Love Is Blind’s Dave Reacts to Hate Over Lauren Breakup: ‘I’ve Grown’

Dave Bettenburg is taking responsibility for the way his Love Is Blind engagement with Lauren O’Brien ended.

“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,” Dave, 33, wrote via Instagram on Saturday, March 1. “The way I handled things wasn’t fair to anyone, especially Lauren.”

He added, “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 🙏.”

Dave also hinted at his intentions to take a social media hiatus while Love Is Blind season 8 concludes.  

“To those that know me and have reached out being very supportive, I appreciate it more than you know,” he concluded. “I’ll be back.”

After navigating a pod love triangle with Lauren, 31, and Molly Mullaney, Dave proposed to the educational consultant sight unseen. After Dave and Lauren met in person, their bond was tested when he struggled to accept that she ended a casual fling weeks before going on the Netflix dating experiment.

Lauren, meanwhile, started to question the relationship after Dave continuously hesitated to introduce her to his sister and his friends. They ultimately called off their engagement ahead of their would-be wedding ceremony.

“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,” Lauren exclusively told Us Weekly about the moment they decided to break up. “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 further addressed how Dave’s sister had allegedly disapproved of his participation on Love Is Blind.

Related: Love Is Blind’s Lauren Addresses Dave’s Fixation With Her Pre-Show Hookup

Love Is Blind fans are screaming “justice for Lauren” at their TVs — and season 8 star Lauren O’Brien has heard the calls. “I’ve said multiple times I’m too boring for reality TV,” the 31-year-old former teacher told Us Weekly in an exclusive interview with a laugh. “Dave and I’s story is very relatable — […]

“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,” Lauren explained to Us in February. “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.”

According to Lauren, she also wrote Dave’s sister a letter that 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,” Lauren said. “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.’”

Love Is Blind is currently streaming on Netflix. New episodes drop weekly on Fridays.