'The Bachelor': Jake Pavelka and Vienna Girardi on What Caused Their Breakup

Jave Pavelka and Vienna Girardi accuse each other during post-split interview.

ByABC News via logo
July 4, 2010, 6:49 PM

July 5, 2010 — -- Jake Pavelka and Vienna Girardi weren't afraid to live and love in the spotlight, and now their acrimonious breakup is being played out in an equally public way.

Pavelka, star of the last season of ABC's "The Bachelor," created quite a stir when he gave the final rose and an engagement ring to Girardi.

Pavelka, a 32-year-old pilot from Denton, Texas, chose Girardi over fellow finalist and fan favorite, Tenley Molzahn.

On the season's final episode on March 1, Girardi said Pavelka was man she'd always wanted, and that the ending was the "fairy tale" she thought she'd never have.

But Girardi's fairy tale ending never came true.

In June, the pair announced their split. Girardi reportedly gave Pavelka back the three-carat Neil Lane diamond engagement ring, which he will return to the show's producers.

Since then, the breakup has taken a decidedly bitter tone. Pavelka has accused Girardi of being unfaithful -- a charge she denied, while Girardi, 24, said Pavelka had turned cold.

In an interview with Star Magazine -- one for which she reportedly earned $90,000 -- she claimed said Pavelka wasn't affectionate unless an audience was watching.

The couple will face each other tonight during a special episode of "The Bachelorette" at 8. In the interview, snippets of which were released by ABC, Girardi calls Pavelka a "liar," while he accuses her of cheating.

Chris Harrison, who hosts both shows and conducted the interview, was surprised by the former pair's tone.

"When I went into this interview I did not think it would get as angry and contentious as it did," he told "Good Morning America."