Arie Says Dumping Becca Kufrin On Camera Gave Her The Chance To Become The New Bachelorette 

Arie Luyendyk Jr. Says Dumping Becca on Camera Gave Her the \'Opportunity\' to Be

Nation on Monday’s dramatic season 22 finale when he broke off his engagement to Becca Kufrin on camera, weeks after proposing — admitting he still had feelings for runner-up Lauren Burnham.

But the 36-year-old race car driver stands by the decision to have the emotional and awkward breakup filmed for a number of reasons, chief among them the chance it gave Kufrin to move into a starring role on next season of 

,” Luyendyk Jr. told Michael Strahan on Wednesday’s 

RELATED: Lauren Burnham Defends Bachelor Arie Luyendyk Jr.’s Change of Heart: ‘He Won’t Change His Mind Again’

He added: “I think for me, I really wanted everyone to know that this was on me, this was my fault. I felt like filming that would let people know that. That, if there were any questions on the breakup, those would be squashed if they saw the breakup. … I hope I gave her a little bit of closure.”

— a decision that was announced on Tuesday during the live 

“I’m very happy for her,” Luyendyk Jr., who is now engaged to Burnham, said of the decision on Wednesday. “I’m happy that she’s going to be able to find her true love through the show.”

“This ending obviously wasn’t perfect. I know it’s difficult for a lot of people to swallow,” he told Strahan. “Becca is going to be the new

and I’m very happy for her in that. There’s a happy ending to this story.”

.@BachelorABC's @ariejr on Becca being the new @BacheloretteABC: “I’m very happy for her. I’m happy that she’s going to be able to find her true love." https://t.co/uKKsX2SQlb pic.twitter.com/blBrKB8yIP

— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 7, 2018

RELATED: See the Engagement Ring Arie Luyendyk Jr. Gave Becca Kufrin — Before Breaking Her Heart

He may be okay with the cameras capturing Kufrin’s tear-filled heartbreak, but viewers certainly weren’t.

Fans slammed the long-running ABC show for shooting the awkward breakup with Kufrin, with one writing, “I hate Chris Harrison and 

Even former stars of the show spoke out. “How did this breakup end up on camera? Seems like a private conversation. We don’t belong in this conversation,” said Bachelor Ben Higgins. Added Bachelorette JoJo Fletcher, “STOP.FILMING.HER.”

How did this breakup end up on camera? Seems like a private conversation. We don’t belong in this conversation….but im still watching #TheBachelor

— Benjamin Higgins (@benhiggi) March 6, 2018

— JoJo Fletcher (@JoelleFletcher) March 6, 2018

I don’t like this one bit. Shouldn’t have filmed. #thebachelor

— Sean Lowe (@SeanLowe09) March 6, 2018

This is just awful….. why are they filming this https://t.co/1w6O8Rzqz6

— Kaitlyn Bristowe (@kaitlynbristowe) March 6, 2018

“It was embarrassing the way he broke up with me with the full cameras and crew around,” the 27-year-old the Minnesota-based publicist told PEOPLE exclusively for this week’s issue (on newsstands Friday).

“There was a better and more tactful way to do it,” she added. “A breakup is hard enough, and to have it all filmed and have to re-watch it and know that people all across the country are watching you get your heart broken, it is embarrassing. It’s not fun. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. It was like a slap in the face.”

That being said, Kufrin just wants to put that chapter of her life behind her.

“I went through all the emotions. I was mad for awhile, I was so sad and down for awhile, I was p—– for awhile,” she said. “At this point, I want this chapter of Arie to be done and close it and put it on the shelf and put it away.”

“I’m still going to feel a sense of compassion for him because I did love him,” she continued. “But at this point, I want him to be happy, I want to be done and not have to worry about them anymore. They’re going to be together and do their thing. I want to move on and have my person that I can focus on and live my life with.”

RELATED: Becca Kufrin Breaks Her Silence After Arie Luyendyk Jr. Ends Their Engagement

“It does scare me,” Kufrin admitted. “I’m sure it would [scare] any human, knowing that I was just engaged, I was in love. But I have so much love to give and I want just a partner in life. I’m not afraid to date these guys and find the one who is the best fit for me — I welcome that with open arms.”

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