Lauren Himle Blasts Nick Viall For ‘Manipulating’ Jen Saviano: ‘They Were Still Seeing Each Other’ After ‘Bachelor In Paradise’ Ended

Nick Viall went from Bachelorette villain to the fan favorite on Bachelor in Paradise, but Paradise contestant Lauren Himle isn’t happy with the way Nick treated her friend and co-star Jen Saviano when he found out he got the Bachelor gig.

Lauren tells The Ticket during an on-air radio broadcast that she “isn’t a fan” of Nick Viall and calls him out for “manipulating” his relationship with her “close friend” Jen Saviano.

Although the season finale of Bachelor in Paradise doesn’t air until Tuesday, September 6, Nick revealed on last week’s After Paradise talk show that he ended his relationship with Jen before the final rose ceremony that was taped at the end of June.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsK1QmKnOsc

However, Lauren begs to differ, telling The Ticket that they continued their relationship off-camera after filming wrapped and were a couple until a week ago — right before Nick was crowned the Season 21 Bachelor.

“I am not a big fan of him, he dated my great friend Jen on Bachelor in Paradise and they did break up on the show,” Lauren states. “But it was my understanding that they were still seeing each other after the show completed…. they were still together in a relationship.”

Lauren goes on to say that Nick and Jen were “solid a week ago” but towards the end of their relationship Jen realized Nick was “manipulating her.”

“Jen is one of the smartest people I know, she picks up on the bull —-. Her and I are both pretty good at picking up on guy’s games…She knew that he was kind of manipulating her towards the end, this just happened, they were solid a week ago. It’s fresh.”

Although a preview for Bachelor in Paradise season finale shows Nick picking out an engagement ring, it’s clear that he doesn’t get down on one knee and propose since he revealed during After Paradise that he broke up with Jen before the final rose ceremony.

However, what may be just a bit disturbing to fans is what Nick did before he ended their on-camera relationship. According to Reality Steve, when Chris Harrison offered the final five couples a key to the Fantasy Suite, Nick accepted the key and spend the night with Jen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFSiXW_xKAg

It’s possible that he knew by then that he was going to be the next Bachelor, or, at the very least, was in the running along with Luke Pell and Chase McNary.

So, breaking up with Jen on the show isn’t a big surprise, but spending the night with her and continuing their relationship after filming wrapped up (according to Lauren Himle) sounds just a wee bit like the Nick was a bit of a player.

Now fans are wondering how Jen feels about the whole Nick situation, something that will play out on Tuesday night’s post-finale After Paradise talk show. Both Nick and Jen are expected to appear on the show to talk about their failed relationship, and there’s one thing that is certain — Jen wants nothing to do with going on Nick’s season of the Bachelor.

When blogger Dana Weiss tweeted that she was “trying to figure” out which former contestants would join the cast and date Nick, Jen quickly answered, “Not I.” Lauren Himle then chimed in and tweeted that Jen was “too good” for Nick.

What will Jen say to Nick on the After Paradise on Tuesday night and will he make excuses for supposedly breaking up with her right before he took the Bachelor gig?

Watch the two-part Bachelor in Paradise season finale on Monday, September 5 and Tuesday, September 6 to see how the whole on-screen breakup went down. Then tune in to see what Nick and Jen have to say on After Paradise at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday night.

[Image via ABC Television Network]