by Danae Young

 

This week on The Bachelorette, Craig R. finally got some one-on-one time with Ali after fighting for it in an oil wrestling match. He took that opportunity to really open up to her. However, it still wasn’t enough because he was sent home at the rose ceremony. Today, Craig spoke with RealityWanted and reporters on how he has remained so positive throughout his experience and his thoughts about Justin having a girlfriend.

 

Q. Danae, RealityWanted: Does it frustrate you that you were sent home and perhaps not given a fair chance, when other guys were either not here for the right reasons or weren't planning on something long term with Ali?
A. Craig: For me Justin was gone before I got eliminated so I was more worried for the guys who got eliminated before him like Kasey for instance. In my mind Justin cost Kasey a trip to Turkey. At the time it really did frustrate me, but looking back today I look back with nothing but positive memories and no regrets or bad feelings. I feel blessed, I really do.

 

Q. How did you feel when you hear Ali when she said she didn’t need time to deliberate?
A. Craig: I really respect that decision. I trusted her that she really did have her mind made up at that point.

 

Q. What are your thoughts on the Justin situation?
A. Craig: My thoughts are that he is an entertainer. Obviously his main purpose, I believe, was getting himself some publicity. I think anything he is saying now about not having a girlfriend is a continuation of that. If he has controversy around him then he keeps the publicity around him.

 

Q. Did it ever go through your mind that you were the only guy without a one-one because Ali wasn’t that interested in you?
A. Craig: Part of me thought that, but at the same time I kept getting a rose so it was kind of confusing to me. I didn’t know what to think. Had she had not been that into me, I wouldn’t have gotten as many roses as I did. Maybe she saw me as a really good friend and that’s why she kept me there. I have to agree with her that the romance just wasn’t really there.

 

Q. How have the ladies been acting to you since the show aired and what kind of girl do you look for?
A. Craig: It’s funny I have gotten an overwhelming response. I actually got roses delivered from 6 random fans in, I think, Missouri. I haven’t really been able to date until this week. I am looking for a girl who is funny that can make me laugh and challenges me intellectually. Someone I just feel at home with.

 

Q. How do you feel about the credibility of the show?
A. Craig: As far as the credibility of the show, I would not have gone on this show had I not believed there was a chance for me to find love on this show. Obviously it’s pretty evident that two people have gotten married and that proves that it worked.

 

Q. Why were you shocked and do you think you could have done anything else with Ali to stay longer?
A. Craig: I was shocked because going into every rose ceremony I thought there was always a chance I wasn’t going to get a rose, including that night. When it happens, it happens so quickly, especially after you have gotten rose after rose. You almost come to expect it. It just ended so quickly for me. I’m sure there was more I could’ve done. I look back and I think everyone can look back on their time with her and said I could’ve done this or I could’ve done that. Her and I never kissed and that was something I maybe could’ve done. I don’t know f it was the cameras or the setting.

 

Q. Do you feel the same that Justin is a friend after the show?
A. Craig: Best friends. BFF’s for life. (laughs) It’s been some time now since the show ended for me and I have had some time to think about it. Here is what I’ll say: I understand why he came on the show and why he did what he did. I understand his reasons and they were to deem publicity for himself. I don’t have any real problem with the fact that that’s what he wanted to do. Justin calling me a friend or any of us a friend is a misstatement. He never really interacted with any of us. I will say this: I feel a bond with every one of those guys because of what we went through together, even Justin.

 

Q. How did you think Ali handled the situation?
A. Craig: Perfectly. She handled it perfectly. The fact that she got angry and stood up for herself, to me, he deserved more than that. I’m looking for a girl like that who will stand up for herself.

 

Q. How have you been so positive throughout this experience?
A. Craig: I really think having the opportunity to go on this show was a blessing. I think I learned a lot about myself on the show. I am really thankful for the opportunity I was given. My ultimate goal was to fall in love and end up engaged but you’re not thinking that way when you get there. You want to survive that first night and that first cut.

 

Q. Would you want to be the next Bachelor?
A. Craig: That’s a great question. It would definitely be something I would consider. That would be something that I would have to think about if they offer me the opportunity. I look at myself as a lawyer first. I never did this to spin this as any type of career in the entertainment industry or get into further reality shows on top of this.

 

Q. what was it like living in the same house with a bunch of guys and your whole world revolving around Ali?
A. Craig: It is the unique, most awkward dynamic. You are with the guys a majority of the time. You see Ali very rarely. You are becoming friendly with these guys but you know in the back of your mind you are fighting for the same girl. I think guys handle it a little better than the girls do. I don’t know how other seasons have been because I never watched the bachelorette before this but I can’t imagine any groups in the past have become closer than we did. We took to each other really well. There was a moment in Iceland where we all got together and shared our stories from home. I’ll be completely honest with you, we all cried that night.

 

Q. What made you decide to go on The Bachelorette?
A. Craig: I have my roommate to thank for that. One night we were sitting around watching TV and the ad came on TV and he went on and submitted an application for me. I got a call a couple of weeks later. He pushed me through the whole audition process. I wasn’t 100 percent it was something I wanted to do at first. The more I thought about it I figured, why not? I was 26 at the time, single; I had everything else in place in my life, just not a girl to share it with.

 

(Image courtesy of ABC)

 

Follow Danae at twitter.com/danaeyoung

 

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