Joe Woodbury shared a dignified Instagram post with fans, hours after heart-wrenching scenes saw him dumped by Elly Miles on Thursday’s Bachelorette finale.
The 25-year-old, who placed runner-up to concreter Frazer Neate, penned a lengthy message about fate and how everything happens for a reason.
Joe accompanied the heartfelt words with a promotional photo of himself looking out into the distance, as well as images of himself and Elly, 25, on their final date.
‘It hasn’t been my fate to find love here’: The Bachelorette runner-up Joe Woodbury, 25, shared a dignified message with Instagram fans on Thursday, after he was DUMPED by Elly Miles before the final rose ceremony. He accompanied the post with this promotional image
‘Sometimes things don’t work out, no matter how much we want them to, and that’s just life,’ Joe began.
‘I’ve said from the beginning of this whole experience that I’m a firm believer of fate, and that everything happens for a reason, and for me this means that it hasn’t been my fate to find love here.’
Joe added that he’s able to hold his head high, knowing that he ‘stuck by’ who he is, and put his emotions out ‘on the table’.
Mature response: Alongside photos of the pair on their final date (pictured), Joe penned a lengthy message about fate and how everything happens for a reason
Fate: ‘I’ve said from the beginning of this whole experience that I’m a firm believer of fate, and that everything happens for a reason, and for me this means that it hasn’t been my fate to find love here,’ the rugby player wrote
The rugby player went on to thank his family, friends and fans for their messages of love and support, and described Elly and her sister Becky as ‘incredible women’.
‘You both deserve great things, and I truly hope you find what you are after in life,’ he wrote.
During Thursday’s emotional Bachelorette finale, Elly dumped Joe before the final rose ceremony took place.
Dramatic: During Thursday’s emotional Bachelorette finale, Elly, 25, dumped Joe before the final rose ceremony took place
Elly was inconsolable, choking back tears, as she had a heart to heart with Joe, who previously confessed to falling in love with her.
She began by telling Joe how happy it made her feel to hear that he was falling in love with her.
‘You tell me that you’re falling in love with me. You know, I can’t tell you how happy that makes me feel, hearing you say those words to me.
‘I just don’t know if I felt the way I was supposed to feel hearing you say that, Joe.’
Emotional: Elly, who cut a glamorous figure in a form-fitting white gown and silver jewels, felt Joe deserved to know her true feelings away from the intensity of the rose ceremony
Candid: She risked ruining her makeup as she broke down in tears, in heart-wrenching scenes
Elly explained that she would be ‘lying’ to herself and Joe, if she did not pull him aside and reveal where her heart lies.
‘I’d be lying to myself and I’d be lying to you if I didn’t come and tell you honestly, that, you know, my heart’s elsewhere. Joe, I’m so sorry.’
Despite admitting to feeling ‘gutted’, Joe said he appreciated Elly’s honesty.
‘I can’t tell you how happy that makes me feel’: Elly began by telling Joe how happy it made her feel to hear that he was falling in love with her
Not reciprocated: However, Elly explained that she would be ‘lying’ to herself and Joe, if she did not pull him aside and reveal where her heart lies
‘I appreciate a lot you coming out and having a chat with me. It means the world, and it just goes to show the type of person you are.’
Unable to control his tears, Joe said in a piece to camera that Elly will always have a place in his heart.
‘I think she’s always gonna have a special spot in my heart. It’s just not meant to be, my fate to find love here.
‘It’s Elly’s fate, and that’s with someone else. My fate’s elsewhere, and… yeah. That’s it.’
Fighting back tears: Inconsolable, Elly told Joe: ‘I’d be lying to myself and I’d be lying to you if I didn’t come and tell you honestly, that, you know, my heart’s elsewhere. Joe, I’m so sorry’
Heart-wrenching scenes: Despite admitting to feeling ‘gutted’, Joe said he appreciated Elly’s honesty