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The Bachelor Chris and Whitney's Breakup: Find Out Who's "Heartbroken"

"They both tried really hard"....But what happened?

By Kristin Dos Santos May 28, 2015 8:47 PMTags
Chris Soules, Whitney Bischoff, BachelorABC/Nicole Kohl

Is there nothing we can believe in anymore!? Just kidding. There's lots to. But still, the breakup of The Bachelor's Chris Soules and Whitney Bischoff, is hitting hard with some fans.

So what happened? Why did they call it off?

Sources close to the couple tell E! News that Whitney is "heartbroken."

"They both tried hard," says one insider. "They really did. They wanted to make it work but it just didn't happen." 

"Whitney Bischoff and Chris Soules have mutually and amicably decided to end their engagement," the couple told E! News in a statement. "They part with nothing but respect and admiration for one another and will continue to be supportive friends."

ABC/Nicole Kohl

The news is sad. But...not shocking. After all, only one Bachelor in the history of the franchise has made it to the altar in all 19 seasons. And many fans have noticed Chris' interaction with Whitney hasn't exactly been PDA City—especially when she was noticeably absent for his final weeks on Dancing With the Stars.

Still, we are told that the feelings were legit when Chris and Whitney filmed the show's season finale four months ago, and he proposed in his family's barn. That's when, however, real life stepped in and made things more challenging—especially with Chris' grueling schedule on Dancing With the Stars. Whitney, a fertility nurse in Chicago, made it clear from the beginning of their engagement that she wasn't willing to quit her job. Chris, of course, was famously close to his family and unwilling to permanently move away from his family business, a farm in Arlington, Iowa, where he has been for planting season. 

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Still, the two maintained up until very recently that they could make the distance work. "[Farming] doesn't necessarily have to be in her blood," Chris told E! News' Marc Malkin on May 10 at the Tomorrowland premiere. "I think once she sees what I appreciate about [Arlington], and she's seen some of that, it's a really great lifestyle. But we'll still come to Chicago. Chicago's only four hours away. It's not a bad drive. I do it all the time. I have family there." Then he added, "I'm looking forward to [the peace and quiet]. No traffic, no cameras. Just cornfields."

Though, to viewers, Chris and Whitney's engagement only lasted two months since the show's season finale in March, it's actually been six months since they filmed the proposal. And for four of those months, the pair could not be spotted out in public together—which clearly puts a damper on early romance.

Chris hinted to us that the end of the show was a really difficult adjustment—for him and for his relationship with Whitney. "They just dump you back into the world," He told us. "They do! It's quite traumatic, actually. You spend two months dating like crazy and then all of a sudden there's no cameras, there's nothing. There's nobody telling you what to do which is good but it's also a transition."

It's also unknown whether Whitney held up her vow (strong woman!) to not watch her and Chris' season of The Bachelor—which showed that he had some deep feelings for some of the other girls, including runner-up Becca. But all the questions about whether she felt jealous of those other Bachelor contestants, and of course, Chris' Dancing With the Stars partner (also blonde and named WhitneyReally, ABC?!) would certainly take their toll on anyone.

ABC

Only two weeks ago, Chris told us he and Whitney were in the beginning stages of wedding planning. "We're sort of getting back to normal," he said. "Whitney's enjoying work and getting back in the swing of things…It's nice to unwind and let the planning happen naturally." And he talked about their wedding reception as if it were still definitely happening.

"If there's anything that came out of [DWTS], it's that I'm going to look good on the dance floor with Whitney on our wedding evening. After doing that [DWTS], I'm not really afraid of doing anything."

Well, whoever he marries someday will be a lucky girl on that reception dancefloor. And we're sure sweet Whitney will be just fine, too. Best of luck, guys.