Jerry O’Connell‘s recent comments about his past romance and breakup with Giuliana Rancic have prompted the TV personality to offer her own perspective. The pair dated in the early 2000s before eventually parting ways, which Rancic detailed in her 2015 memoir. Now, she is adding more context to their relationship and sharing how traumatizing the split was for her.
On July 28, Giuliana Rancic told her more than 2 million Instagram followers to stay tuned to her podcast, “Bill and Giuliana: The Podcast,” where she would share details about her relationship with Jerry O’Connell more than two decades ago. “The [teapot emoji] will be served tomorrow… and you’re invited,” she teased.
The episode, titled “Unfuzzing Memories (Part 1),” dropped on July 29. Together with her husband, Bill Rancic, and other friends, Giuliana shared her side of the relationship and eventual breakup. She dated O’Connell from 2003 to 2004.
Giuliana cited O’Connell’s recent statement that he couldn’t recall the exact words he used when he called off the relationship, as previously reported by The Blast. She said the actor’s memories were a bit “fuzzy.” Moreover, she felt the actor “downplayed” the seriousness of their relationship.
“For a year and a half, except for the one breakup, we were together 24/7 every day, every night,” adding they exchanged “I love yous.” “It was a real relationship,” Giuliana said.
One Incident Left Giuliana ‘Crying Hysterically’
In the podcast, Giuliana discussed one devastating incident in the relationship that left her in tears. O’Connell had been overseas shooting the movie “Fat Slags” with Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, and Giuliana saw photos of the co-stars leaving a restaurant hand-in-hand.
She broke down in tears and fell to the ground “crying hysterically,” saying the incident was “so upsetting” and “devastating.” She confronted him about it, but claims O’Connell had nothing to say except, “Yeah, sorry. I don’t know what to tell you. I screwed up.”
The two briefly broke up, and Giuliana claims the actor asked her to take him back, saying the fling with Halliwell was “the biggest mistake” of his life.
The TV Personality Said Jerry O’Connell Was Dismissive
Giuliana and O’Connell reconciled, but it wasn’t long before they broke up for good. She recalled the incident leading up to the split, saying she had not seen the actor for several days and was trying to get a hold of him.
Giuliana headed to his home, where she claimed O’Connell wouldn’t face her and broke up with her from his balcony. “He broke up with me from a balcony, and I honestly thought it was because he was just, like, over it,” she said. She described the incident as “traumatizing,” and she recalled O’Connell turning around and closing the door as she went to her car.
It wasn’t until recently that Giuliana learned O’Connell had another woman in his home when he broke up with her.
Jerry O’Connell Admitted He Was A ‘Terrible Boyfriend’
Giuliana was prompted to share her side of the story after O’Connell admitted to being a “terrible boyfriend” on Kelly Ripa’s podcast, “Let’s Talk Off Camera.” In the episode, Ripa brought up a detail from Giuliana’s memoir in which she claimed the actor broke up with her via the intercom.
“Nope, sorry homegirl. Things change, but you take care, OK?” O’Connell allegedly said. It was then that the actor said he didn’t recall his exact words, but he also didn’t dispute the manner in which he broke up with her.
He further elaborated on the relationship and breakup, saying that at that point, their relationship was not going well. O’Connell then revealed the reason for his behavior, sharing that another woman was in his condo at that time.
Giuliana Rancic Invited Jerry O’Connell To The Podcast
Giuliana said the podcast episode comes from “a place of love,” and she appreciated that her ex-boyfriend is “an open book.” She also revealed that producers of the podcast sent an invite to the actor to join the discussion, but he declined.
The TV personality added, “At the end of the day, I truly believe everything happens for a reason. We are both happily married now, we both have great families, and we are both exactly where we’re meant to be.”
O’Connell is happily married and shares two daughters with Rebecca Romijn. Giuliana, meanwhile, is married to Bill Rancic. Interestingly, it was O’Connell who first introduced Bill to Giuliana.
