'Bachelor In Paradise' Derek Peth Hasn't Spoken To His Ex-Fiancé In Nearly A Year
On Bachelor in Paradise, Derek Peth has mentioned that he'd previously been engaged on the show.
His ex-fiancé is Taylor Nolan, and they broke up in June 2018.
After his breakup with Taylor, Derek also dated The Hills' Stephanie Pratt.
Things are heating up on Bachelor in Paradise this season—and I don't just mean the tropical temps. Derek Peth and Demi Burnett seemed like the most solid couple, engaging in tons of steamy makeouts, until Monday's episode, anyway. Though Demi was already honest with her new beau about previously dating a woman, she still can't shake mixed feelings about her and Derek's current connection. Fans can't wait to watch the inevitable drama from this revelation unfold, but if there's one person who can relate to Demi's complicated relationship history, it's Derek. Just two years ago, he got engaged to Taylor Nolan after they were on Bachelor in Paradise season four together.
The two were completely inseparable and, even though they fought occasionally (like any normal couple), it was as clear as the ocean in Paradise that they were still madly in love with each other. While they didn’t get engaged on the actual reality TV show, Derek proposed to Taylor on the aftershow, and she said yes. (I mean, how could you say no to those baby blues?)
So, it was a serious blow to all of Bachelor Nation when news broke in June 2018 that the two had split. "It is with much sadness that we have decided to end our engagement. We put everything we could into our relationship and are heartbroken to go forward separately, but we know this is the best decision for the both of us," the ex-fiancés said in a statement to Us Weekly. "We will still be present in each other’s lives with support, admiration and respect for each other."
Details of what exactly prompted the breakup are pretty scarce, but there's some speculation that distance played a role (Derek lives in NYC; Taylor in Seattle).
Fast-forward to 2018, and Derek is back and looking for his second chance at love on Bachelor in Paradise. Perhaps unsurprisingly, his ex has some thoughts about that, which she shared on the new episode of her podcast, "Let’s Talk About It With Taylor Nolan."
"Initially, I thought, you know, I’m several seasons removed now, I don’t really know any of the people that are on… and then I found out that Derek was going on," Taylor said. "Then I was like, you know, 'Maybe next season.'"
Check out all the Bachelor in Paradise couples who have stayed together through the years:
"I mean, I won’t lie, part of me definitely is curious to watch," she continued. "The other part of me feels like, I don’t know if it’s a smart decision to invite that stress and anxiety back in my life because it’s not just, like, this fun form of entertainment. It’s, you know, watching someone that I was in a deep [relationship] with and tried really hard with and didn’t work out. So I can’t."
She went on to explain that a part of her didn't want to watch and become "fully consumed" by the many "thoughts and feelings" she knew she'd have seeing Derek meet, date, and inevitably hook up with someone else, namely Demi.
Taylor also shared that it feels "overwhelming" knowing people have already asked her how she feels about the whole thing. "I know that those questions will only continue and grow in number, so yeah… [We broke up] June of last year. The last we spoke was last September, so almost a year since we last spoke," she concluded.
Though Taylor was Derek's last serious relationship, he hasn’t been single since their breakup. Derek also dated The Hills star Stephanie Pratt, but Stephanie told Us that the two broke up in June. "We both just know that [with] long distance, it just wasn’t working," she explained to the publication. "My life is way too drama right now and I would never want to subject that to him. But God, he’s just—this is so selfish—but I hope he’s single in a year." (Whelp, looks like Stephanie might just get her wish after all...)
For his part, Derek has also addressed in a new Instagram post the fact that going back to Bachelor in Paradise is pretty emotional.
A post shared by Derek Peth (@pethderek) on Aug 4, 2019 at 3:49pm PDT
“Deciding to return to BIP was not easy,” he said. “When I was first asked, I didn’t think I was ready to face my many anxieties, especially pain from memories of a relationship I thought was going to last forever.”
Derek said he also had his job as a banker to think about. “How will my clients perceive my continued connection to a reality show? Friends warned against the possibility that I might be edited with some new personality just for a viewer twist,” he said. “All that said, I’ve been struggling to find someone to romantically connect with who appreciated me for just me and didn’t make so much of my experiences (whether good or bad judgement) in reality tv.”
Derek continued that “the opportunity for openness won out over the fear,” and he got excited for “the chance to be around a group of amazing women who I could potentially find a real match with as well as that chance at more lifelong friendships.”
He ended on this note: “The beauty of paradise is that we’re all in the same weird boat together. Nobody cares if you were once on a show because they were too. Catch y’all tomorrow on the beach!!!”
Good luck out there, Derek.
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