It looks like things aren’t all roses and butterflies for Bachelor Nation’s Michelle Young and Nayte Olukoya.
The two took to Instagram today (June 17) to announce the saddening news that they are breaking up.
“I’m struggling to say that Nayte and I will be going our separate ways but I stand with him in knowing the heaviness that is present in both of our hearts as this relationship has been very real for us,” the Bachelorette star wrote on her stories.
Nayte had similar post saying, “Michelle and I are going to move forward separately. Hearts are heavy, emotions are high, and we are dealing with this the best way we can.”
The two met on Michelle’s season of The Bachelorette which aired on October 18, 2021. Nayte quickly became a front runner, and ended up beating out Brandon Jones for the final rose. They got engaged at the end of the show, and were surprised with a $200,000 check from “The Bachelor Family” for a down payment on a home together — a first in Bachelor history.
But it seems as if that money won’t be going to use. “What I do want to share with you all is that this was real,” the senior accountant executive said. “We genuinely fell in love, and we genuinely became each other’s best friends.”
Michelle shared a similar sentiment writing, “to you, Nayte, you quickly became by best friend and the love I have for you is incredibly strong.”
The couple sparked break-up rumors at the end of may when Michelle was spotted without her wedding ring, but she quickly dispelled those rumors in an Instagram story.
When Celeb Secrets caught up with the couple earlier this month at the iHeartRadio KIIS FM Wango Tango, the couple made fun of the situation with Michelle saying, “I swear I just talked to him a few minutes ago but maybe something changed real quick?”
The Minnesota native left her teaching job in May and told Celeb Secrets reporter Blakely McHugh that she was looking forward to spending more time with her fiancé now that her schedule was more flexible.
“I’m excited [that] I’m going to be able to spend more time with him in person,” she revealed.
When it came to living together, they said they were working on that, but were looking to the future nonetheless.
“We’re trying to figure out where we’re at and what opportunities are coming,” Michelle said. “I think once we get around to fall, we might have a better idea of where we’ll be.”
Michelle did share that her and Nayte were still “working through everything.” It’s been less than a year since the couple started dating, and they both agreed that they were continuing to learn new things about each other and how to communicate with one another.
Despite them looking very happy together on the pink carpet, it’s clear that looks can be deceiving.
Michelle rounded out her statement saying, “I will always acknowledge and appreciate the adventures, support and growth both Nayte and this experience have brought me. At the same time, I’m deeply hurting and will need time and space to work through this heartbreak.”
Nayte also asked fans to give him his privacy saying, “Our relationship may have developed in the public eye, and we know this news will bring a lot of mixed reactions, but please remember that this is real.” He went on to say, “We’re human beings going through a break up, and we all know breakups are difficult.”
You can watch our full interview with the then couple below. Are you sad about Michelle and Nayte breaking up? Let us know by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets.
For more coverage from Wango Tango, click here.
