Duane Chapman revealed he went into a deep depression after his late wife, Beth Chapman, lost her battle with cancer in June 2019. The Dog‘s Most Wanted star said learning to live without his longtime love was unbearable at first and it caused him to block out some of the pain emotionally.

“I barely remember the first six months,” the WGN America alum, 67, said during an interview with RadioTimes.com.

“The last episode was right after she passed, a couple weeks, right? So you’re grieving and you’re freaked out and you don’t know what’s happening … but after that, when everything calms down, and people quit calling you, and flowers quit coming to the door and all of a sudden you’re alone … that’s when it hit me,” Duane shared.   

'Dog the Bounty Hunter' Star Duane Chapman Says He's 'Sad' on His Anniversary With Late Wife Beth
Courtesy of Duane Lee Chapman/Instagram

He said the silence afterward led him to turn to reading materials about how to cope with the death of a spouse. It was especially difficult for him to move forward because she was only 51 and had such a zest for life. 

“I read ’em all and I tried to tell myself, ‘You’re not gonna do that’ — like, for instance, you blame the person that passed away, you blame them for dying,” the TV personality continued. “And then one day I looked at Heaven and said, ‘What the hell, why did you leave me here?’ and I was swearing at her, and then I’m like, ‘Oh God, I can’t do this‘ — so no matter what you do or who you are, whatever kind of superstar you think you are, you’re going to feel certain things.”

Duane admitted it was a struggle, and he is still taking it day by day while trying to honor her legacy. He also discussed his new romance with fiancée Francie Frane, saying he would have given Beth his blessing if the situation was reversed. The reality star announced his engagement in May, 10 months after his wife died. 

Who Is Duane Chapman Engaged To
Courtesy of Francie Frane/Instagram

“I would say, ‘Beth, you better not lose this one.’ I would say that, of course, fans love Beth. Beth will always be in my heart and Francie by my side,” the bondsman revealed. “She’s not another Mrs. Dog, she’s Francie Chapman.” 

Duane’s future bride also lost her husband shortly before Beth passed away, so they have helped each other grow and heal, much to the delight of his family.

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