The boyfriend of former Bachelor contestant Gia Allemand has spoken out for the first time since her shocking death this summer.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson spoke publicly for the first time as part of the team’s media day on Monday. Anderson found Allemand after she attempted suicide and tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate her. She died the next day, after being taken off life support.
Anderson wept as he talked to The Times-Picayune about how his faith and his friends are helping him cope with his loss.
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“Something like that just doesn’t happen for no reason, and I know that … there’s … a huge plan here,” he told the newspaper before his voice faded and he began to cry.
Anderson also indicated that he’s in the process of starting a foundation with Allemand’s family to help people in similar situations.
“A lot of people are going to be helped from this. And … we’re in the process of starting something great for her with her family, including my family, too,” he said. “We have a huge plan to do something great, great in her name that’s going to help a lot of people. We live in a society now where you’ve got to live up to something, you’ve got to be a certain person and you’re not going to be accepted and every single person, every single person has something special about them. … I don’t want to get into too much detail about her foundation, but it’s going to be something great to prove that, to show people that they’re not alone.”
STORY: ‘Bachelor’ Contestant Gia Allemand Dies at 29
Anderson’s teammates and coaches have supported him since Allemand’s death and he has sought out counseling.
Anderson admitted that every day is a challenge, but his faith is helping him, as is being on a routine with the team.
“I praise God every day to have Him in my life. It would be very, very hard to get through these steps if I didn’t have God and Jesus Christ in my life,” he said. “I’m really glad Coach asked me to come back when he did. I’ve been here for a few weeks now and just being around the guys and being back in the gym, having some sort of routine back, it helps a little bit.”
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