The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Bachelor Countdown Day 3: Clayton Echard

Episode Date: January 22, 2025

Someway, somehow, the drama seems to always find its way into Clayton Echard's life -- Or so he thinks! Clayton is here to discuss the headlines from his paternity lawsuit drama, how he plans on handling it, and why he failed at being "The Bachelor." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Am I ready to have kids and to really just devote myself and my time? Join me for conversations about healing and growth, all from one of my favorite spaces, the kitchen. to the new season of the Overcombered podcast on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcast, Bachelor Countdown. Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Almost Famous Podcast. Today, we are continuing our series, The Countdown to Grant season, with a whole bunch of bachelors. Today, we have Clayton Eckert. Clayton is well known for his season

that premiered on January 3rd 2022 and for saying, I love you, to three women. Somebody's got to top me. Somebody's got to top me. I was going to say, somebody's got to make Ben feel better. Yeah.

And you did. I hope I did that for you, Ben. You're very welcome. Thank you. That's how Grant does that to me now. Four women. How about that? Four would be a wild. Four would be a wild accomplishment.

Yeah, we're fine. You should just go for a record. You know, bought out of the water, so you can't be beaten? Could you imagine that there is possibly like a Bachelor

who had never seen the show and then didn't know that that was like a faux pa and he did just end up saying, I love you to like everyone? Just going to drop in love bombs everywhere. Yeah, it seems healthy. Most dramatic season ever, right?

Hey, Clayton, I want to start out with something that's going to be boring to every listener, so I'm not going to spend a lot of time on it. I think I saw an Instagram video. Was that your golf swing? like last week

I go oh no no no that was my youngest brothers but my swings no better I couldn't put myself on video because I actually twisted my ankle dancing next to the golf court or golf cart so I couldn't end up playing golf the rest of the day so that's why that was not me but my brother but it runs in the family we're all bad golfers goodness man that that was wild

they like hurt like he took he took about three three feet of dirt behind the ball like it will you have to be a strong boy to even make contact with the ball at that point yeah i'll give him credit i mean he's strong but he also is cutting grass all day on the court a course see you can obviously tell i don't play golf it's a golf course just to let you know no that's a good start here that is how ben warms you up for the questions to come you know because we have juicy we got juicy stuff to ask you about if stuff you're probably maybe tired of talking about, but, man, too, too juicy not to ask. Okay. So let's start out by

talking about your paternity test and all of that drama that went down over, was it the course of almost two years? Two years, yeah. I think I just hit the anniversary of it. Yeah, it's been a pain in the, you know what, but we're on the right track now. She's getting looked at by the county attorney for prosecution. And so hopefully there's an end in sight. But, But the court is a little slow and its procedures, which is honestly fine. They're doing their research. But, yeah, that was not what I anticipated coming off TV and having to deal with. Certainly, I've learned a lot about being more protective of my energy and trying to be just, just stay out of the drama.

But somehow the drama finds me a lot. Well, Clayton, can you give a quick little recap of what happened to you with this woman and then what the current situation that you're waiting on is? Yeah. So I had been, spent a night with this woman, although there was no sexual intercourse. This woman then wanted to date me. I said, no, that's not going to happen. She then did not take that well, ended up 11 days later saying she was pregnant. First, it was one child, then it became twins. Then she wouldn't do any of the tests. So I couldn't prove that she wasn't pregnant at all. finally she went public to try to defame me her name then got out there i then decided to push everything online to hold her accountable since she wouldn't uh she wasn't giving me anything uh behind the scenes so i put it online to hold her accountable uh upon her releasing it to the public uh that's when her name got out there and then i started getting messages from people saying that i wasn't the only man that she had done this to um now we're at four or five other men that

She's done this in the past, too, as far back as 2016. We're finding it might be even earlier than that. So she is a professional con woman. Not only that, her family's involved in it. So they're all complicit in her ways. And so, yeah, through all of this, we went to trial. I had the lawyer from the previous victim, who then helped me win the case prove that she was never pregnant with my child, that she had made the whole thing up.

Was she ever pregnant in general? No. No. No, she was, one of my cases ended up being live streamed, which is a blessing in disguise. I self-represented because I just bought a house. I didn't, lawyers are expensive. And so I was like, oh, this will be easy to prove that she's not pregnant. She just has to provide evidence.

So I went in, self-represented, came out of the case, didn't realize it was live streamed. But on that live stream, why I wasn't paying attention, she was shifting this fake pregnancy bump around. So she bought one of those fake belly bumps. and thankfully that was online and people caught it and that was the beginning of the end for her as far as people realizing that she was full of you know what and so we from there yeah i mean just kept going back into court and uh thankfully had a ruling on back in june uh or july i can't remember which month but uh it's essentially giving me an order of an opportunity so now she can't claim she's not supposed to be claiming she's pregnant with my kids or never or ever was um because i could sue her still in debating it i have every right to sue her for defamation but um we're just hoping that the county attorney prosecutes her they've been investigating her since june so um they're still actively doing so i don't like i don't know if this is i don't want to laugh because this is just so crazy like that in moments where this like i can't even process this story like i just like

almost want to be like you you're kidding like not a laugh like this is hilarious but like it doesn't sound real. No. No, and no, but that was a problem. It was so unbelievable that people almost didn't believe me out the gate because it's like, why would this woman make this up? This is ridiculous. And she's got to come with receipts.

Like, and that's what we all thought. And I mean, there was a point where even though I didn't believe her, I thought either I'm dealing with the craziest woman I've ever met or this girl's telling the truth. And it was the craziest woman I've ever met. But I like, I like, tried to give her the benefit of the doubt. I was like, even like, I don't know. Like, maybe, I don't know what's going on here. but I couldn't believe it.

As a Christian, I do believe in miraculous conception. However, I haven't seen it outside of the biblical stories. So that would be a whole new story to share if that was the case. And it would be with, you know, Joseph in this situation would be Clayton. Yeah, which, you know, I would run with. You know, maybe I would make a new career out of that. But nonetheless, that wasn't the case. Okay, need to know.

What did she seem like the night that you, you met her like did she give off these crazy vibes no she was totally normal that was this that's a sad part about it is um she could totally have a relationship and be happy and start a family and um she's not you know i don't see her as attractive now but um she's not an ugly woman and uh she was totally normal conversation was normal it wasn't until i told her the next day after she begged for me to date her like five times that i finally said no means no stop asking me um and that's when her face glossed over, went completely dark. Her eyes didn't go black, but it felt like that.

I mean, in that moment, I remember her staring at me and be like, I get it. Have a good one. Got out of my car. And I just knew something was off. I just felt really, really bad energy. So, no, she could have just had a normal life. Unfortunately, there's some stuff from her past, obviously, that has warped her into who she is and doesn't help that her mom is her accomplice and helps her along with these things.

But there's definitely some past familial trauma. And unfortunately, she's not willing to seek help for it. Yeah. I mean, I'm imagining there is a lot of pain. Like anybody that's going to do this has a lot of pain. And so that's the hope on how to confront that first off. Now, I do want to transition here because we are not here to do a deep dive. Actually, we are not here to do a deep dive into Clayton's court case.

All I'm saying is please submit this story to Lifetime and, and, and, To clarify, she really did fake four or five pregnancies? Yes. Yeah, we know of four or five. I don't, but then there's now apparently other men. It's just a matter of like, did she go the full pregnancy route or did she just threaten them in different ways? So, yeah, it's, and there's been discussions about a documentary, but I think everyone's waiting to see what happens with the county attorney, of course, like if they decide a prosecutor or not, there has to be some type of ending. right now, it's just all up in the air.

Okay. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious. Well, wait a minute, Sam, maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend has been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now, he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Now hold up, isn't that against school policy?

That sounds totally inappropriate. Well, according to this person, this is her boyfriend's former professor and they're the same age. It's even more likely that they're cheating. He insists there's nothing between them. I mean, do you believe him? Well, he's certainly trying to get this person to believe him because he now wants them both to meet. So, do we find out if this person's boyfriend really cheated with his professor or not? To hear the explosive finale, listen to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

I'm Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, and in session 421 of therapy for black girls, I sit down with Dr. Athea and Billy Shaka to explore how our hair connects to our identity, mental health, and the ways we heal. Because I think hair is a complex language system, right, in terms of it can tell how old you are, your marital status, where you're from, you're a spiritual belief. But I think with social media, there's like a hyperfixation and observation of our hair, right? that this is sometimes the first thing someone sees when we make a post or a reel is how our hair is styled. We talk about the important role hairstylists play in our community, the pressure to always look put together, and how breaking up with perfection can actually free us. Plus, if you're someone who gets anxious about flying, don't miss session 418 with Dr. Angela

Neil Barnett, where we dive into managing flight anxiety. Listen to therapy for black girls on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. The U.S. Open is here, and on my podcast, Good Game with Sarah Spain, I'm breaking down the players from rising stars to legends chasing history, the predictions, well, we see a first time winner, and the pressure. Billy Jean King says pressure is a privilege, you know. Plus, the stories and events off the court, and of course the honey deuses, the signature

cocktail of the U.S. Open. The U.S. Open has gotten to be a very fancy, wonderfully experiential sporting event. And listen, the whole aim is to be accessible and inclusive for all tennis fans, whether you play tennis or not. Tennis is full of compelling stories of late. Have you heard about Icon Venus Williams' recent wildcard bids? Or the young Canadian, Victoria Mboko, making a name for herself. How about Naomi Osaka getting back to form? To hear this and more, listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain, an Iheart women's sports production in partnership with deep blue sports and entertainment on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Imagine that you're on an airplane, and all of a sudden you hear this. Attention passengers. The pilot is having an emergency, and we need someone, anyone, to land this plane. Think you could do it? It turns out that nearly 50% of men think that they could land the plane with the help of air traffic control. And they're saying like, okay, pull this, do this, pull that, turn this. It's just...

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Wait, what? Oh, that's the run right. I'm looking at this thing. Listen to No Such Thing on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts as much as i would love to sit here for the next 40 minutes and talk about clayton's court case that's not why we're here today we're here to talk about his time as the bachelor and then life now which obviously the court case is a lot of life now uh the transitioning question will be a little bit about what we were just talking about before and then i want to transition

into a few things that happened during your season how much has this season of life the last two years, how much has it felt like it's defined you or pushed you away from your lead and your time as The Bachelor? Because for looking at two years, that's not that long after your season stopped airing. You had a few months buffer there. And then this kind of jumped into your life. And so how much has this felt like it's been a cloud or been a defining moment for you and you've never really gotten to enjoy the fruits of this show? you know i'd say where i'm at currently i'm in a really great spot uh the last two years just weren't the traditional type of experience for a bachelor for me it was you know a cheating accusation

right out the gate which i disproved and then it became a second accusation so um i was you know back-to-back years of getting accused of course you know i had a very interesting end to my season certainly could have handled things differently i gave myself grace now i mean i really meant well, but I lacked emotional intelligence. And so, um, you know, I, I, I chalked it up to being in a household of three boys and having no women and not talking about emotions. So now, um, nonetheless, that's, that's what I've had to learn is, is to develop that. And, uh, these last two years, I've, um, grown a lot as a person. Have I been able to enjoy being the bachelor? Like, certainly. And maybe not, you know, as much as other people that had really great

edits and, you know, walked out of there and, and, and, and we're just loved by everybody. But I also think that that wasn't supposed to be my experience. I needed to grow up as a human being and there were some things that areas of my life that I could improve upon. And that's what the last two years afforded me. I've done therapy, multiple different times. I've gotten into a lot of healing modalities. I've done breath work. I've done plant medicines. I've really dove into who I am and I feel that I'm finally my most authentic version of myself, which is completely different than who I was on The Bachelor. There's certainly remnants of who I was then, but I've changed a lot. And so now who I am today, I'm forever grateful for being. I don't feel like I'm living a facade. I actually

feel like I'm the real Clayton for once. So that's cool. That's a really great feeling. And unfortunately, I had to go through the adversity to get here, but I also now I see it as a blessing. You know, it took me to the lowest moments of my life, but that's where the most most growth occurs. And so I feel good. Yeah, like I'm happy. And I will say now that like I guess on the other side of it now it's like, hey, I'm authentically me. There's not really opportunities anymore. Like I've fallen out of the spotlight. But that has been, it was tough at first to just watch like it all fall off and not really like be relevant. But, you know, because I gotten used to that. Always people stand in my business. But now in the last six months or so,

it's kind of become nice. Like, it's allowed me to acclimate back to a normal life where, like, people aren't really paying attention to what I'm doing, not to the degree they were prior. And so I like that. You know, I think it's helped me realize that, like, all that extra noise and stuff doesn't really matter. If I get future opportunities, that's awesome. But I'm not going to lose myself in it the same way that I did the first time around.

So long-winded answer, but that's all my answers. Long-wended's good. And I want to, so we're a few years removed. and it feels like from talking to you kind of your defense defenses are down like you're you're not as protective of hey you know i'm going to blame outside world like many of us do when we come off the show right but you did use the word edit there and i want to read a quote i don't know if you remember this that you gave in 2022 it says watching it back i was embarrassed and disgusted by my actions and the way i was portrayed or seen on tv ultimately i had to live with the fact that my narrative is what was shown. And that was hard because that's not really who I am. I don't feel that what I was on the show is who I truthfully am, but I did those things. I became that person. So after what you just said there and reading that quote, what I'm reading between the lines is, are you saying that you weren't who you wanted to be on the show or that the edit wasn't

what you wanted to be? I don't know what the story was. And so, for everybody listening now, we're two years removed, give clarity to what exactly went on during your season? Yeah. Well, you want me to walk through as far as like how the outcome of it or just how basically just explaining that quote that you just mentioned? I want to, I want to know what we didn't see from TV. I want to know what was missing from the narrative.

You got four hours with you, Clayton. Let's keep going on. You guys know I can't talk about some of these things. NDAs. Come on now. Yeah. They're so old. And they will come after me.

They've already tried it. But I'll say that I am, that quote that you just mentioned was coming from an egocentric place. At that point, I was under a lot of duress. And so I felt backed into a corner. And I wasn't willing to accept full accountability for what resulted in what was shown. That being said, I definitely feel it's a shared sense of accountability. What was shown on TV, there was no body double.

It was me. So that was me and those were my actions. But I also, there was a lot of things, you know, again, the show, you guys know this. I mean, it's a two-hour episode, but, you know, two hours in one episode encapsulates four or five days of filming at, you know, 14, 15 hours a day. So there's just missing context. I used to think, you know, or feel that, you know, they did it out of spite and try to destroy my character. I now look at it, like, I don't think the producers are that vengeful. I think they just really tried to create a very highly emotional season.

And I think they realized that people didn't like me out the gate. They weren't happy. I was chosen as a bachelor. So they were looking for reasons to hate me. And I think, you know, after my season, the show was like, you gave us too much firepower. And if we don't produce it this way, I mean, we don't want a lukewarm bachelor. We want either a very beloved bachelor or a hated bachelor. And in the past, you know, they've, you know, every so often they go for a bachelor and they kind of take them down the opposite route.

I mean, I think, you know, I've seen Peter Weber kind of got a similar, you know, approach in the way that he was portrayed. Now, that being said, again, I mean, I don't want to try to displace blame here. You know, I took those actions on the show. And so, you know, people were upset by it. I also think, too, though, that it's not a matter. What I will say is, like, I'm not going to defend what I did on the show. In fact, I now accept full responsibility, and I think I did what I thought was best at the time. So I've forgiven myself, and that's all that matters.

Could I have done things better? Yeah, in hindsight, sure. But I also was very emotional to the way that my reaction, how people responded to me. And it's not that serious now. I realized that, like, people were treating it. I was getting death threats. People were telling me I was, you know, all the worst things in the world, stupid, not deserving of blah, blah, blah. I now realize those people are extremely overreact.

reacting. It's not that serious. Like, I hurt some people on a TV show, and I'm sorry for that. But I mean, this life or death treatment was ridiculous. So, you know, I look at it now and I'm just like, I was a little bit overly sensitive. And so anytime that anything got brought up, I felt like the world was coming crashing down on me. And so that original quote was me trying to place blame on the shoulders of the show and take it off me. Because I'm not a monster. I mean, that's what some people viewed me as. I also think that the, you know, the loudest people. online, it's still a minority. I think there's a majority of people that watch it and said, like, yeah, that wasn't probably smart, but I don't think he's a, you know, bad guy. I was really just hyper sensitive to the criticism. So I was trying to defend my character. And now I realized I was like, these people were overreacting a lot of them. And, you know, yeah, was I immature in certain senses? Yes, absolutely. But my gosh, it's a TV show, like relax. I didn't, I didn't, you know, do something that drastic. I just... You just said, I love you, you know?

It's like, there's worse things to tell somebody. I failed at being a bachelor. I mean, I failed at, you know, polyamory or whatever you want to call it. Like, that's why the show is intriguing, you know? Like, you date multiple people and then you try to get back to monogamy. And I just failed at that, you know? It is what it is. So, I mean, I'm like, yeah, would you say, hey, were you always a successful bachelor?

Not really. Not by the respects of, like, I mean, I ended up alone at the end of it. I guess Susie and I dated for a year. but it is, again, I've just given myself grace. It is what it is. At the end of the day, it doesn't define me. I sure hope it doesn't. I mean, if your tombstone one day said Clayne Eckard, the Bachelor,

you've big problems in life, buddy. Yeah, I mean, it's a special experience. And I mean, I'm forever grateful. I'm grateful for the show. I don't hold me ill will towards them. Did I hold ill well? Yes, I did at certain points. And I wanted to, like, come out and say, here's all the behind the scene stuff.

that, like, you guys didn't see on TV. Um, because there was, was some of that stuff. Uh, but it's like, the show has to put in as much as they can into our window. So I don't, it wasn't malicious why they left out stuff. I don't think so. And if somebody dislikes me at ABC, whatever, then I guess they do. But I, you know, I just don't, I don't want to hold that at this point. I'm like, forget it.

It is what it is. Well, you and Grant are actually in similar situations because you're both chosen to be the bachelor from not the top four. You guys were honestly quite random choices. from the top 10. Yeah. Why do you think you were chosen? Why do you think Grant was chosen?

Why? What advice? That's a lame question. In my point of view, what advice do you have for Grant? But because you guys are in situations, how do you handle it not being a main character and becoming the main character? Yeah, I mean, my advice to Grant's just be authentically yourself.

I mean, you can't control people's opinions and you'll spin your wheels until you burn off all the tread trying to do so. I mean, that's what I did. I was trying to convince everybody that, like, wait, this is why they chose me. You know, I'm just as great as all the other previous bachelors. I'm not like the reject. It's like this was still a coveted position. Like, I'm just as good as anybody else.

But that was, you know, that was a loss. I mean, that wasted my time trying to prove it. And there's no point. And so I would just say, you know, focus on what you can control and what's outside of your control, let it go. and just let it play out. I do think ultimately karma comes back and the people that get put up on pedestals fall off them and the ones that, you know, gets banished to the corner and end up climbing

back out. And we all settle somewhere in the middle. No one's as good or as bad as they're perceived on television a lot of times. There's some middle ground somewhere. So I would just say if he focuses on himself and just, you know, whatever you want to do with this experience, if he wants to leverage it business wise, go for it. You know, if he finds love awesome, like whatever it is, don't listen to the noise. You know, a lot of people are jealous and they say, all these people come on for this reason, that reason, whatever.

Like, we come on for our reasons that we come on and we do what we do with it. And so forgive us for taking the opportunity. As far as why I was chosen, I mean, truthfully, I'm just going to be honest, I think I was chosen because I fit what the demographic really wanted. Not, you know, the minority online people blew up and were upset that I was chosen over men of color. I totally understand that. Why I was chosen as the eighth guy when there was six men of color. color before me. I don't know. It's not my question to answer, but I will say I think that I fit this mold. They were looking for a six foot five white dude. I mean, the show primarily

cast white leads. And I fit that mold. I was a, you know, the guy from the Midwest that on paper checked a lot of the boxes. And so I think that's why they made me that. But there was pushback because people were frustrated that it didn't come from a top four pick. And I get that. So again, I just look at it like, hey, I accepted the role. I mean, that was my job. You want to know why I was chosen. You ask them. But I can tell you that I see why people were upset. Um, and I don't blame them. But, uh, you know, again, it wasn't my decision to, and I didn't take it away from people. People said, oh, he took it away from these other people. Like, no, they, they could have, yeah, no, I was like, I didn't take it away from people.

Those producers could have went to those guys, you know? So, um, again, just my opinion. I think that's unfortunate, but the show does have to, like they are trying to make it work and trying to have diversity and trying to keep their audience happy. I mean, I know they're paying attention to it. I've had those conversations with them. So they're very, very aware of what's being said by the public with race being, you know, a topic that's brought up a lot. I think they just tried to satisfy the silent majority of people and they picked me and it backfired because no one knew who I was. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly and now I'm seriously suspicious.

Well, wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend has been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now, he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Now, hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That sounds totally inappropriate. Well, according to this person, this is her boyfriend's former professor and they're the same age. And it's even more likely that they're cheating.

He insists there's nothing between them. I mean, do you believe him? Well, he's certainly trying to get this person to believe him because he now wants them both to meet. So, do we find out if this person's boyfriend really cheated with his professor or not? To hear the explosive finale, listen to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Dr. Joy Harden Bradford. And in session 421 of therapy for black girls, I sit down with Dr. Othia and Billy Shaka to explore how our hair connects to our identity, mental health, and the ways we heal. Because I think hair is a complex language system, right?

In terms of it can tell how old you are, your marital status, where you're from, you're a spiritual belief. But I think with social media, there's like a hyperfixation and observation of our hair, right? That this is sometimes the first thing someone sees when we make a post or a reel is how our hair is styled. We talk about the important role hairstyles play in our community, the pressure to always look put together, and how breaking up with perfection can actually free us. Plus, if you're someone who gets anxious about flying, don't miss Session 418 with Dr. Angela Neil Barnett, where we dive into managing flight anxiety.

Listen to therapy for black girls on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. The U.S. Open is here. And on my podcast, Good Game with Sarah Spain, I'm breaking down the players from rising stars to legends chasing history. The predictions will we see a first-time winner? and the pressure. Billy Jean King says pressure is a privilege, you know. Plus, the stories and events off the court and, of course, the honey deuses, the signature cocktail of the U.S. Open.

The U.S. Open has gotten to be a very fancy, wonderfully experiential sporting event. I mean, listen, the whole aim is to be accessible and inclusive for all tennis fans, whether you play tennis or not. Tennis is full of compelling stories of late. Have you heard about Icon Venus Williams' recent wildcard bids? or the young Canadian, Victoria Mboko, making a name for herself. How about Naomi Osaka getting back to form? To hear this and more, listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain, an IHeart Women's Sports Production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment

on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Hi, my name is Enya Yumanzoor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom. If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedicated ADHD... Oh my God, perfect.

And want to hear people with mental illness, psychobabble. Yes, yes. Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you. Open your free IHeartRadio app. Search Emergency Intercom and listen now. To transition here a little bit in the last few minutes that we have with, you. I want to get into life now and I want to get into a few of the more prevalent relationships that came from your time during this franchise. Gabby, Rachel, and Susie obviously are the

three that we think of when it comes to your experience. Gabby's in a relationship. Rachel and Susie are both single. To go back because it feels like my role today, I'm going to read a quote that Susie said about you during your trial. And it's interesting. I want to hear what you think of it. I want you to break it down for us. She said this. She said, listen, Clayton might be a lot of things, but he's not a liar. And that meant a lot to me. What do you think she meant by Clayton might be a lot of things? Oh, Susie. You know, I'm going to hold off on that. I think that there was reasons why her and I broke up. And there was equal, you know, there's no blame to be dispersed out, but there's reasons why it didn't work from my point of view with the way that she

acted and vice versa. I haven't really been in agreeance with a few of the times that she's made small comments that carry a lot more weight. I think that direct quote was one of them. So I wish Susie the best. I don't think that comment was necessary in the way it was framed. I also don't think a few other things she said at some point, so it felt like she was trying to make it, you know, seem like I was the whole reason that the relationship didn't work. That's the way I perceived it. I don't know if she meant that or not. But of course, if you're bringing this up, you know, as a quote, that's, you got to wonder, you know, why was it said that way? It's certainly perk people up into being like, huh, you could have just said Clayton's not a liar. Why did you

say he might be many things? So, you know, I haven't been in favor and I've told her that. she's aware at some of the ways that she's you know said things but it is what it is um you know she can she can respond to that accordingly what she meant i never got you know an answer as far as like what that meant myself but i just moved on from it let it go um you know we're not perfect and at some points we all say things that in hindsight we probably shouldn't have said so i can forgive her for that there was i do it every week i do it every week uh and i guess susie is i'm a little bit behind the times i think her and justin are trying to rekindle something so maybe when I said they're both single, they might not be, um, they aren't, but I don't know what's going on.

But speaking of that, she and Justin had a very public flirty friendship before coming out as an public couple. Um, do you guys, how did you feel about watching her with like another bachelor guy, another person in the spotlight? Was that hard to just see her move on to somebody that was going to make headlines with her? No, not at all. I didn't really feel any type of way about it. I mean, when Susie and I broke up, we knew it was never going to ever be a thing again. And so it was just like once that was severed, you know, we were important in each other's life to help each other get through, you know, a traumatic time. And she helped me grow as a person. But ultimately, like after we had those breakup conversations, I mean, and after the feelings subsided, it became very much just like,

hey, you know what, we weren't meant to be each other's forever person. So I knew that that day would come whenever she would date somebody new and so when I saw it it was like yeah I mean this this day was coming it was inevitable and I didn't really feel any type of way about it I was like okay good for her the you did this to yourself you set this up and so I don't feel bad about asking this question we had an I heart event and I believe it was the Monterey two years ago two years ago Rachel was there you guys did a video to get the world talking talking and they talked. It was kind of a flirty video.

And we saw them kind of flurried, flirty by the fireplace. You guys had some chemistry going on. So we just talked about Susie, talked a little bit about Gabby. Rachel, do you and Rachel stay in contact? Is there any, you know, fuel still to the potential flame that could be the two of you? I don't really keep in contact with her. I'm not sure what she's doing these days, but I will say that, yeah, I hear people talk. Like, they always wonder if the two of us would have made sense together.

And I don't think people will be asking that question much, much longer. I think I'll just look at that. Oh, because somebody's in a relationship here. I think it's Clayton. I think it's Clayton. I mean, why would he? Yeah, I think it's Clayton. Clayton's going to come out with a relationship announcement.

Do you just want to do it on the show? Yeah. Like how long have you guys been together? A lot of listeners, a lot of listeners, a lot of people could get some real excitement if you just tell us who it is. I'm not, I'm not just, you know, I'm not going to drop any bombshells today. No, there's could be a talking to somebody in relationship could not be. I could have, you know, whatever.

Things will make sense. I'll put it this way. People will get an answer at some point here soon as far as what. Are you, like, engaged? What I'm alluding to. No, no, I'll just, I'll just, answers will be clear at some point. I just, that's all I'll say. Clifhing.

Gracious, such a cliffhanger for us, but I'm glad that we at least got that tease. I mean, there's something happening in your life that no longer allows you to be in relationship with Rachel. So, yeah, that's exciting. Congratulations, Clayton. Yeah, life is exciting. I never, I would have got some trick. I would get some trick up my sleeve. So, yeah, there's something, something's coming.

All right. Well, in the teasers for the traitors in which Gabby is in, she calls herself a lesbian. But in 2023, she said, I guess I'm bisexual would be the most honest label for me. I don't know. But after dating a woman, I feel so connected to my girlfriend. That's what's most important to me. I don't believe in labels, but I don't know if I could ever date a man again. Would you ever thought that this would be after being with Gabby, fantasy sweets and such?

I Fantasy sweets and such goodness you ask me if I should get it dropped in a certain way I mean I know that like Gabby she shared a lot of things with me

about her life and of course you know the things that are off camera you know stay off camera you know she confided in me with different things I won't say that she confided me about sexuality that was not

I'm not alluding to that but um i you know i know that she had you know there's parts of her life growing up that were tough and challenging for her and you know that she was coping with and so um i was surprised to like have her come out um but i again i mean how do you it's like i think people wrestle with that a lot of times you know i think there's there's not the stigma's not there like it used to be um it used to you know people would be embarrassed to come out and say that you know they they they are gay or or bisexual, whatever it may be. And I think it's just more accepted now.

So I'm sure she was wrestling with it for some time. And then, but when she came out, I was like, okay, I mean, I guess we're getting all used to people like coming out and making statements like this. And so it's just not as surprising as maybe if she came out 20 years ago or whatever. So, yeah, I mean, at the time I spent with her, I felt like we had a strong connection. And I really did, you know, I have strong feelings for her. I think she's just trying to figure out what's best for her. Yeah, so this is a part of our journey.

And the final question that we have for you today, we've covered a lot of topics here, Clayton. Obviously, we've covered a court case. We've covered your time as the Bachelor. We've covered the past relationships that are always so fun to talk about. We've covered your personal growth. And now I want to cover where you're at today. And so my question for you is two part.

One is, how are you personally? I'm great. I honestly, I mean, I'm happy. I got a lot of things cooking, and there's just, yeah, there's just, yeah, there's, there's, I'm just making up rumors now. You might as well just tell us or Ashley's going to create all these ideas in everybody's heads, and it's just, I like, I like, that's fine. She can't.

I like playing games. I mean, I was doing this when I was on the batch. I was dropping hints on my Instagram that I was with Susie and people, I was trying to, you know, I was posting photos of like me standing by the bedside and, like, you could see her leg in the flag like her a leg outline i was playing i love playing these little psychological games so this is just what i'm doing i'm just i'm just doing it's the game right now so she wants to if she wants to spark up my third fourth fifth rumor go for it i don't it doesn't i'll just say that um you know there's people yeah there's going to be some fun things that are that uh that will

come out in due time well it's it's cool to see you be excited about something my final question for you is uh what are you looking forward to in the next few years you've had i mean no matter what. This has been a, I know you've had personal growth. I know there's been good things to this. If you lay out the timeline of the last three years of your life, it's had some rocky moments and a lot that you couldn't control. So as we look forward now to three years, four years, five years, what are you looking forward to the most? I would say what came top of mind is like every year I choose a word that I focus on for myself. Last year it was rebirth. I chose that I wanted to become my most authentic self.

I feel like I've acquired, you know, acquired that now, and this year it's redemption. So that was the word I chose, and I'm looking forward to what all that means in my life, which, again, it's, it's, it's, I'm excited because I feel like life is still challenging as it always is, but, you know, this new me is, is bringing a lot of opportunity and energy my way that I've always, you know, wish that I had come this, my direction that now is. It's kind of like, you know, what you push out is what you attract. And that's what I'm finding. So I'm really excited to continue watching more things that are meant for me

arrive at my doorstep. So that's what I'm looking forward. Are you going to keep dancing? Is that part of it? Yeah, I told my, I've stepped it up to four times a week now from two. So I told my dance instructor, I actually want to learn to dance, not like do TikTok dances because at first I was posting some stuff. And it was, you know, more to build confidence.

Now I'm actually trying to become decent at dancing. and like learn to actually move. And so I don't, yeah, I set like a six, seven month timeline on it. I told my instructor at, you know, at the end of these seven months, four days a week, I'll reassess as far as like if I want to continue. I'm really going all that. I mean, it's fun. It's a hobby.

So it's, you know, it's just like for me, it's become like what my lifting weights is. I'm like, it's just a hobby that I'm pouring into and, you know, not posting as much online about it because I'm actually just learning to do like grooves and all that. So I think it's in my- He's training for dancing with the stars. How fist are you that you're like the only bachelor that hasn't been chosen for dancing with the stars and it's your hobby? Is that what it is?

Am I? No, you're not. I'm thinking about others. It's like Zach wasn't. Zach wasn't, yeah. Was Peter Weber? I don't think he was either, was he? Oh, my gosh.

How did Peter not do that? Oh, COVID. I think I saw Peter was doing some dance videos on, on Instagram or TikTok at one point. So I'm sure he's, I'm sure he, him and I are just fine sitting here fuming every day being like, just give us a chance. Bring us in for a guest appearance, if nothing else. Just let us tap down from the floor for like five minutes and I'll be good. I love it.

Hey, Clayton, thanks for joining us today. We wish you the best as this year of, what was your word this year? Redemption. No. Redemption. Redemption. A year of redemption continues. Thanks for joining us.

And the countdown of The Bachelor continues with more special guests and more leads. that we're catching up with as we go. But until next time, I've been Ben. I've been Ashley. See ya. Follow the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcasts on IHartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Let's start with a quick puzzle.

The answer is Ken Jennings' appearance on The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs. The question is, what is the most entertaining listening experience in podcast land? Jeopardy Truethers. believe in? I guess they would be conspiracy theorists. That's right. They gave you the answers and you still blew it. The puzzler. Listen on the Iheart radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, my name is Enya Yumanzoor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom. If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes,

we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedic AdHD. Oh my God, perfect. And want to hear people with mental illness, psychobabble. Yes, yes. Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you. Open your free IHeartRadio app.

Search Emergency Intercom and listen now. Hi, I'm Jennifer Lopez and in the new season of the Overcomper podcast, I'm even more honest, more vulnerable and more real than ever. Am I ready to enter this new part of my life? Like, am I ready to be in a relationship? Am I ready to have kids and to really just devote my? myself and my time. Join me for conversations about healing and growth,

all from one of my favorite spaces, the kitchen. Listen to the new season of the Overcombered podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hi, it's Honey German, and I'm back with season two of my podcast. Grasias, come again. We got you when it comes to the latest in music and entertainment with interviews with some of your favorite Latin artists and celebrities. You didn't have to audition?

No, I didn't audition. I haven't auditioned in like over 25 years. Oh, wow. That's a real G-talk right there. Oh, yeah. We'll talk about all that's viral and trending with a little bit of cheesement and a whole lot of laughs. And of course, the great bevras you've come to expect. Listen to the new season of Dresses Come Again on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

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