Giuliana Rancic has revisited the details of her tumultuous 2004 split from ex-boyfriend Jerry O'Connell, describing the breakup as "traumatizing" and "humiliating" over two decades later. On a recent episode of the "Bill and Giuliana" podcast, Rancic, 51, responded to O'Connell's recent comments about their relationship on "Let's Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa," where he admitted to being a "terrible boyfriend."
Rancic took issue with O'Connell's portrayal of their year-and-a-half-long romance, asserting that they were "together 24/7 every day, every night," except for the one instance of their breakup. She claimed O'Connell, 52, has been "downplaying" their relationship and described him as "cold."
According to Rancic's account, she had not heard from O'Connell for five days prior to their final confrontation. After expressing concern and writing to him that she would call the police, O'Connell allegedly urged her not to and revealed he was back in Los Angeles. Rancic then went to his condo.
She recounted that the breakup occurred via O'Connell's condo intercom and then from his balcony, stating he "didn't have enough courage to come down and see me face-to-face." Rancic characterized the experience as "devastating, heartbreaking, humiliating."
Rancic also addressed an earlier incident in 2003, when O'Connell was filming a movie with Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell in London. Rancic alleged that photos of O'Connell and Halliwell holding hands surfaced, which she described as the "most shocking moment of my life." She recalled confronting O'Connell, who allegedly responded, "Yeah, sorry. I don't know what to tell you. I screwed up."
Despite the alleged infidelity, Rancic said O'Connell returned and begged for forgiveness, claiming she was the "love of my life." She took him back, but their relationship ended again a few months later following his trip to Las Vegas, which led to their intercom breakup.
Rancic, who has been married to Bill Rancic since 2007, stated that while O'Connell's memory of events may be "fuzzy," she is sharing these details from a place of "love" and believes everything happens for a reason. Both have since moved on and are happily married.
O'Connell, married to actress Rebecca Romijn since 2007, had previously told Kelly Ripa that he broke up with Rancic through an intercom because she arrived at his condominium unannounced while he had "company." He stated he did not recall the exact wording of their intercom exchange but defended his actions by saying he did not want confrontation and did not like unexpected visitors at his home.