Bachelor Nation
‘Bachelor’ Clayton Echard Shares Update on Relationship Status After Susie Evans Split
Is Clayton Echard is off the market?
The Bachelor Season 26 lead didn’t find his forever partner during his stint on the show, but it sounds like he’s found a new love.
As a guest on The Ben and Ashley Show | Almost Famous podcast, Echard hinted about a special someone close to his heart. A new relationship, perhaps? The topic came up after they discussed his top three, Rachel Recchia, Gabby Windey, and his ultimate pick, Susie Evans.
The former college football tight end first appeared on the franchise as a contestant during Michelle Young‘s quest for love on The Bachelorette. Once it became clear that he wasn’t the one for her, he quickly went on to be the next Bachelor lead. Echard did think he had found true love on the show, but that didn’t pan out for him.
The hosts still asked where he stood with Evans today. Echard had a clear answer. The 31-year-old said that he knew the two were “never going to ever be a thing again.” He continued, “So, it was just like once that was severed, we were important in each other’s life to help each other get through a traumatic time, and she helped me grow as a person.”
After having “breakup conversations,” Echard and Evans realized they “weren’t meant to be each other’s forever person.”
Although they skimmed over Windey, as she is currently in a relationship with comedian Robby Hoffman, they discussed his current relationship with Recchia.
The two, who had a genuine connection on the show, famously made a TikTok together in 2023. This was referenced as Ben Higgins prompted, “Do you and Rachel stay in contact? Is there any fuel still to the potential flame that could be the two of you?”
To this, Echard replied, “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. 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 leave it at that.”
This caught the attention of Higgins and Ashley Iaconetti. The Bachelor Nation favorites then wondered if Echard was up to breaking some big news on their podcast. Alas, Echard decided against that.
“I’m not going to drop any bombshells today,” he said. “No, there could be talking to somebody, in a relationship, could not be. I could have, you know, whatever. Things will make sense.”
He concluded, “I’ll put it this way. People will get an answer at some point here soon. As far as what I’m alluding to. Answers will be clear at some point. I just, that’s all I’ll say.”
