Brooks Forester - Media, Articles, Pictures - No Discussion

sfrank wrote:

atem wrote:Anyone have a copy of the transcript of the press release, because abcmedianet has already shut everything Bachelorette down! Geez!

You mean Brooks?

Operator: Brooks has joined the conference and, ladies and gentlemen, to ask a question, please press star then the number one.

Your first question comes from Jennifer Matarese from WABC-TV.


Jennifer Matarese: Hi, Brooks.


Brooks Forester: Hello, how are you?


Jennifer Matarese: Hi, great. How are you?


Brooks Forester: I'm good. I was on the line earlier but I just sat there and no one was on.


Jennifer Matarese: Well, you're here now and we can all hear you. So, I was wondering if you were still confident in your decision, especially after, you know, meeting with Desiree on the (inaudible) Final Rose last night?


Brooks Forester: Yes, I - I know made the right decision and that was about being honest with Desiree and with myself. And that conversation and the breakup, as difficult as it was and as bad as it hurt, you know, I - I just don't know how I can live without being honest.


So, I look back and say I know that's the right decision and I knew that was the right decision going into that conversation with her.


Jennifer Matarese: And were you surprised when she was engaged to Chris?


Brooks Forester: Not entirely. I was - I had time to consider all the options of what might possibly be the outcome. So, not entirely but, you know, I - I'm excited for them I wish them the best. And, you know, as I said last night it was apparent that Desiree had those feelings for Chris and I - I know had those feelings for her.


No, I love Chris I think he is a genuine - he's a genuine person and very great guy. So, I think Desiree, you know, got what she deserves a great guy. So, I couldn't be happier for him.


Jennifer Matarese: OK, than you so much.


Brooks Forester: You bet.


Operator: Your next question comes from Beth Kwiatkowski from Reality TV World.


Beth Kwiatkowski: Hi, Brooks, how are you doing?


Brooks Forester: I'm good. How are you?


Beth Kwiatkowski: Good, so there was a report that came out recently that you regretted leaving Des almost immediately after you took off. I guess was that actually eh case and if so when did you stop feeling that regret? And was there ever a moment in between when you did consider coming back?


Brooks Forester: I'm sorry, could you repeat the question? You cut out a little bit?


Beth Kwiatkowski: Oh, no problem. I just said that there was a report that came out recently that you regretted leaving Des immediately after you took off. I wanted to know if that was actually the case and if so when did you stop feeling regret? And was there ever a moment in between that when you did consider coming back?


Brooks Forester: No, that was never - never an option and never - never my feelings after making that decision. I've - I felt like I make the right decision going into that. I didn't have a moment where I felt I should go back and - and rehash things out with Desiree.


You know, was there - was there immediate things that I missed about here and was I sad to see that relationship come to a close? Yes, I think after the conversation and my interview with the producers I was beyond sad. You know, sad to see that relationship end.


Beth Kwiatkowski: OK, and ...


Brooks Forester: So, that's - that's the only place I could think it came from.


Beth Kwiatkowski: OK, sure, and spoilers has circulated all season claiming you were the last man standing and got engaged to Desiree. How was it dealing with that all season and when you talked to Des last night it came across like you actually hadn't known she ended up with Chris? So, is that really what happened because a lot of viewers are surprised that you didn't know how it ended.


Brooks Forester: Yes, I - I honestly did not know how it ended. I was - I didn't - I still haven't seen the show. I still haven't seen what happens. So, you know, I was held in sequester yesterday while the show aired, then knowing that I didn't know the ending.


Beth Kwiatkowski: OK and what about the spoilers did you - were you aware...


Brooks Forester: Yes, the last two months have been - have been difficult there, you know, everybody assumes that we're together and has a conversations with me and I don't like eluding to anything, you know, I have to play a very fine line and, you know, say oh just watch the season and, you know, I hope the best for, you know, Des and myself and everyone involved. And that's just not a comfortable line to tow, so I'm glad that that's over, I'm really glad to see the end of this shooting come to an end.


Beth Kwiatkowski: OK. Thank you, Brooks.


Brooks Forester: Thank you.


Operator: Your next question comes from the Nancy Harrington from Pop Culture Fashionista.


Brooks Forester: Hi, Nancy.


Nancy Harrington: Hi, Brooks. Thanks for talking to us today.


Brooks Forester: Beat you to the punch, you guys usually say, "Hey Brooks." Gotcha this time.


Nancy Harrington: So, if you had known how into you Desiree was would it have changed your decision?


Brooks Forester: You know, I thought about that, and, you know, at the time I was - the first time I knew that she loved me was when she told me on the dock. That was the first time I had heard it from her, the viewers were able to see that she had those feelings prior - prior to myself so in the moment, you know, I had asked her (inaudible) sooner.


And that was a comment referring back to conversation that we had where, you know, I had told Desiree that I would promise to wear my heart on my sleeve and to put her first before everything including the show and should I say something that the producers and our editors don't enjoy well - or feel that its revealing then they can cut that out.


And I'll allow them to do their job as editors and producers and I will do everything I can to make this as real and as genuine as possible. And try to be as communicative as possible.


So I, you know, in long about way the answer is no, I - it's about my emotional process and me figuring out how I feel, (inaudible) Desiree deserves to be in love with someone that is equally in love with her. So she was at that point great, now I need to get there. And I just wasn't there yet.


Nancy Harrington: Great, well, thank you for talking to us today.


Brooks Forester: Thank you.


Operator: Your next question comes from Amy Kaufman from L.A. Times.


Amy Kaufman: Hey, Brooks.


Brooks Forester: Hey, how are you?


Amy Kaufman: Hey, good - so I think what a lot of people liked about - I mean, if there's anything to like about that sort of dramatic breakup scene was that you were honest about how weird this whole process is and that you're expected to fall in love so quickly, and get engaged that quickly.


So can you talk about like how difficult it was to decipher your true feelings from the entire sort of (inaudible) around you with the dramatic dates and all that stuff.


Brooks Forester: Yes, it takes a moment to justify in your brain all the (inaudible) that are going on, the fact that she is dating 25 other guys is something that may be used - warm me up to that idea when you are coming on the show. And knowing that that's the premise of the show, however actually being on the show with the guys while feelings develop is entirely a different story. And it can be difficult to fall in love with the moment. Does that make sense?


Amy Kaufman: Yes.


Brooks Forester: So, you - the moment and the - I mean, the dates are so grand and amazing and you only see her in those moments, it is difficult to really decipher exactly how you feel. Are you falling in love with her or are you falling in love with that moment?


And so, for me, I really wanted a window to the outside world per say this - I see this relationship working after this whole journey together and that's what I was most concerned with. I wanted to make sure that those words, you know, I love you are genuine and sincere and that I can fully back that up. Six months, a year from now, instead of just in that moment.


Amy Kaufman: Props for you giving that. And then you said earlier that you were not entirely surprised that she was with Chris but like - really don't you think it's kind of weird she got engaged after having that intense, you know, break up with you?


Like she said to you, you know, that you asked her what she was going to do next and she said she didn't know because she had envisioned her future with you, so that must've taken you somewhat by surprise, no?


Brooks Forester: Yes, because to say there was no surprise at all would be a stretch. I don't know what her process was. You know, I wasn't there to see what exactly it is that she was realizing and going into that conversation I was hoping she was somewhat conflicted.


So, you know, maybe she's really conflicted between Drew, Chris, and myself and my bowing out will make this decision easier for her. So I guess in retrospect I am a little surprised, but not entirely, but I don't know what she was going through prior to that moment and having me gone if that created clarity for her or more confusion, either or.


I'm just not sure. That's a really hard question (inaudible). I don't know. (inaudible) those are the conclusions that I came to. She could've been thinking anything and she didn't communicate that to me.


Amy Kaufman: All right, thanks.


Operator: Your next question comes from Baker Machado from E! News.


Baker Machado: Hi, Brooks. Based on producing and editing, it really came across that you were the frontrunner early on. Did you ever feel like you were the frontrunner and that this was kind of yours to lose?


Brooks: In the beginning, I had the first date-I had the first date so early on I had more time than any of the other guys, so I knew that I was in a situation that was going to be difficult because my next time with her to rekindle the connection that we established on the first date was going to be longer than anybody else.


So I did feel that I had-as you say-the position of a frontrunner early on due to my position in the dates. I don't think after others had their dates that I was any further along than either of them. I think once everybody started to get their time that we were all put onto even playing field to some degree.


Baker Machado: And then a follow up. What are you doing right now with our life? What's going on?


Brooks: Oh, I've been working on a couple different projects. I work at Fit Marketing. I work as a - in sales. I do (inaudible) audits for new customers and then I have a little company that we've been working on two years. I call it a project because its, you know, its still in its infancy and we basically help recycle old shoes and help (inaudible) to raise money to provide new shoes for those who don't have them.


Baker Machado: And are you dating anybody right now?


Brooks Forester: No, I'm not.


Baker Machado: Thank you, Brooks.


Operator: Your next question comes is a follow-up from Marc Cuenco from Your Tango.com.


Marc Cuenco: Hey, Brooks. Since you're not dating anyone right now, would you consider, you know, (inaudible) The Bachelor or were you disappointed that you weren't picked to be the next Bachelor?


Brooks Forester: You know, after watching Desiree firsthand and the process that she went through, emotionally taxing, there was some discussion early on and when they had asked me initially my response was no.


We had multiple conversations about it and they said, "We think we're going in a different direction anyway," so that there wasn't much to consider for me in that arena so that decision was pretty easy.


Operator: Your next question comes from Catriona Wightman from DigitalSpy.


Catriona Wightman: Hi, Brooks. You touched on this a little bit, but this is obviously a very unusual situation. I mean, Des was dating other guys and there was this kind of pressure of the cameras and everything.


Do you think that if you had met her in a bar or something or through friends and had a relationship off screen that it could have developed more naturally?


Brooks Forester: Well, Desiree had been there before so I felt like she had an understanding as how to be herself early on. I think I was the one doing the learning there so I don't think that the situation would change things entirely.


I think the outcome would have been the same just based on who we are as individuals and what it is that she's looking for and what I'm looking for. You know, and like I said before, I just - after putting everything into that relationship and it-the pieces started to not come together-you know that was really emotional for me to really put my heart out there and to really try to make that relationship work and then to just not feel that click that I felt like I needed and have felt before.


This isn't the first time I've been in love and, you know, I've felt that before so I know how to recognize it and I just didn't feel that in the relationship so I don't think it would change the outcome.


Catriona Wightman: OK. When did you definitely decide to leave? Had you decided before you went to speak to your mom and your sister or was it after speaking to them it gave you clarity?


Brooks Forester: My family acted as my first sounding board in Salt Lake, when we had our first date, and I think they had asked me some of the hard questions that I wasn't asking myself at that point and so it gave me some time to kind of identify what I was already feeling and so (inaudible) and talking to my sister and my mother-it was just a way for me to be more confident in the decision that I had made.


I had made the decision to go and talk to Desiree I just didn't want to regret it later on so since my family was such a good sounding board the first time, I figured, Hey I'll go talk to them again and see their thoughts on this decision. It was really just a (inaudible) that I was doing the right thing and I had worked out my emotions and was looking at things in a healthy, you know, with a healthier perspective.


Catriona Wightman: OK. Great, thank you.


Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Eleanore Hutch from Hollywoodlife.com.


Eleanore Hutch: Hi, Brooks.


Brooks: Hi, how are you?


Eleanore Hutch: Good you?


Brooks Forester: I'm good.


Eleanore Hutch: Great. So what I was wondering, you know, obviously you said you haven't seen Desiree in a couple months at this point so last time you would have seen her she was, you know, sitting on the dock crying, the next time you see her she's like happily engaged to someone else. Are you happy for her and for Chris?


Brooks: Yes, as I said before I mean, they seem looking for love and they found that and Desiree and Chris both are amazing individuals in the fact that they found that they're comfortable with each other and comfortable with their decisions that they've made and feel like they can back up the words I love you to each other and commit to that relationship is something to be celebrated and I am extremely happy for them.


You know, the phrase is often thrown around, you know, he or she deserves to be loved, you know, I think the less that people who don't deserve to be loved would be a lot shorter. You know, so the fact that they've found it is - is awesome everyone deserves that.


Eleanore Hutch: Great. And if they invited you to their wedding, would you go?


Brooks Forester: That's a really good question. (Inaudible) putting me on the spot (inaudible) can't tell I'm blushing. I - I don't think so. Out of respect for - for Chris and for Desiree that would just feel like it would be awkward.


Eleanore Hutch: OK. Thanks.


Brooks Forester: I may self would - would go if they were entirely comfortable, but that's - that's a weird circumstance.


Eleanore Hutch: Yes.


Brooks Forester: Good question.


Eleanore Hutch: I'm glad I stumped you, thank you.


Brooks Forester: Yes.


Operator: Your next question comes from the Kaitlyn Monteiro from OK Magazine.


Kaitlyn Monteiro: Hi, how are you?


Brooks Forester: Good, how are you?


Kaitlyn Monteiro: Good, good. Juan Pablo was one of the fan favorites that we barely got to know so we're wondering what's something we don't know about him was he known for something amongst the guys in the house while you were filming?


Brooks Forester: Yes, I think Juan Pablo is known as the kind of the neutral guy in the house, he is kind of Switzerland (inaudible) or Sweden if you will, he would -yes, was always in kind of a neutral - neutral position and if there was a conversation or debate or something Juan Pablo usually took the neutral position and maybe that's something that you don't know. I'm trying to think what else...


Kaitlyn Monteiro: Is there like a funny behind the scenes memory that you have or...


Brooks Forester: I think that'd be a question for (Michael). (Michael)'s got (inaudible) he remembers every little detail, I myself I, you know, (inaudible) Pablo weren't the closest in the house, I didn't spend a ton of time with Juan Pablo and I'm a bad one to ask on that. I - I ...


Kaitlyn Monteiro: All right - all right, thank you so much.


Operator: Your final question is a follow-up from Beth Kwiatkowski from Reality TV World.


Beth Kwiatkowski: Hi, Brooks.


Brooks Forester: Hi.


Beth Kwiatkowski: So, you know, Des obviously insisted she was in love with but do you think she was really in love with you or just thought she was? If she was able to fall in love and get engaged to Chris only a couple of days later.


Brooks Forester: Yes, I think there's some possibility that she as well may have felt some pressure to express exactly how she felt about me and maybe after this situation realized that, you know, those feelings were there. But that doesn't take away from the relationship that she was developing with Chris and was able to see that a little bit more clear after having put that away and say OK, I've come to the conclusion that that's not going to happen.


That would be tough. You know, a tough decision and tough thing to move on from so quickly because, you know, I was cautious and in using those words I love you because I knew what that meant. And - and I think it's very - those should be heavy words I - for someone who maybe you don't - if you don't know if they - they are going to reciprocate those feelings that can be a heavy three words for the receiver of those words.


So I just wanted to make sure when I, you know, when I vocalize those three words that they were going to be received well and - and she would, you know, be comfortable with hearing that. I don't know if that answers your question, I realize I - I - I babble sometimes.


Beth Kwiatkowski: No, that's OK. I guess that's a good segue into my next question. Based upon your breakup conversation with Des a lot of viewers along with Chris Harrison have said they think you do a very poor job of articulating your feelings to the point where they're wondering if that's actually a personality trait of yours rather than just a conversation you simply struggled with because of the circumstances on the show.


I just want to get your response to that, like would you say your struggle to express yourself on the show isn't really representative of how you talk to through personal issues in everyday life?


Brooks Forester: I think emotions are difficult to articulate. Period. And I mean to say what I - what I feel. And I don't think that that's always the case. I think at times people say what it is they think people want them to say or say what sounds good, and it is yes, it can be difficult and (inaudible) your emotion and then putting that into words all the time.


So yes, if that is the rumor about Brooks Forester that I have a hard time articulating my emotions then sure and I'm OK with that. You know, had - had my - had my conversation with Desiree on the beach been, you know, mapped out and articulated.


And presented like a politician, I don't think it would be taken very, you know, as sincere. So I guess that just eliminates all the other options, the process of elimination I guess it must be characteristic of mine.


Beth Kwiatkowski: OK. Fair enough. Thanks a lot, Brooks. Best of luck.


Brooks Forester: Thanks.


Operator: And there are no further questions at this time. Mr. Messinger, are there any closing remarks?