to see them. I didn't get - I got to see the show like live like you guys did. But I didn't get to see the guys interact before I went on stage. And knowing that I would have been a lot harder on Dave.
I think Dave - I think like that is the one person I believe that he says and has some views on life that I think are completely inappropriate. And I just like - I do not like how he treats individuals and he needs a reality check.
Meghan Carlson:Well, I think that definitely came across. So I don't think you have to worry too much about that.
Jillian Harris: Okay, yes.
Meghan Carlson: And my other question was what did you think of Ed's short shorts in Hawaii?
Jillian Harris: I loved them. I mean I'm a total fashion girl. And I'm aware of all the different trends and styles and short shorts are huge in Europe right now. And it will probably be another six months to a year before they become very popular here. So to me I thought they were really cool and very fashion-forward. So I was a huge supporter of those shorts.
Meghan Carlson: Well, great. Thank you.
Jillian Harris: Yes. No problem.
Operator: Your next question comes from Ann Oldenburg with USA Today Newspaper.
Jillian Harris: Hey, Ann.
Ann Oldenburg: Hey. How are you?
Jillian Harris: Great.
Ann Oldenburg: One - I just want to clarify a couple things. One thing was that you said earlier in a real life scenario you told your dad I wouldn't be ready for a proposal from either one of these guys.
Jillian Harris: Right.
Ann Oldenburg:Is that right? So that's how you were feeling going into the finale?
Jillian Harris: Well, I mean let's just be very, very clear about this. I mean this is like let's be realistic. Who - there is nobody in this world and nobody in the history of the show that I can say was, you know, after this amount of time and under these circumstances that's ready for a real life engagement at the end of this.
But the show isn't really real life, and it's part of what you sign up for. So for me, it was like if I was feeling madly in love with that person and I could see a future with them, I would have been willing to accept a proposal considering the circumstances of what I signed up for.
But in a real life situation, engagement or proposal just would come up. It's a topic that wouldn't come up until about six months or a year later.
Ann Oldenburg: So, are you engaged?
Jillian Harris: Oh my gosh.
Cathy Rehl: She can't answer that.
Jillian Harris: You can send that little...
Ann Oldenburg: I have to ask her that.
Jillian Harris: I know. You can send that check for $5 million in the mail. Just make it payable to Jillian Harris. And I'll tell you who it is.
Ann Oldenburg: So okay. So we - but sometimes in the past they have said beforehand.
Jillian Harris: Yes, yes. The season's been very different I think because of all the drama that's happening and all the coming and going of Bachelors. I mean really I've had a really tough time with this season.
And it's something I didn't expect to have such a tough time and guys with hidden agendas and guys who are coming and going and just the emotion of it. So I think, you know, that's part of the show is just to - and, you know, to keep it a secret and keep it a surprise for everybody.
Ann Oldenburg: But, you are happy. You're truly happy.
Jillian Harris: I'm - that is one thing that I can definitely say is I am definitely on top of the world right now. You know, I'm very, very happy. And I just can't wait for next Monday so everybody can see why.
Ann Oldenburg: Great, thanks so much.
Jillian Harris: Thank you.
Operator: We do have a follow-up question from Al Mellis with tvgrapevine.com.
Cathy Rehl: Okay.
Jillian Harris: Hey, Al.
Al Mellis: Hey, Jillian. How are you doing?
Jillian Harris: Great.
Al Mellis: Cultural question for you.
Jillian Harris: Sure.
Al Mellis: First one is you used the word liberal down in the 49 states down here and sometimes that word can be a little edgy.
Jillian Harris: Right. Well it's not really meant in the political way more as I like to sit in your backyard, (crank) a beer and tell jokes kind of way.
Al Mellis: Okay.
Jillian Harris: (Unintelligible) hopefully that's allowed in the States.
Al Mellis: Yes. (Unintelligible) along the lines of have you checked out the cultural affiliations - political affiliations of the guys that you're considering.
Jillian Harris: God, I'd have to say no. Cultural, yes, cultural, yes, political not so much. And not that I'm not huge into politics, I mean I follow American politics probably a little bit more even than Canadian politics.
And it's something that intrigues me. But I just want to be with somebody that I laugh with and we get along. And, you know, cultural is important to me because I love celebrating holidays.
And I love, you know, I feel like I'm a very spiritual person. And I actually had a lot of conversations with all four of the remaining guys, Wes, Reid, Kiptyn and Ed about just spirituality and religion and culture, a lot of conversation actually.
Al Mellis: You come from one of the hockey hot bed of Canada.
Jillian Harris: Yes.
Al Mellis: Yes. And I got a (unintelligible) that you would be a crazy Canuck fan. So how does that stand...
Jillian Harris: Actually the Canucks are going to kill me right now, but I'm a huge Oilers fan. I've been an Oilers fan ever since I was a little girl. And I still love Gretzky. As cheesy as it might sound. He's still my fave.
And, you know, the guys all had their favorite. You know, Kiptyn loves surfing and Ed loves baseball. And actually Reid had done - Reid had been in hockey. So he followed hockey. And Wes follows country music.
Al Mellis: Cool.
Jillian Harris: Yes.
Al Mellis: Well that was about it. I was just wondering because you had said liberal and then I was thinking hockey and I thought gee, those are pretty key things in your life.
Jillian Harris: Exactly. And to me the definition of liberal is just not taking life too seriously and trying to be a good person and having a good time and filling your life full of laughter and being able to forgive and being - and not overanalyzing things.
Al Mellis: There you go.
Jillian Harris: Yes.
Al Mellis: Anyhow thank you, Jillian, and good luck with your choice.
Jillian Harris: No problem, Al. Okay, take care.
Al Mellis: Bye.
Jillian: Great.
Operator: Our final question comes from Cassandra Clarkston with Canadian Press.
Cassandra Clarkston: Hi, Jillian.
Jillian Harris: Hey.
Cassandra Clarkston: I'm back again.
Jillian Harris: No problem.
Cassandra Clarkston: I just wanted to go back to the "man code" because it came up. And I was just wondering when it was discussed at "The Men Tell All" show, you know, this whole theory that the other Bachelors were sort of bound by this code that kept them from telling you about Wes.
I was just wondering what you thought about that, and again about the producers as well and whether or not they had an obligation to let you know about Wes or kicking him off the show once it became apparent that he lied to get on the show.
Jillian Harris: I don't - I mean I still don't think that he lied to get on the show. I mean he came on the show to promote his record and I think he thought you never know, I could fall in love.
I mean I don't - I personally think that the sort of people I fall for are not the kind of people that - I don't know how to explain this, but the kind of people I typically fall for are people who are creative and who are driven and who are, you know, maybe trying to figure out how to promote themselves in a unique way.
To me that wasn't an issue. It was, if you have now met me and fallen for me, then you have to show it. And if you have or had a girlfriend, let's give her a call and if you want to break up with her, then you break up with her and then we move forward. But that - it never got there.
So that was something that was just like not even an issue with me. And as far as the producers go, I think that if it would have got down to the final two, I'm sure that they would have told me more about Wes.
But, you know, Jesse said it best in"The Men Tell All." I am a smart girl. You know, people keep on saying that I have a bad judge of character because I kept Wes so long.
But I, you know, I kept Wes out of principle. I kept Wes because I was defensive of him because I felt like I wanted the world to see the Wes that I saw. And, you know, maybe Wes signed up for the wrong reasons. Maybe I kept him for the wrong reasons, you know. But, you know, we're not perfect.
And in respect to this "man code" thing, to me I think "man code" is a funny thing, as well as a "woman code" providing that it's not disrespecting any individual. And to me I think David has a very skewed vision of what "man code" is and I believe that sometimes it's very disrespectful towards women.
And I believe that, you know, if somebody is cheating or if somebody is, you know, disingenuous or whatever and somebody like, you know, Jake wants to come and tell me, well then he should be allowed to do that.
However, that being said, you know, I'm kind of contradicting myself because that being said I go back to what Jesse said, you know, on "The Men Tell All." And I had already figured it out at that point. So Jesse coming back - or Jake coming back to tell me just made me more frustrated and was like, I know, I can figure this out on my own.
So part of me was like, I know this already. And I was trying to let him go my own way. But I know that Jake had a big heart in doing that. And so, you know, to me I don't think he broke "man code". I'm very grateful that he did it, but I was already on my way to figuring it out. Does that make any sense?
Cassandra Clarkston: I think so.
Jillian Harris: Okay. Sorry. I kind of went around in a full circle there.
Cassandra Clarkston: Well that happens. This season, it's incredible what you've been through.
Jillian Harris: Oh my gosh, tell me about it.
Cassandra Clarkston: Thanks.
Jillian Harris: Thank you.
End of teleconference
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