The Bachelor’s Clayton Echard Doesn’t Think He Gaslit Susie Evans: ‘I Understand That It Appears That Way’

usmagazine.com:

Showing some remorse. Clayton Echard doesn’t feel great about how his split from Susie Evans went down on the latest episode of The Bachelor.The former football player, 28, explained his controversial decision to send home the wedding videographer, also 28, during an appearance on the Wednesday, March 9, episode of Ashley Iaconetti and Ben Higgins‘ “Almost Famous” podcast.“I did not handle it correctly,” the Missouri native said of Susie’s exit, which viewers saw on the Tuesday, March 8, episode of The Bachelor. “Because I was so hurt and upset that I felt as though she gave no emotion from start to finish.

And I watch it back now and I’m like, ‘It’s clear as day the emotion was there.’ She was torn, but I couldn’t see that.”Earlier in the episode, Susie expressed her worry that she wouldn’t be able to forgive Clayton if he slept with Rachel Recchia or Gabby Windey during his fantasy suite dates, which both happened before hers.

When the Virginia native finally got her one-on-one with Clayton, he confessed that he slept with both women — and said “I love you” to both too.Susie and Clayton initially tried to work through the situation, but the conversation quickly took a turn. “I don’t even know who I’m looking at anymore,” the sales rep said before sending her home. “You just dropped a bombshell on me, and I don’t agree with it at all how you went about it.

I think it’s BS.”The scene drew immediate backlash from viewers and fans, including several members of Bachelor Nation. Clayton’s eliminated contestant Sierra Jackson accused him of “gaslighting” Susie, while former Bachelor Nick Viall said that the current lead was “being a dick” but not actually gaslighting. “Clayton playing [the] victim is outrageous,” added Rick