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Was Clint Arlis gay? Deceased 'Bachelorette' alum was rumored to have dated JJ Lane

'Bachelorette' alum Clint Arlis, who competed on Kaitlyn Bristowe’s season of the reality show, died aged 34

'The Bachelorette' star Clint Arlis has died aged 34. A Twitter post by his school wrestling coach, Scott Bayer, announced his death, saying, "It is with a heavy heart and a sense of profound loss that we announce the death of one of the Batavia Wrestling Program's All-Time greats, 2005 graduate, Clint Arlis." 

Clint was seen on Season 11 of the ABC franchise starring Kaitlyn Bristowe in the year 2015. "Clint was the beloved son of Coach Tom Arlis and his wife, Jamie, protective, loving older brother of his sister, Taylor, and the boyhood idol and best friend of his kid brother, Coach Logan Arlis," the post read. "I have come to know Clint over the years since I joined Tom's coaching staff and the Batavia Wrestling Family in the late fall of 2005, after his graduation. I have found him to be extraordinarily devoted to his family and deeply committed to the sport wrestling at a level...few of us have ever reach in our careers. While attending the University of Illinois, he spent the majority of his college years as the workout partner to 2x Big-Ten Champion, 3x All-American and current U of I Head Wrestling Coach, Michael Poeta."

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"Clint was among the very first kids to come through what became the Batavia Pinners/The Batavia Wrestling Club when Tom, Brian Drendel and others started it back in the 90s. Many other Batavia Wrestlers have followed in his footsteps," the post further read. "His legacies as a fierce competitor, tireless worker, a caring influence to younger Batavia wrestlers, a devoted friend and a loving son and brother will resonate far beyond his days in our presence." Last year, Tyler Gwozdz, 'The Bachelorette' contestant from Hannah Brown's season, died at 29 of a suspected overdose.

Clint Arlis reportedly earned his living working as an architectural engineer for Lend-Lease. Clint's sister Taylor Lulek also took to Facebook to announce the death of her older brother saying: "It is with great sadness, to tell you that my family has lost my best friend and older brother Clint on the morning of January 11th," Lulek wrote on Facebook alongside a photo of her and her brother as children. "Please respect our family's privacy as we try to cope with this great loss." She accompanied the post with a childhood photo of her and her siblings. 

Was Clint Arlis gay?

Arlis' sexuality has been long questioned after his steamy confrontation with JJ Lane on the show. Arlis was also rumored to have dated Lane offscreen. Arlis, however, has rarely addressed such rumors. Although the star has been able to stand on his straight sexuality with his relationships with women, his sexuality has never been officially revealed. 

Arlis is known for having dated Kaitlyn Bristowe. Kaitlyn Dawn Bristowe is a Canadian television personality, podcast host, and former spin class instructor. She was a contestant on the 19th season of ABC's 'The Bachelor' and was also the lead on the 11th season of 'The Bachelorette', where Arlis was a participant.