Cory Wharton continues to defend himself— and his actions—after breaking the news that he and his longtime girlfriend (and baby mama) Taylor Selfridge have split after nearly a decade together. 

While answering fans’ questions on Snapchat recently, Cory addressed those who have called him out for “wasting” Taylor’s time by remaining in a relationship with her for nearly 10 years but refusing to marry her. 

When asked, “Do you feel like you wasted her time after not taking that commitment of marriage?” Cory stated that he doesn’t understand why fans keep saying that.

“People are like, ‘Oh my God, you wasted her time!’ Wasted time? Do you know how many memories [we have]?” Cory insisted. “We have two beautiful kids together. No time was wasted. What are we talking about?”

As fans know, Cory and Taylor met in 2017 on ‘Ex on the Beach.’ They are parents to daughters Mila– whom they welcomed in 2020– and Maya, who was born in 2022. (Cory also shares daughter Ryder with Cheyenne Floyd.)

“Society has it so mixed up where it’s like, ‘Oh my God, you have to get married! You have to have kids!'” Cory continued. “The only thing we didn’t do was get married. That’s the only thing! So what? One day of being married is going to change and take back all those memories and make them that much better? That’s not how it works!” 

Cory then insisted that it is everyone else who is wrong for judging his situation with Taylor.

“You guys are brainwashed by society!” he said.

 Cory went on to say that he and Taylor had “so many laughs” during their nearly 10 years together.

“…so many memories. Like I said, we went on great vacations. We still work together great as a team. It’s just that the love wasn’t there.”

As fans who watched ‘Teen Mom Family Reunion’ in 2024 will remember, Cory’s reluctance to propose to Taylor was a major issue in their relationship. Taylor repeatedly told Cory during the season that she wanted to marry him, and that she was tired of making excuses to people as to why Cory refused to propose to her. At one point Taylor even told Cory that she felt embarrassed to go to the grocery store with a cart-full of kids and no engagement ring.

In March 2024, Taylor told In Touch Weekly that she would only wait for so long for Cory to propose.

“The clock is ticking,” Taylor told the outlet. “He’s only got so much time. He’s had enough time.”

Over the years, Cory has lashed out many times at fans who called him out for refusing to marry Taylor, even after she made it clear that she wanted to get hitched.

Back in June 2023, Cory spoke out about the harassment he received from fans who always asked him when he was going to marry Taylor.

“Oh propose, propose!” Cory said, mocking the comments. “’Where’s the ring?’ Shut up! This ain’t your life. Let me live my life!” 

After Cory chose to break the news of their breakup (without first telling Taylor that he was going to…naturally), Taylor took to Snapchat to reveal she dumped Cory and moved out of their shared home several weeks earlier. She hinted that the final straw was Cory lying to her about what he did with Izzy Fairthorne while filming ‘The Challenge: Cutthroat.’

(Cory filmed the season— which is currently airing— earlier this year. He and Taylor were still living together at the time but on a break. Cory had to leave the show when Maya was hospitalized, something he later said helped repair his relationship with Taylor.)

“I told him I was done because he lied about the Izzy s**t,” Taylor said. “We weren’t in a good place again. And I was just like, ‘I’m good. Somebody’s got to go because we’re not gonna keep doing the same cycle.’”

Cory has continued to insist that the decision to breakup was “very mutual” between him and Taylor.

RELATED STORY: Cory Wharton Defends Himself After Taylor Selfridge Says She Left Him Due to “Disrespect”; Insists Split Was “Very Mutual”

(Photos: MTV; Instagram)