Stu Laundy has claimed that he only heard about his split from Sophie Monk via her Instagram statement.
The millionaire publican told Nova’s Fitzy and Wippa on Monday, that he didn’t know she was going to end things with him until she did it so publicly.
However Stu admitted that for a longtime, the pair both knew that their relationship was more platonic than anything.
‘We both knew in our hearts’: Heartbroken Stu Laundy claims he only heard about his split with Sophie Monk when she announced it on INSTAGRAM
‘I sort of found out via Instagram,’ Stu said.
‘But having said that, we both knew in our hearts.’
‘We had discussed pushing more towards a friendship.’
Not feeling it: However Stu admitted that for a longtime, the pair both knew that their relationship was more platonic than anything
Stu said he had a great time with Sophie in Canada, when they stayed at a luxurious ski resort over Christmas.
He said he came back to Australia to spend time with his four daughters, while Sophie remains overseas.
After Sophie announced the split online, Stu then texted her as she’s overseas.
He added in the chat, that there are ‘no hard feelings.’
‘Apart from being so publicly brushed, I have no hard feelings, none whatsoever,’ Stu said.
He added that Sophie was upset by a report that she was a party girl, and that affected their relationship.
He added: ‘She did it in a very nice way. Especially me not being in the industry. I think Soph can hold her head up really high.’
Sophie and Stu fell in love on The Bachelorette last year, but Sophie confirmed their split on Instagram on Friday.
‘I gave it the best shot I could and my intentions were everything I said I was looking for but unfortunately it just didn’t work out,’ she wrote.
While Sophie didn’t mention Stu by name at all in the lengthy post, she explained she felt she ‘owed’ Australia an answer because their relationship had played out in front of the nation’s eyes.
‘Because I entered this relationship so publicly I know I owe an answer to Australia about my personal life,’ she wrote.
‘I went into this experience looking to settle down and start a family. I gave it the best shot I could and my intentions were everything I said I was looking for, but unfortunately it just didn’t work out.’
The former Bardot singer added: ‘As much as I respect him we are just very different people.’
Despite ongoing rumours to the contrary, Sophie insisted there were ‘no contracts or pressure to stay together whatsoever and we remain friends’.
Looking on the bright side, the Date Night actress added: ‘The positive in this whole experience is it taught me to jump out of my comfort zone in order to feel real love and made me much stronger.’
She concluded: ‘I sincerely want to apologise to anyone who invested so much love and support and I hope I haven’t disappointed anyone.’