Although Clayton Echard's season of The Bachelor was one of the most difficult and controversial in franchise history, in an Instagram post, Clayton listed the reasons that he is now happy. Clayton's journey was marred by criticism from the start as Bachelor Nation had been hoping that someone else from Michelle Young's season of The Bachelorette would be the next Bachelor. When Clayton was announced as the Bachelor, people's emotions ranged from disappointment to outrage. However, Clayton begged viewers to give him a chance, saying that he wanted a wife and children more than anything and that he was ready to find his true love.
Clayton's season ended up spiraling downward as controversy after controversy emerged. Fans of the show slammed Clayton for keeping villain Shanae Ankney week after week, despite the warnings from the other women about her outrageous antics. Clayton was accused of caring more about developing physical connections with the women than having conversations and really getting to know him. He spoke out about how the constant attacks on social media were affecting his mental health in a negative way. However, things only got worse when he angrily sent Susie Evans home after she expressed that she could not accept that he had told her, Rachel Recchia, and Gabby Windey that he loved them, and that he had slept with Rachel and Gabby before her fantasy suite. After he broke up with Rachel and Gabby to try to win Susie back, fans again saw him as a villain who had only used the other women as placeholders for Susie, especially since he had repeatedly said that he loved Susie "the most." After Susie rejected him, people were convinced that Clayton was the worst Bachelor of all time, and would end up alone. However, in a shocking twist, Clayton and Susie became a couple after they filmed the show, and are now very happy together.
In a post on Instagram, Clayton, who had appeared confused and miserable in so many of his interviews, listed all of the reasons that he is now happy. He shared a picture of himself and Susie and another of himself, Susie, and his parents, and wrote a lengthy post which began, "Follow your heart….and it’ll take you exactly where you need to be." He expressed that he "can't believe what all has transpired these last 6 months," sharing that there is so much that he has learned and for which he is thankful to have experienced. He acknowledged that he made "plenty of mistakes," but that he has "taken the time to self-reflect and grow" from them.
Clayton went on to say that there is still so much ahead that will challenge him to be a better man, but, as it stands today, "I'm happy." He then listed all of the reasons for this emotion, saying, "Happy because I’ve been tested beyond my limits and am better for it. Happy because I’ve seen and experienced things I never would have, had I not taken this opportunity." Clayton then praised his girlfriend, Susie, with heartfelt words, saying ,"But most importantly, happy because I met the most incredible woman that each and every day makes me realize how truly lucky I am to stand by her side." Clayton then thanked everyone who embarked on his journey with him. He concluded the post with, "It’s been a wild one to say the least."
Clayton's season of The Bachelor was one of the most challenging that viewers have ever seen. Many of the episodes were emotionally exhausting to watch, so the fact that Clayton found love with Susie was a pleasant surprise. The man who was "so broken" has now been put back together. Hopefully, Clayton and Susie's love story will have a happy ending.
Source: Clayton Echard/Instagram
