Jillian Harris and 'Bachelorette' beau Ed Swiderski separate [poll] [Updated]

The "fact" that 50% of marriages end in divorce was pretty much debunked years ago as a false statistic based on a flawed calculation. But switch over to the realm of "The Bachelorette" or "The Bachelor," and do the math on even getting to the altar successfully, and 50% starts to sound like insanely bullish success.

In keeping with that fine tradition, another reality-TV couple is separating, at least for now: Jillian Harris and  Ed Swiderski, who got engaged on "The Bachelorette" in May 2009 and moved into his apartment together last September.

In 14 completed cycles of "The Bachelor" and five of the "The Bachelorette," only one couple has actually made it to the altar: Trista Reyn and Ryan Sutter, who are married with two kids.

[Updated June 8, 9 a.m.: Jason Mesnick and Molly Malaney also married after meeting on "The Bachelor," but only after Jason first got engaged to another contestant, Melissa Rycroft, with Molly as runner-up, and then announced on a March 2009 reunion show, six weeks after the rose ceremony, that he was dumping Melissa and taking up with Molly again. Jason and Molly walked down the aisle in March.]

At least Jillian and Ed are playing it classy so far, with an ABC source telling People they "are taking some time apart to re-evaluate their relationship" and neither person running to a tabloid to describe how big or small or fake or real one's, um, intimate commitment to the other might be.

Maybe it just wasn't Vancouver native Harris' dream to shack up in a one-bedroom apartment in Chicago? (Wait, that's really mean to say, isn't it? Did we say that out loud?)

So now, we suppose, we're in the land of "it's not over till it's over."

Odds are, however, that it's over. 

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Jillian Harris and Ed Swiderski -- known only as "Edward" at the time this photo was taken -- met on the reality-TV show "The Bachelorette." 

Related dispatches from the Ministry of Gossip:

Vienna Girardi and Jake Pavelka get ugly -- and he gets a new TV gig

Vienna Girardi celebrates her independence from Jake Pavelka in Vegas

Jake Pavelka and Vienna Girardi: We'd break up with them too [poll]

Comments

[Anya]

Sad. I really liked Jillian; she could be in movies for her great looks. I did not care for her picking Ed, I did not completely believe Ed was honest with her. Jillian should have no difficulty at all in finding a great husband who will make her very happy. Good luck to you, Jillian.

[Lisa]

If they decide to part ways due to Eddie's cheating, I hope he falls in love and the girl cheats on him and dumps him for good. Only until it has been done to you, do you fully understand the heartache it causes others.

Jillian will have no problem finding a real man who is able to commit to her fully.

[Samantha]

I liked Jillian too, but she didn't have any sense when it came to guys. Keeping Wes around longer, picking Ed, who was then and still is now a party boy who had girlfriends.
She really needs to wake up.
Who knows, it could have worked with Reid if she would have had her act together more.

[Suzie]

I thought they made a handsome couple. Maybe they just rushed into things a little too quickly in the beginning. Hope they can work things out. If not wish them both all the best.

[Sarah]

I got 'shifty' from Ed from the get go. Reid showed good sense not proclaiming love and the whole she-bang after such a public televised set up and such limited time together. Reid was the real deal. I never, ever felt that Ed was, and my radar beeped slippery, and I can't tell you why.