Dave from Love Is Blind Opens Up About Breakup with Lauren: "I've Grown"

Dave Bettenburg is stepping up and taking responsibility for how his engagement with Lauren O’Brien ended on Love Is Blind. In a heartfelt Instagram post on March 1, the 33-year-old shared his thoughts, stating, “I’m far from perfect and I’m not here for sympathy. This experiment was very difficult, and I’ve learned a lot this past year.” He acknowledged that his actions were unfair, particularly to Lauren.

In his post, Dave expressed, “I’ve grown, been humbled, and will continue to work on being the best person I can be. Please direct all hate towards me and leave my family out of it.” This statement shows his desire to take accountability while also protecting his loved ones from the backlash he’s been facing.

Additionally, Dave hinted that he might take a break from social media as the eighth season of Love Is Blind wraps up. He thanked those who have supported him during this challenging time, saying, “To those that know me and have reached out being very supportive, I appreciate it more than you know. I’ll be back.”

For those who followed the show, Dave’s journey was anything but straightforward. He found himself in a love triangle with Lauren, 31, and Molly Mullaney, ultimately proposing to Lauren without ever having seen her. However, their relationship faced significant challenges once they met in person, particularly when Dave struggled to accept that Lauren had ended a casual fling just weeks before joining the Netflix dating experiment.

Lauren began to have doubts about their relationship when Dave hesitated to introduce her to his sister and friends. This lack of openness ultimately led to the couple calling off their engagement before their wedding ceremony. Reflecting on their breakup, Lauren shared, “There was definitely an element of sadness, but I do feel like you see the moment that I shift — when he starts to get mad at me and mad at my family. The anger that came from him, I was done. I immediately knew we’re never getting past this. My husband would not speak to me like this. I hope that that comes across clear.”

Lauren also discussed how Dave’s sister allegedly disapproved of his participation in Love Is Blind. She noted, “With all of the noise happening and all of the conversations happening, I think she was just like, ‘I don’t wanna be part of this.’ I think his sister was making these decisions based on what Dave was telling her and how Dave was viewing our relationship at the time. So I don’t think he really tried to make that happen. I think his sister was being a protective older sister who wanted the best for him and was basing her decisions on what her brother was telling her.”

In a bid to bridge the gap, Lauren revealed that she wrote a letter to Dave’s sister, which he allegedly never passed along. “In the letter, I talked about Dave and I’s story and how crazy it is and things that I loved about him, and I just wanted to normalize us,” she explained. “I just want it to be like, ‘I’m normal. We’re normal. This is a crazy situation that we’re in, but I’d love a relationship with you.’”