Rob Feeley has addressed the behaviour that led to his breakup with Michaella during the latest episodes of Love Is Blind season 11, admitting he should have handled the situation “in a more mature way”.
The 40-year-old AI infrastructure salesperson had two emotional outbursts during the episodes. The first came during an outing with Michaella and friends, when the restaurant stopped serving them more alcohol and he demanded that filming end.
He later became upset during a group gathering with the other contestants. Michaella subsequently ended their engagement, despite Rob apologising for his conduct.
Reflecting on the incidents, Rob said the pressure of the experiment and the constant presence of cameras had affected him.
“I probably should have handled it in a more mature way and not crashed out,” he said. “I was getting frustrated with the cameras in my face constantly.”
Rob said he also took offence when Michaella privately told him he was behaving aggressively. “Never in my life would I be aggressive towards a girl,” he said.
He said his conduct at the cast gathering, where Michaella reunited with her former pod connection Matt, was not driven by jealousy. Instead, Rob said he felt the other contestants were being insincere.
“I thought everything was bullshit,” he said. “I know that people found love, but I thought at the moment, it’s just all for the show. It’s all for the camera.”
Rob said the possibility that his wedding might not end with an “I do” became overwhelming during the party. “I felt it crashing down,” he said. “I was letting everyone down.”
He also referred to the pressure he was under after losing his father shortly before taking part in the show, as well as two close friends during the preceding year and a half.
“I could have handled things a little bit differently towards the end, but there was a lot of anxiety in my life, a lot of pressure,” Rob said.
Looking back, he said he wished he had remained calmer and more even-tempered. “If I hurt somebody, that wasn’t my intent,” he said.
“We’re all human and just have to continue to work towards being better, I guess,” Rob added. “I know who I am when I look in the mirror in the morning, and if America doesn’t, that’s on them.”
