Jed And Alésia Spill The Tea On Where They Stand And THAT Proposal
Jed McIntosh was a dark horse Bachelor — he started off a little bit of a softboi but as the show progressed, he became the more favoured Bachelor over Thomas Malucelli and Felix Von Hofe.
Alésia Delaney was always a clear frontrunner for Jed’s heart: from the moment she took him ice-skating (something he hated) to the moment she held his hand as he conquered his fear of heights (something he also hated), Alésia had the power to bring out the best in Jed from the get-go.
In last night’s finale episode, Jed dropped to one knee to propose to his new love, even after she stated she would not accept a proposal. But when in Rome, right?
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The couple are NOT engaged and, in fact, they aren’t exactly a couple… just yet anyway.
We caught up with Jed and Alésia to see what the hell has happened post-filming The Bachelors.
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On what life has been like since the finale wrapped in July:
Alésia: “So we finished the show and we had a four-night rendezvous together, which was really nice. It’s where the walls completely came down and where our relationship progressed. But when we left, I was travelling a lot and he had work and we didn’t really have any rendezvous after that, so it was literally just talk and text on the phone every day.
“When we left we were 100% together, and there was a point where we said ‘let’s not be together while we can’t be together’ and now we’re at a point where we can give things a go again.”
On the real story behind Jed’s proposal:
Jed: “The ring was gorgeous and the only way I could get it to her was if I started off by asking that question. I knew 100% she was going to say no, so I had a little script ready in my mind.
“We’re on camera the whole time, so at that point I couldn’t steer her away to be like ‘I sorta need to do this in order to give you this ring’ so it came across like I wasn’t listening. But I didn’t care because I wanted her to have the ring. I was like, ‘sit through this for a second, please don’t leave me, I’ll explain and you can have the ring and it’ll be fine!'”
Alésia: “I am wearing the ring, it’s on my left hand but on the middle finger. So close, but not too close.”
Jed: “That represents our relationship.” [Both laugh.]
Their thoughts on the other Bachy breakups and what they think about the Jessica and Damien storyline:
Alésia: “Both of us knew for a little while and the reasons for both of them are super valid. I think regardless, they still found friendships and they had a really nice time overall and both couples have so much respect for one another.”
Jed: “In that situation [on Jessica’s open relationship], I always had Felix’s best interests at heart. Obviously, I don’t think Jess has any ill intentions, I would never drag her down in the process of giving guidance or just listening to him. I just wanted to listen to how he was feeling and give him guidance in whatever decision he wanted to make. Regardless of what that was, I just fully back him, and if he asks me for my opinion or wisdom I’ll give it to him as for what I’d see fit for his life.”
On Damien getting so much screen time:
Alésia: “I think it was frustrating for everyone involved. I wasn’t even in Felix’s group but there were girls from my group that deserved to have their dates or their one-on-one time with Jed shown but they weren’t because there was so much time needed to show Jess and Damien’s situation.
“It’d be extremely frustrating to be the girls in Felix’s group and to see the time taken away. I don’t think that was Jess’ intention but it’s a shame that’s how it played out.”
Jed on his first episode and how he came across after being rejected by Katelyn:
Jed: “I take full responsibility. I genuinely wasn’t continuing that day with a chip on my shoulder like ‘I’m going to reject these girls because I got rejected’. I learned how I come across a lot more and it made me become a lot more self-aware.
“I was already skeptical of why I was even there. I was such a different looking character to be on a show like this, and then finding out I’m not the only Bachelor standing next to the 1% of most gorgeous men I’ve ever seen in my life… I was still confident in myself, but I was like ‘is this a narrative of why I am here’ or something.
“I wasn’t angry at Katelyn, I was just having an internal battle within myself. I make mistakes, I probably could’ve reacted better but that’s what it was at the time. I’ve learned from it and I’ve grown from it. I had to check my ego, put it that way.”
On whether Jed’s song ‘Pretty Poison’ is about Alésia:
Jed: “Parts of it, yes, but there are some lyrics that don’t really fit because I wanted to get it up quick. But the ‘I miss you before I say goodbye’ was the main line from that.
“There’s another song ‘Solid Ground’ that’s 100% about Alésia and it’ll be out soon and it’s probably the most loved-up song I’ve written. It relates back to the show too, so I think people will like it because they’ll understand what I’m saying.”
And on what’s next for the happy pair:
Alesia: “We’re just chilling. We’ve already been so emotionally connected the last six months, so now it’s just about being together physically. For me, distance isn’t an issue at all, Jed would probably say I’m too independent.”
Jed: “I think it’s funny because I came into this like, I travel, I do this and this, I need a woman, and now I’m like ‘Oh God, she does not need me at all!’
“I think for us now it’s quite peaceful, we can now do whatever we want, and the most growing we’ve done has happened in between the filming and when it’s aired. We’ve gone through and survived one of the hardest situations you could, so right now it feels quite relaxed and we’re playing it by ear.”