Steven McBee Jr. is continuing to focus on healing after his split from Allie Eklund — and says the former couple is no longer in contact.
The McBee Dynasty star, 31, exclusively tells Us Weekly that while he’s learned valuable lessons from the relationship, he and Eklund have not spoken since their messy public breakup last month.
“I sent all of her stuff back, but no communication,” McBee shares.
The reality star’s update comes as viewers prepare to watch his relationship with Eklund play out during the third season of The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys, which premiered on Tuesday, June 16.
“There’s some pretty intense conversations that happen throughout this season,” McBee says. “I don’t know exactly what is going to air. Candidly, we haven’t watched the episodes, so we’re watching them in real time just as viewers are. But I know from what was filmed, there are some very, very intense conversations about engagement, marriage [and] long-term potential there.”
Watching those moments resurface, he says, won’t be easy.
“Unfiltered answer, yes. It’s very difficult,” McBee admits. “Whenever I’m all in, I am all in, completely committed, loyal, faithful, and all in all the way.”
McBee and Eklund split in April after a Stagecoach controversy played out publicly on social media. Following the festival, Steven accused Eklund of being unfaithful, while Eklund denied the allegations and shared screenshots and videos disputing his claims. Steven’s ex Calah Jackson later entered the conversation, posting her own screenshots and allegations about his behavior. In the aftermath, Steven publicly apologized and began focusing on therapy and intensive trauma treatment.
While reflecting on the breakup, McBee says he remains grateful for both Eklund and her family despite the relationship’s ending.
“It hurts,” he says. “But I think it’s a good learning experience, too. I’ll definitely take this relationship. I’m grateful for it. I’m still grateful for her family. I met some really, really good people through that relationship and am incredibly grateful for her family, how well they treated me and the great times that we had.”
McBee also reveals that he has apologized to Eklund ‘directly” multiple times since their split.
As for whether he has found closure, the Missouri native says he’s still processing the end of a relationship he once believed could lead to marriage.
“I understand very much so where I went wrong, what I need to learn from that experience and how I need to handle it better,” he says. “As far as closure goes, not necessarily, but I don’t think you’re ever going to find full closure in a breakup. It’s hard to really look at it in a relationship where you thought you were going to end up engaged, married together for a long time, and then it literally ends overnight.”
Earlier this year, Us exclusively revealed that McBee entered a six-day trauma retreat following his and Eklund’s breakup. Now, the reality personality says his healing journey didn’t stop there.
“I did go on the retreat outside of San Diego. That was the six-day retreat, and then went to another one in Oregon a few weeks later,” he tells Us, revealing that the second retreat lasted three days.
According to McBee, the first retreat focused heavily on emotional triggers and childhood trauma, while the second centered on breathwork, mindfulness and emotional regulation.
“The betrayal trigger is something that I’ve got some serious wounds from growing up,” he explains. “Whenever that is hit, it’s like it almost takes me down the same path as I felt with some pretty serious betrayal issues growing up.”
Since then, McBee says he’s remained committed to therapy and has incorporated daily wellness practices into his routine.
“I’ve been to two retreats, done consistent therapy since then and have really been practicing more mindful-type practices every single morning,” he says. “Journaling, grounding, meditation. Some things that I never realized would actually help you become more mindful of how you’re feeling and how you can stay more emotionally regulated.”
One practice that surprised him the most?
“Yoga,” he says with a laugh. “I never in a million years would have thought that yoga somehow would have correlated to more emotional regulation.”
For now, McBee says he isn’t interested in jumping back into dating and is instead focusing on himself, his family and the family business.
“I have not [started dating],” he says. “I’ve been truly pouring into my family, pouring into the businesses and just pouring into myself trying to heal from that situation.”
The television personality also shut down recent speculation surrounding his friendship with Farmer Wants a Wife alum Chelsi Blayne. The two were spotted together over the weekend at country bar Billy Bob’s in Texas.
“No,” McBee says when asked whether they’re dating. “We’ve been friends for a while now, so it’s just good friends.”
He adds that the pair briefly went on dates years ago before he appeared on Joe Millionaire, but have remained friends ever since.
Despite the challenges his family has faced both on and off screen, McBee says the response from fans has been overwhelmingly positive.
“The overwhelming amount of support and kind messages that have come in across all of our social media platforms … truly means the world to us,” he says. “It’s certainly helping us in a very difficult time.”
Fans can visit McBeeFarms.com, where McBee says viewers can purchase the family’s meat boxes, hats and merchandise featured on the show, while also following weekly behind-the-scenes updates from the farm and family.
