Richie makes ‘grubby’ claim about his breakup with Alex

Richie Strahan hasn’t even confronted ex Alex Nation yet, but already he has made stunning claims behind her back about what ended their relationship.

Alex Nation and Richie Strahan might have parted ways two years ago but it looks like the former couple will be airing all their dirty laundry on Bachelor in Paradise.

Richie arrived in Fiji during Tuesday night’s premiere and didn’t hold back, implying he found out Alex had broken up about him when he saw pictures of her kissing Maegan Luxa.

The ropes technician had chosen Alex over favourite Nikki Gogan in 2016’s season of The Bachelor, a decision that left viewers infuriated.

Osher asked Richie had been coping.

Richie claimed he felt "damaged".

Alex and Richie’s relationship then fizzled out just months after filming wrapped, with the single mum moving on very publicly with Maegan in August 2017.

Maegan and Alex became engaged in December 2017, however, split in April 2018 but have remained friends.

Despite their high profile meeting on The Bachelor, little has been publicly known about Richie and Alex’s breakup — until now.

Reflecting on his romance with Alex, Richie said: “I felt we had a huge connection but clearly I was wrong. But I’m here because I’m open to falling in love again and roll the dice, see what happens.”

Speaking to host Osher Gunsberg as he arrived on the Bachelor in Paradise set, Richie said their relationship had been “really good” with “fireworks” before it failed spectacularly.

“I can only imagine how much it hurt when it didn’t work out,” Osher remarked.

But the former Bachelor said he was keen to find love on Bachelor in Paradise.

“Yeah that was hard, it was hard. There was no doubt about that,” Richie replied.

“Can you share anything about what happened?” Osher asked.

“Ah look, the circumstances surrounding our relationship and how it all came to an end, it’s pretty grubby, it did a lot of damage,” Richie said bluntly.

“I don’t know if Australia is ready for the grubby details surrounding it.”

Osher asked Richie how he had coped when Alex had moved on with Maegan, which was made public when photos of her kissing the Melbourne chef at an event went viral.

“It wasn’t Alex meeting Maegan and getting into a relationship with a woman (that hurt), you do you, I’m pro go with who you’re falling in love with,” Richie said.

“It would have been nice to have that communicated a lot earlier and communicated at all would have been handy.”

“Did you find out publicly, did you?” Osher asked.

Alex and Richie on The Bachelor.

Alex and Maegan. Picture: Andrew Tauber.

“Yeah, yeah it was uh, quick a large shock Osh to wake up in the morning and see your relationship ending, um yeah,” Richie said.

“If I do happen to meet Alex and she is here it’s not going to be easy, it’s done a lot of damage but baby steps, baby steps.”

Besides Richie contestants Rachael Gouvignon, Brooke Blurton, Cass Wood, Shannon Banff, Brittney Weldon, Alisha Aitken-Radburn, Cat Henesy-Smith, Bill Goldsmith, Paddy Collier, Nathan Favro, James Trethewie and Alex Bordyukov all made their debut on Bachelor in Paradise.

There was not shortage of drama, with Shannon picking Paddy over James for the first single date.

Brooke also revealed that Nick had told her he would pick no-one in The Bachelor finale. prompting her to leave the show.

Bachelor in Paradise Season 2 cast.

Alex Nation and Richie Strahan will have a tense stand-off over their breakup.

But the best drama is still to come, with Alex still to make her arrival on Bachelor in Paradise where she and Richie will finally confront each other over their breakup.

A teaser clip has revealed that soon after she arrives at the resort the two have a face-off over their breakup, with Alex revealing: “Richie and I do not talk anymore, and I do not want to meet him in paradise. Oh my god, what have I done?”

Alex then confronts Richie on the details surrounding their breakup, which Network 10 has confirmed will run for nine minutes, unedited and uncensored, on Bachelor in Paradise.

“You can honestly sit there and say you were perfect in our relationship,” she asks him.

Richie fires back, “Don’t put words in my mouth” before they have it out over their issues.

Bachelor in Paradise continues 7.30pm tomorrow on Network 10