Bachelor Matt Grant: It’s Not Cool to Keep My Ring

Despite his ex-fiancée’s claims, Bachelor Matt Grant is definitely not okay with Shayne Lamas keeping their engagement ring.

“It wasn’t a ‘gift’ so much,” the Birtish-born financier tells PEOPLE. “It’s not a television or a handbag. It’s a symbol of marriage that didn’t happen.”

Lamas, 22, recently told PEOPLE she planned to keep the 2.85-carat Tacori platinum-and-diamond eternity ring “safe and clean and in a glass box — like a glass slipper.” She claimed Grant was fine with that, adding, “He wants to come over and look at it.”

But the star of The Bachelor: London Calling insists that conversation never took place.

“We never discussed this,” he says. “I never said it was cool to just keep it. If she said we spoke about it, she just made it up. Sometimes she thinks she can say anything and I’ll go along with it.”

Almost as soon as the final rose was presented, Grant and Lamas were dogged by rumors of romantic discord. They finally announced their split earlier this month.

Grant, 27, says he doesn’t want the ring back. But he does think Lamas — daughter of TV’s Lorenzo Lamas — should auction off the bauble for charity.

“Let’s have something good come out of this,” he explains. “Why hold onto it? What’s the point?”

Grant’s new proposal: Auction off the ring and have each donate their half of the proceeds to a favorite charity. (Grant’s pet cause is the abolition of puppy mills).

Grant says that the show’s sponsors paid for the engagement ring, which he valued at $65,000. So it’s not his money at stake.

“But at the end of the day, it was mine to give to her,” he argues. “And thus I’m like, ‘C’mon!’ I’m sure Shayne will agree it’s best going to charity.”

Re: Bachelor Matt Grant: It’s Not Cool to Keep My Ring

No, it wasn't YOURS to give to her, it was the SHOW's to give to YOU to give to HER.......

And keep it in a box and come over and "look at it"? WTH is THAT?

Re: Bachelor Matt Grant: It’s Not Cool to Keep My Ring

I think he has the right idea-- selling it and donating to charity.

It still was his choice to give her to ring.

She sounds like an idiot-- I read that article the other day.

Re: Bachelor Matt Grant: It’s Not Cool to Keep My Ring

She is bizarre and seems to make things up...when they were on the "Men tell all" of the Bachlorette, she said something about they were going to move to London, he was like "we are?"

Weird!

Re: Bachelor Matt Grant: It’s Not Cool to Keep My Ring

Hmmm...

Me thinks they are plotting together to extend their 15 minutes.

Matt: Hey Shayne, people are forgetting about us!!

Shayne: Wait, who is this? Oh, Matt - I remember you. Yes, you are right. We need to do something fast!!

Matt: How about I beat you up after a public fight?

Shayne: I guess, we could do that. Or maybe I can say I'm keeping your ring and you could say "no" and we can have an argument through the media. That way I don't have bruises.

Matt: Brilliant. I knew there was a reason I fell in love with you!

Shayne: **click**

Matt: Hello? Hello?

Re: Bachelor Matt Grant: It’s Not Cool to Keep My Ring

I think this is all for publicity. It's planned.

If it was true, he could have just taken it up with her privately. Instead, he talks to people.

Sounds like they are trying to generate some buzz for when they sell the ring.

Re: Bachelor Matt Grant: It’s Not Cool to Keep My Ring

Oh lordy...I didn't even know they split up!