After the most dramatic season of The Bachelor yet, Clayton Echard explained why despite loving Susie Evans "the most," that didn't mean she was The One. Clayton's season has been nothing if not controversial. Yet in a season riddled with bullies, cattiness and Shanae, Clayton's own actions managed to be the biggest controversy of them all. His downfall began during fantasy suite week. After being intimate with and expressing deep feelings for both Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia, Clayton had his last date with frontrunner Susie. Privately, Susie admitted that if Clayton had been intimate with, or expressed love for, any of the other women, she would not be able to continue on. So when she asked Clayton during the date if either of those things had occurred, and he responded yes to both, things got pretty ugly. Susie went home, and Clayton was, as he put it, "broken."
Having now realized how his actions could affect the women, Clayton decided to admit to Gabby and Rachel what had transpired during the following rose ceremony. What followed was instant heartbreak as both women went off in their own directions, gutturally sobbing. Rachel and Gabby were debating going home. Later in the evening, Gabby even turned down her rose, but Clayton pled his case to both women, all but convincing them that he wanted a future with them and, of course, loved them. In the end, both women stayed, only for Clayton to realize he loved Susie "the most" and sent them both home in a joint breakup two days later. While Susie went on to reject Clayton yet again, during the live finale, it was revealed that she later reached out to Clayton privately, and the two have been dating ever since.
Since the whirlwind that was the finale aired, Bachelor Nation has been demanding answers, namely why in the world did Clayton beg Gabby and Rachel to stay if he knew Susie was The One? In an interview with Us Weekly, Clayton finally addressing the drama, saying, "I made that comment [that I loved Susie the most], and when I said that, I felt that way about Susie. But when she left, I realized that that ship had potentially sailed. And beyond that, just because I loved her the most did not mean I had made a definitive answer that she was The One." Clayton went on to say that once Susie left, he tried his best to focus on both Rachel and Gabby, with them even meeting his parents the next day, saying he was hopeful either of them could be The One, except it wasn't so.
Bachelor Nation, from fans to alums alike, has been extremely critical about Clayton's casual use of the phrase "I love you," as it's been a Bachelor rule for years that they should save those words for the person they choose in the end. When finally asked if Clayton still believes he was in love with Gabby and Rachel, Clayton said, "I really did believe I was in love with them when I was there on the show. But as I've now taken the time to reflect and look back, I believe that I had gotten to the point where I was falling in love with everybody, but...I was only in love with Susie." Clayton added that now that he's in love with Susie, he understands how he could fall for many people but only really be able to be in love with one person.
Prior to The Bachelor, Clayton had never been in love, something that was extremely criticized for this exact reason. Fans were worried that if Clayton had never experienced love, he wouldn't be able to differentiate his feelings enough, which could lead to him picking the wrong person or telling people he was in love with them when he clearly wasn't. Unfortunately for everyone involved, the latter did end up coming true. Perhaps the only highlight, aside from Clayton and Susie's happy ending, is that now Gabby and Rachel will have the chance to look for love in their own joint season of The Bachelorette.
Source: Us Weekly