Bachelor Pad's Michael: 'I Was Humiliated' by The Finale Surprise

Michael Stagliano may have won Bachelor Pad with his former fiancée Holly Durst, but the finale proved to be as complicated as it was celebratory.

Before their victory was announced, the entrepreneur, 27, found out on camera that aspiring author Durst, 28, was newly engaged to fellow contestant Blake Julian.

Still recovering from the shock they'd heard only an hour before, they spoke with PEOPLE exclusively at the finale's taping last week in their hometown of Los Angeles.

Before you won, Chris Harrison dropped the bomb about Holly's engagement to Blake.
Holly: I was really upset. Last night, I called to tell him, but they'd already taken his phone. I was thinking, "Well, at least I will be able to tell him before the show so he isn't blindsided." But I wasn't allowed to speak to him prior to walking out on stage. As soon as I sat down, I whispered that I needed to talk badly and then the bomb was dropped almost immediately. He was blindsided. That was the lowest thing they could have done for ratings.
Michael: I was caught off guard, humiliated. I know neither Holly nor Blake wanted it to go down like that. I'm now even more thankful for the talk we had two weeks ago, which provided closure I didn't have before. If we hadn't had that that, it would have been so much worse tonight. I might have just walked off stage.

Did you ever think you'd be sitting in the winners' chairs?
Michael: Definitely not. Not once, the whole time, did I say to myself, "This is looking good. We could win this thing." People knew that we were going to couple up and as soon as you are deemed a power couple, a target gets put on your back. I always felt we were on the chopping block.
Holly: I thought every week people were going to suddenly realize that we were solid and that's dangerous in a game where two pairs compete. … We kept Kasey and Vienna around. If they'd gone home, we would have followed shortly. But they acted like a shield. They were so dramatic and outspoken that everyone focused on them.
Michael: Everyone always wanted them off, which meant they weren't paying attention to us.

Don't belittle your synchronized swimming abilities.
Michael: Is there a men's national team? I'm really gonna push for that. I can afford a $125,000 campaign now for London 2012. Or at least more lessons.

Did either of you consider not sharing the prize?
Holly: No way. We were a team from start to finish and I wouldn't have any money if it weren't for him.
Michael: Ditto.

What will you do with the money?
Holly: Pay rent (laughs). No, a big chunk of the money will go toward publishing my children's book Chocolate Socks.
Michael: I've read it. It's adorable. I'm so happy she has the money to finance her dream. I'm going on vacation, seven days somewhere tropical with a lot of drinking. And I'm going to save a lot, help start a charity with the church I attend and pay off student loans. But vacation is first on the list.

Are you happy for Holly?
Michael: Absolutely. We were engaged and therefore I will always care about and love her so it makes me happy when she is happy. I wish we could have been happy together but we're always going to care about and love each other. I have no reason to be mad at Holly or Blake. You can't help who you fall for.
Holly: If we had walked out there hating each other, I don't think we would have gotten as many votes. He's the best guy and I can't wait for him to find the right girl.
Michael: And now I have some money to go on a few first dates.

Message edited 9/13/2011 2:06:58 PM.

Re: Bachelor Pad's Michael: 'I Was Humiliated' by The Finale Surprise

I love Michael. He deserves so much better than her. I wish wish wish HE would have been the bachelor, not BEN.

Re: Bachelor Pad's Michael: 'I Was Humiliated' by The Finale Surprise

Re: Bachelor Pad's Michael: 'I Was Humiliated' by The Finale Surprise

I agree, Ben is SO boring, I have a feeling it will be a snoozefest and I probably won't watch (just like I didn't really watch Ashley's season.. she irritated me too early on!)

Re: Bachelor Pad's Michael: 'I Was Humiliated' by The Finale Surprise

Well maybe they will have Michael as the bachelor after Ben's season.

Its not unlike them to bring someone back from the past.....after all they brought Brad back

Re: Bachelor Pad's Michael: 'I Was Humiliated' by The Finale Surprise

Re: Bachelor Pad's Michael: 'I Was Humiliated' by The Finale Surprise

Re: Bachelor Pad's Michael: 'I Was Humiliated' by The Finale Surprise

I bet the engagement was because Holly is taking the chance with Blake and moving to be with him. I don't blame them, I am sure he just wanted her to know he was serious. Sometimes, you just know

As much as I love Michael, something was obviously wrong with their relationship. She was unsure about marriage and then he decided to ultimately break up with her.

Re: Bachelor Pad's Michael: 'I Was Humiliated' by The Finale Surprise

I wonder if The Bachelor offered Blake a sweet deal if he proposed before the final show. He had a Neil Lane ring and of course the cameras were present for the proposal. They have known each other for what? 4 months maybe? If that was the case, I wonder if there was a contract Blake had to sign stating he wouldn't tell Michael the plan ahead of time.

That was a really sh!tty thing to do to a really good guy. They did that specifically so the viewers would wonder if he would actually go through with sharing the money with her. I hope he meets someone soon...and I agree that he should have been the Bachelor. I really don't see the appeal of Ben.

Re: Bachelor Pad's Michael: 'I Was Humiliated' by The Finale Surprise

I have LOVED him since Bachelorette- I hated seeing him go that season. He is such a great, charasmatic, awesome, funny guy. I would LOVE to be friends with him, haha.

This guy was dumped by Jillian, then Deanna starts dating his twin brother and is now engaged to him. He meets Holly, gets engaged, things don't work out and now she's engaged to another guy in the bachelor world! He needs to leave the Bachelor series for good now- it has not served him well in love. But at least he has the money $$$$!!

Editied to correct Jillian!

Message edited 9/14/2011 1:43:06 PM.

Re: Bachelor Pad's Michael: 'I Was Humiliated' by The Finale Surprise

Re: Bachelor Pad's Michael: 'I Was Humiliated' by The Finale Surprise

Re: Bachelor Pad's Michael: 'I Was Humiliated' by The Finale Surprise

I think Holly got a raw deal in all of this. Michael is not so innocent. She ended the engagement and then they got back together and he was the final nail in their relationship coffin and walked away. From their conversations, she tried to understand why he didn't give it 100% when they got back together, he just didn't. They were broken up for 3 months or so before the show even started. Why didn't he contact her all of that time? I totally don't blame her for moving on. She seems so happy and in love, and she deserves it. And so does Michael. I do hope they both find happiness, even though its not with each other.

And Michael definitely needs to leave this Bachelor stuff alone. He is sweet, funny and adorable, but its time to start dating in the "real world" for him.

I'm going to post this on the other thread for BP too, but does anyone know what happened with Kirk and Ella? They didn't even speak to them on the finale. Are they together? They looked like they had forced chemistry. I wanted them to win most of all