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Usually, first comes love, then comes marriage, but on The Bachelor, it’s more like first comes people who barely know eachother thinking they are in love and then comes an awkward breakup in front of a room full of people and cameras.

The Bachelor franchise has given us some of the most cringe-worthy breakups in the history of reality television. Who can forget when Arie Luyendyk Jr. broke off his engagement with Becca Kufrin in front of millions of viewers to be with the runner up, Lauren Burnham?

But what happens after the breakups and tear-filled car rides out of The Bachelor mansion?

Well, it mostly depends on how you were portrayed on the show. For those who were painted in a bad light, it might be harder to resume normal life once the show ends.

A lot of contestants also quit their jobs before going on the show to prove their commitment to the process and finding love. So, for those people, leaving the mansion means searching for work.

JJ Lane previously worked in finance at J.P. Morgan but quit his job to go on the show.

“I didn’t understand the magnitude of the show and how hard it is to get a real job right after,” Lane told MarketWatch. “Everyone knows who you are and employers see it as a distraction.”

Though Lane had a hard time finding a steady job after the show, there were still a lot of financial perks that came from having been on The Bachelor.

He estimated that former contestants could make $2,000-$3,000 for appearances after getting sent home. They could also make a bit of money from posting things to their social media accounts.

“It’s not a way to make a living, it is more of a supplemental way to get something out of being on the show,” he told the outlet.

Contestants can’t talk about it

Usually, when you go through a breakup, you run to your family and friends to vent about what happened. On the flip side, when you get engaged, you also want to share the news with your family and really anyone who will listen.

Contestants on the show don’t enjoy that luxury. Before the season even starts, they all have to sign contracts that have large confidentiality sections. They aren’t allowed to talk about anything that happened on the show until it’s done airing. And that includes talking to family members.

If they do, ABC can sue them. Apparently the network can sue the lead up to $5 million!

Bacelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe accidentally revealed who won her season when she snapchatted Shawn Booth in her bed. The network ultimately decided not to sue her.

After the final rose

Even after the winner is chosen on the show, the lead and their fiance don’t get to go back to normal life. The couple cannot be seen together in public until the finale of the show airs.

ABC will, however, set up secret meetings between the two. According to Ranker, they are given a five-day vacation near the proposal site and then taken to a “safe house” every 10 days where they can hang out.

Read more: 

What Happens When a Bachelor Quits and More Juicy Behind the  Scenes Details of Season 23

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