Are Clayton Echard and Susie Evans still together? An update on 'The Bachelor' stars whirlwind romance
Clayton Echard and Susie Evans had a rollercoaster ride on 'The Bachelor,' so it's no surprise that Bachelor Nation devotees are curious about their whereabouts since the show's explosive finale. When they met on 'The Bachelor' Season 26, their love story was anything but easy.
Clayton, as everybody knows, proclaimed his love to several women and was intimate with more than one. It wasn't Susie's ideal situation, and for a time, it didn't appear as if this pair would make it. When reports of Clayton being selected as ABC's next lead initially circulated last September, they raised eyebrows, notably because 'The Bachelorette' Season 18, in which Clayton was ousted by Michelle Young, was still in progress. Clayton's season premiered in January, and things didn't get any better for the 28-year-old. After clashing during their fantasy suite date, the former football player was heavily criticized for choosing Susie Evans over Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey.
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If Clayton's elimination of Susie was unexpected, the Season 26 conclusion of 'The Bachelor' was startling. Clayton acknowledged to Rachel and Gabby during the two-part conclusion that he was not only intimate with both ladies but also stated "I love you" to both. Clayton eventually proposed to Susie during the Final Rose ceremony in Iceland, declaring that he was picking the lady "he loved the most," which Susie declined. Clayton and Susie, however, were not finished for good. Clayton and Susie reunited months later on the "After The Final Rose" special, revealing that they had gotten back together after filming and were planning to live together in Virginia, Susie's home state. There was no engagement and no discussion of a wedding at the time, which makes sense because they wanted to take things slowly. While fans were not too satisfied with Clayton's stint as 'The Bachelor,' others wished this pair well and prayed that they would continue to thrive as a couple.
How have things been since that eventful special for Susie Evans and Clayton Echard?
Though the two have subsequently resolved their issues, their path to this point was not without hardships. Clayton and Susie ended their relationship towards the end of Clayton's season of 'The Bachelor,' after she discovered he had previously been intimate with other contestants Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia. Susie stated she couldn't "get past" him sleeping with her castmates after getting the news, and Clayton felt as though she threw a "bombshell" on him, saying she should have informed him about her "huge deal-breaker" quicker. Clayton then sent Susie off, telling her that "anything" she said to him at the time "doesn't matter anymore." Later, on 'The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast,' the ex-NFL player recalled their fight, admitting that he laments how harsh he was in the circumstance.
Fans of Bachelor Nation would be pleasantly pleased to learn that these two are still together. Susie claimed that she and Clayton were contently enjoying their love as their season of 'The Bachelor' aired on March 26, a couple of weeks after the finale. The wedding photographer and Clayton can be seen unwinding, eating, swimming, and dancing in several clips. The two were able to mend fences and move on even before the finale by flaunting their love at outdoor Bachelor Nation events and giving viewers a rare glimpse at their home life.
You've probably seen their lovely videos when they're having fun and simply being themselves if you follow either of them on social media. Clayton and Susie moved to live together in Virginia, Susie's home state, following all the commotion of 'The Bachelor.' It was a little weird because they didn't know each other very well, and now the pair is revealing all the details of how uncomfortable it was. Susie had made a TikTok video earlier in June about how strange things were when she and Clayton moved in together. “Moving in together and realizing we barely know each other,” Susie stated, staring at each other. Susie writes, "Finding out we're equally as weird," as she and Clayton dance about.
Having said that, in April, the pair was forced to dispute reports of Clayton cheating when a video went viral on TikTok, with Clayton and Susie deploying screenshots to debunk his claimed adultery. Susie says on TikTok that Clayton's contact in her mobile is under "Mox Herald," with a picture of Seth Rogen, and that she's had the name in there like that since they began dating covertly after the show. The creator of the TikTok video has now retracted her assertions. Nevertheless, the event highlighted how much Susie and Clayton still care for one another.
While Clayton had difficulty deciding whom to propose to on 'The Bachelor' Season 26, he and Susie appear to be more in love than ever as he finally relocates to Virginia. It should come as no surprise that this pair has been forced to hide their romance for months. Meanwhile, on Monday, July 11 at 8 pm, Rachel and Gabby, this year's runners-up and fan favorites, will return to ABC as the co-leads of 'The Bachelorette' Season 19.