Why Maurissa Gunn, Riley Christian Ended Engagement

Close up of a woman with brown hair and a man wearing a ball cap

New details emerge about why groundbreaking BIP stars Maurissa Gunn and Riley Christian ended their engagement after just a few months. Keep reading for all the details.

BIP couple confirm split three months after groundbreaking engagement

Bachelor in Paradise couple Maurissa Gunn and Riley Christian are hardly the first Bachelor Nation pairing to split up. However, their Season 7 engagement marked history in the franchise. They were the first Black couple to get engaged on the reality show spin-off.

A man kisses a woman on the forehead
Maurissa Gunn and Riley Christian/Credit: Bachelor Nation Instagram

Sadly, their romance only lasted three months after leaving Mexico. Rumors began swirling after the New Year that there was trouble in paradise. Gunn removed most photos of Christian from her social media, but both remained mum on confirming the split.

Earlier this week, they released a joint statement to People magazine, finally confirming fans’ worst fears: the fan-favorite couple ended their engagement.

What took so long to confirm the news?

Did they give their relationship a second try before announcing split?

Natasha Parker is a former BIP co-star and friend of Maurissa Gunn. She is also the co-host of the franchise’s Click Bait podcast. On the January 27, 2022, edition of the podcast, she opened up about what Gunn has told her about the split.

The reality star notes that she didn’t initially reach out to Maurissa to give her the space she needed. However, the two recently connected after Gunn and Christian’s split.

On the podcast, Parker shared new insight on the circumstances surrounding the split and the subsequent announcement. She hinted that Riley Christian and Maurissa Gunn may have given their relationship another try before ultimately going their separate ways.

“Maybe, you know, people go back and forth, they get back together, they, you know, try to reconcile,” Natasha Parker speculated. In her opinion, the Bachelor Nation couple wanted to be sure before they confirmed the split. But why did they split in the first place?

Why Maurissa Gunn, Riley Christian ended engagement

Neither Maurissa Gunn or Riley Christian have spoken publicly about the details of their split. Their vague statement to People magazine requested privacy after simply confirming the breakup.

However, Natasha Parker offered a rare glimpse into Gunn’s state of mind regarding the breakup. Natasha shared some of what Maurissa told her about the end of the relationship.

A woman smiles and scrunches up face
Maurissa Gunn/Credit: Maurissa Gunn Instagram

Distance played a large role, Heavy reports. After leaving Mexico together, Maurissa Gunn packed up her life in Atlanta, Georgia, to move to New York City where Riley Christian lives.

Once there, she found that city life isn’t for her, according to Natasha Parker. “Maurissa’s originally from Montana,” Parker reminded listeners on the podcast.

Furthermore, “She completely integrated into his life, and I think she kind of missed, you know, her family, she missed her friends, and, the distance and everything,” Natasha said.

There may be more to the split, but for now, Maurissa Gunn is keeping her silence. Riley Christian did recently share huge career news that he is opening up his own law firm. It’s unclear if that move had anything to do with the split.

Does the reason for Maurissa Gunn and Riley Christian ending their engagement surprise you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Will either one show up on Season 8 of Bachelor in Paradise? Stay tuned!

Jennifer Havener
Follow me

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *