The Bachelorette's Emily and Jef Break Up

The Bachelorette's Emily Maynard and Jef Holm have split — just three months after the finale aired.

"It was a very difficult and heartbreaking decision, Maynard said in a statement to People. "I have nothing but respect and love for Jef and his family, but ultimately we are just at different points in our lives."

The Bachelor's terrible track record: A history of failed romances

Added Holm in a statement: "Meeting Emily on The Bachelorette was an incredible experience; we've had quite the journey. I've never loved someone so much in my whole life, Emily is the best person and mom I have ever met. She opened up her world to me and I fell in love with her, [her daughter] Ricki, her family and the Hendrick. ... Emily and I are great friends and I hope we can continue to be friends forever."

Emily, 26, first appeared on Season 15 of The Bachelor, featuring Brad Womack. At the end of the season, the two-time Bachelor proposed, but the two were on rocky terms by the time the After the Final Rose special aired. They announced their split in June 2011. Despite her split from Holm, Maynard said she was happy she chose to become The Bachelorette after her split from Womack.  "I am a hopeless romantic and I do believe in the show. I have no regrets because I did find love and shared an incredible journey with a really special person — and you know what, we tried our best because the love between us was so real," she told the magazine.

The Southern single mom went on to star on Season 8 of The Bachelorette and chose Jef, 27, an entrepreneur from Utah. The pair got engaged on the finale, walking away from the final rose ceremony hand-in-hand with Emily's daughter Ricki. 

The announcement of the breakup comes just a day after ABC revealed that it will televise Ashley Hebert and J.P. Rosenbaum's wedding and a week after Bachelor 16 couple Ben Flajnik and Courtney Robertson announced their split.
Are you surprised Emily and Jef broke up?