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What follows is a lightly edited version of that conversation, which Luyendyk Jr. probably shouldnt read.
Bekah, I know you auditioned for the show because you thought Peter would be the next Bachelor.
Was that the same for you, Kendall?
Kendall Long:I originally thought it was going to be Peter, yes.
I think everyone thought that.
Bekah Martinez:There was no way in hell anybody thought it was going to be Arie.
KL:I didnt know who Arie was.
My sister was the one who got me into auditioning for the show.
I was tipsy one night, watching theBachelorettewhen I visited her.
It was a fun idea.
I figured, why not?
BM: I watched Rachels season.
Hes so cute and cool!
KL:Hes very well spoken, which is what stood out to me.
We didnt know a lot about him.
It didnt feel as catty this season.
It was like a woman tribe.
We were talking to producers,Is it normally like that?And they said,not really.
I imagine Krystal wasnt part of this woman tribe.
KL:They couldnt share everything that shedidsay.
She said more awful stuff that never aired.
In normal life, she wouldnt be like that.
But this situation made her be like that.
I think it was a fair edit.
We were all mad at her for a reason.
Everybody felt the same way about it.
I roomed with her for a bit.
Shes not all bad, and she wants to be good.
The pressure of the situation, she didnt handle it as well.
BM:The thing was that she went aroundappearinggood when she wasnt.
Which is a little wacky.
Combined with a bunch of stress, its not good.
KL:She had fasted for two days before the bowling date.
We were traveling to Florida from Lake Tahoe and she hadnt eaten for two days.
At the bowling date, it was the first time shed eaten in a long time.
She was chowing down on the wings and the beer.
Drinking without eating for two days, she was super tipsy.
There were a lot of factors there.
BM:The main problem was she didnt just own what she was: a little crazy.
She was always quoting Tony Robbins.
KL:ShelovesTony Robbins.
BM:Tony Robbins is her god.
Although, things can be cut.
I was annoyed at the Women Tell All.
They made it look like she won the argument.
KL:They film 24 hours a day, so I imagine its hard to edit it down.
He made a box with 50 notes that was 50 moments we shared together.
It was really cute, but they dont show stuff like that.
BM:Thats a great example.
Kendalls relationship looked weaker in comparison to the other two girls.
That wasnt necessarily the case.
KL:My relationship with him was very strong.
Im surprised they didnt share a lot of our silly, fun moments.
BM:Even though they didnt show much of Becca and Laurens personalities.
KL:Lauren is really guarded, but there issomuch more than the edit showed.
BM:This is really important: Lauren was extremely goofy and extremely fun.
But as she developed more feelings for Arie, she became more closed off and guarded and insecure.
I dont mean insecure in a negative way, but youarecompeting with multiple other women.
I dont think they had much to work with.
KL:Some of the girls were surprised to not be on the show much.
Its because some people dont open up on camera.
They cant show what you dont show.
Do you think the producers couldve given Lauren a less bland edit if they really tried?
KL:It depends.
I was surprised that her relationship with Arie was so strong.
I hadnt seen that while filming, and she never talked about her relationship with him.
BM:you’re able to see the way he looks at her.
Hes enamored with her, absolutely enamored.
I thought it was interesting to see her cry every time she talked about him.
KL:She showed a lot of emotion on camera that I didnt expect.
But she was really guarded.
She doesnt seem like the kind of person that would want to have her love life on television.
She was definitely there for love.
She wasnt there to sell hair gummies on Instagram.
BM:Im not sure how she got on the show.
She doesnt seem to enjoy being on television at all.
She doesnt seem to particularly like being in front of camera or like the structure of it, either.
She was so uncomfortable with him being in a relationship with other people.
So Im like,How did she get here?
Is the audition process to get on the show stressful?
Youd think that would dissuade her from ultimately doing it.
KL:I didnt do a casting call.
I put my picture in with some info about myself.
It was a big group of girls and there were puppies in the office.
Later on, I went in again and I had to fill out a packet and take some photos.
And then they had a final casting full of producers at a hotel.
It was pretty chill.
BM:I had a really different experience.
KL:Because they want to create characters.
you’re gonna wanna exaggerate your traits.
So I played that up.
You talk to them one-on-one.
Most girls were in and out in three or four minutes.
Its a casual talk.
I knew right away that I was doing well, because I was there for about 30 minutes.
I talked about how much I like Peter and this and that.
They had the final casting in L.A. in a hotel, but I didnt actually do any of that.
I actually asked the producers about that later:Why did that happen?
I didnt go through the normal casting process like everyone else did?What she said was interesting.
They only announced Arie the week before filming.
KL:It couldve been the age thing or part of the narrative.
Its interesting that they wouldnt have put me on Peters season.
KL:Youre one of the more popular people from this year.
I really dont know.
BM:I think they wanted me to be the villain at the beginning.
Oh wow, what made you think that?
KL:Shes outspoken!
BM:Its true.
Theres actually a producer whos known as the villain producer.
He works with those villains.
I started out working with him.
If theres one thing I can reiterate, its that this show is not scripted.
If you travel with your best friend, drama is going to happen.
KL:They cast people who have different personalities.
They want people who probably would be more confrontational.
Its the reality of this show.
BM:And bring in the fact youre all dating the same guy.
Moments will happen naturally!
That was so rude.
KL:Thats the thing, its a choice.
Its a choice whether you want to engage in that or not.
you could say no to things.
Its what you as a person wants to do.
Youre never going to get to use your cabana!She was like,I cant!
KL:She still came off as a very strong woman.
We all love her.
BM:With Bibiana, it worked out, but for Krystal, not so much.
It can go in different directions.
The less you react, the less things are going to happen to you.
But when they keep cajoling you, it makes you wonder whats going on.
Its the power of suggestion.
KL:Most of the time, you make your own decisions.
Except for when you get to eat.
No ones holding a gun to your head, saying you have to do anything.
Lets talk about Aries break-up with Becca.
Why do you think he wanted to do it with cameras all around?
KL:I liked how raw it was.
It was good to see the reaction.
Becca handled it extremely gracefully, and I loved seeing the strength she had.
He didnt handle it in the best of ways.
If it was me trying to break-up with somebody, I wouldnt have done it on television.
BK:I dont think he did it on purpose.
He really said that?
KL:It doesnt seem like that would be the case.
BK:This is just his personality throw in.
KL:He does things without thinking.
He just takes action.
I think his feelings for Lauren are extremely real and he wanted to make that happen.
His decision to break up with Becca to go with Lauren, it happens.
People make mistakes and thats totally understandable.
Its how he handled it that made people mad.
We all love Lauren and Becca equally.
Arie shouldve handled it privately, but at the same time, I liked that it wasnt private.
Becca now has such an amazing opportunity to find love.
I genuinely believe she will find love on this show.
BM:Shes going to get married with whoever she finds on that season.
Have babies and be happy.
I dont mind the break-up being aired at all, but the intentions behind it were weird.
He was talking with Becca like nothing was wrong in the week leading up to it.
KL:And she had just gotten her ring resized.
BM:Thats the thing, he had been talking to Lauren for weeks leading up to that.
KL:He slid into those DMs.
He contacted Lauren very privately over her Instagram DMs.
If he wanted to, he couldve broken up with Becca very privately.
I would cover my own ass if I wanted to break up with someone on TV.
KL:They didnt edit it, so there wasnt a chance of skewing either way.
Which is also a reason I liked it not being edited.
You couldnt make someone look better above the other.
If only he justleftafter she asked him to.
BM:She begged him ten times to go!
That was the tipping point for me.
KL:Because you were defending him initially, Bekah.
Matters of the heart happen, not a huge deal.But then I saw the footage.
The choices he made were inexcusable.
Give me assurance this is fine!
Thats what Arie was doing.
It was a game to him.Will you just talk to me?
Theres no other reason to reach out to someone.
Hed been thinking about her and told Becca he couldnt stop thinking about her.
He talked to Lauren for weeks and made sure she was on board with getting back with him.
She was blindsided, but everyone else knew.
Has ABC implored you to cool it at all?
BM:Of course not, they love it.
I dont think anyone cares.
Its a TV show!
Drama is not only approved of, but encouraged.
Im sure they love it.
They think I kill animals when Ive never killed anything.
BM:Ive also been getting a lot of shit for talking about him on social media.
Yeah, Im being a dick to him on social media, and I realize that.
It comes straight from the source.
KL:We dated him, we know him.
Also, dont DM your ex!
It wasnt just me and Lauren, there were other women as well.
Youre 36, you know better.
Youre not oblivious and you know how relationships work.
It was us passionately making out and discussing our relationship.
Lauren doesnt like me.
KL:Well, especially not now.
BM:Especially not now, and Im sure he doesnt like me, either.
To your knowledge, has Arie maintained relationships with any of the women after the season ended?
Like, cordial relationships?
KL:I dont want to name the other girls hes talking to.
I dont know if theyre continuing talking to him now, but before there were some.
BM:I had a cordial relationship.
I messaged him when he and Becca got engaged and I told Becca I was going to do that.
But now, I dont think I would have a problem being friends with him.
I dont wish him ill will.
BM:Watching everything back, I feel particularly deceived by him in a way.
I thought he wasnt the jot down of guy who did all of the things that he did.
KL:I saw a different side of him.
BM:A bunch of his exes called him out publicly about being a cheater.
She could not have been more spot on.
This isnt a new flaw character for him.
Were you surprised that Bekahs age became such a point of contention?
Even when ten or so women were left, nearly all of them were a decade younger than Arie.
BM:My personality can be misinterpreted.
Yeah, of course there are parts of me that are immature.
Isnt that true with most people?
Theres always learning and growing to do.
No, maybe it just means I have a different idea than what marriage means.
KL:Your age became an excuse to win arguments against you.
Everyone thought you were 30 when we first met you!
We genuinely care about each other.
We get coffee with them still.
But producers become your best friends.
Youre living with each other.
I still call my favorite producer all the time and we send ourselves funny photos all the time.
I sobbed harder leaving the show hugging one of the producers than I did with Arie.
We were holding each other, both crying,Im gonna miss you so much!
KL:Honestly, every single one of the girls who were on the show would do it again.
Theyd all do it again.
BM:I wouldnt want to do it again.
KL:Oh, youd be onThe Bachelor again.
Like, you dont regret being on it.
No one regrets being on it.
Would you two ever want to be Bachelorettes?
KL:Yeah, I think so.
I believe in it.
You definitely can find love in that situation.
I dont see any negative with it.
When you do something likeThe Bachelorette, thats it, youre Bekah fromThe Bachelorette.
It doesnt go away.
Will you two be going toParadiseat least?
KL:We dont know yet because theyre still filmingThe Bachelorette,andParadisefilms around June.
So theyre not doing a lot for that right now.
BM:They just started reaching out to people.
Well probably be on it.
Were excited because who knows whos going to be coming from Beccas season.
Ive had so many people say,Kendall and Peter should dateorKendall and Ben should date.
BM:I got Dean for awhile.
KL:Its a funny world.
BM:Dating within the franchise, though, is a whole thing, too.
It seems like a lot of pressure.
How do you think the franchise could improve or progress in future seasons?
KL:I would definitely like to see more women-empowering moments.
I would just love to see that.
Or treating things in kindness as opposed to treating them with negativity.
BM:That wouldnt make good TV.
KL:I know.
BM:[Laughs.]
Well, structure-wise, thats an interesting question.
The thing Im happy about is, after what happened inParadise, theyve changed alcohol policies.
Thats a behind-the-scenes thing.
They were very carefully monitoring us, making sure nobody had too much to drink.
They were very, very adamant about monitoring our alcohol content.
We werent allowed to take shots, we could only have a certain amount of drinks per hour.
But Im sure its just to cover their asses legally.
It would be fun if weed was a really big part of the show.
What if they had marijuana on all dates and ceremonies.
KL:Thatd be too chill.
There would be no confrontations.
BM:Thats so true.
KL:Like, you know what?
I dont need a rose.
This rose does not represent love to me.
BM:You know, this rose is all just a construct.
All of the women are just sitting on the couch like,Honestly this is bullshit.
We dont need a man.And they all leave.
KL:Thats what Id like to change.
Id love to change forcing the proposal at the end.
The show is not forcing proposals, but there is an expectation.
Bachelor Nation always expects there to be a proposal or a happy ending, and thats not realistic.
BM:But thats also something that people like about the show its fantasy.
There needs to be less shaming, too, of people not being ready to marry.
BM:Thats not what its about.
KL:Its like, Arie had more feelings for me.
BM:He liked you better.
KL:And thats normal.
Theres people who like Tia better than me.
BM:I agree.
I bring up Tia because I think shes a really great example of the show in general.
Looking back at your experiences, do you have any regrets?
BM:I wish I had opened up more and been more open to the experience.
I was like a dog pulling at the leash.
I was like,I dont want to do that.I was very resistant because I like being in control.
When we would go to an airport, the producer would be holding my passport and my boarding pass.
Even little things like that I didnt like.
Like kids on a field trip.
KL:Its a controlled environment.
I liked not having that responsibility and being able to focus purely on love.
BM:I liked that to some degree.
Its time to do your interview.I wish I hadnt resisted at every turn and been so stubborn.
I wish I had just been like,Okay.
Im assuming ABC will venture to televise Arie and Laurens wedding.
If you two get invited, will you attend?
BM:Im not getting invited.
KL:I will.
Bekah might not be invited.
Like, what is she going to do?
She screamed at him in front of the whole audience.
You didnt even see all of it.
She was like,How could you?
I mean, I wouldnt say anything, Id just be live tweeting it.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
