Why Juan Pablo Was Still A Worse Bachelor Than Clayton Echard
Although Clayton Echard's time on The Bachelor season 26 has been met with overwhelmingly negative reviews, fans of the hit ABC show haven't forgotten previous controversial Bachelors like Juan Pablo Galavis. Clayton's search for love finally concluded on March 15 after months of ups, downs, and everything in between. Although the final two ladies were Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia, viewers watched Clayton ultimately choose Susie Evans despite eliminating her after the fantasy suites. Although Susie walked away and rejected Clayton — to the delight of most fans — the ending didn't last long. During the "After the Final Rose" special, Clayton and Susie revealed that they reconnected once filming was completed. Not only have the two been dating for months, but are moving in together in Susie's home state of Virginia.
Clayton isn't the first Bachelor to be selected after an initial appearance on The Bachelorette. Juan Pablo, a former Venezuelan soccer player, got his first taste of reality television on The Bachelorette season 9. Vying for Desiree Hartsock's heart among 24 other men, Juan Pablo was eliminated in week six. Although the then 31-year-old generally remained in the middle of the pack, he rose in the ranks of viewers. By the time the annual "Men Tell All" special came around, Juan Pablo, who reunited with his ex, was considered a fan favorite. As the first non-white lead when cast for season 18, Bachelor Nation watched as Juan Pablo got to know 27 potential partners. While Clayton and Juan Pablo were both heavily scrutinized due to how their respective seasons played out, the latter arguably committed more severe transgressions.
Clayton may be now known for his indecisiveness — not only did Clayton have relations with his three finalists, but then proceeded to say he was "in love " with all of them — but Juan Pablo's homophobic comments towards future Bachelors landed him in scalding hot water. Claiming that kids should not be subjected to watching "gay relationships" because they were "more pervert in a sense," Juan Pablo quickly backtracked, but his reputation was already damaged. Not only did these statements enrage viewers and Bachelor Nation, but Juan Pablo's treatment of the women on The Bachelor season 18 was criticized as unsympathetic, narcissistic, and just plain mean. Viewers may remember Clare Crawley, who later starred on The Bachelorette season 16, chewing up and spitting out Juan Pablo during her final two elimination after he previously made inappropriate comments. Andi Dorfman, who led The Bachelorette season 10, also quit during fantasy suites after an argument with him.
Juan Pablo wasn't just combative with the women, as he infamously remained passive-aggressive with host Chris Harrison during the "After the Final Rose" special. Juan Pablo selected Nikki Ferrell as the winner in the end, and Chris teased a special surprise in store for viewers and those on set. While everyone was expecting an engagement — or even just an "I love you" — between Juan Pablo and Nikki, The Bachelor was tight-lipped and generally unwilling to talk about the events of the season. Chris offered Juan Pablo the chance to apologize for his actions, which the star denied; the lead then lost his temper for a moment and accused Chris of interrupting him. This tense exchange, combined with Clare refusing to speak to Juan Pablo, made for an awkward after-show. While Clayton's "ATFR" also had some moments of secondhand embarrassment, at least the newest Bachelor went with the flow of production instead of fighting against it.
Most will agree that Clayton Echard was not the best choice for The Bachelor season 26, and fans hope that ABC is able to overcome internal problems with casting in order to pick a better representation of the show. That being said, the Missouri native is not the worst to lead, despite the controversial elimination of several contestants like Susie. With The Bachelorette season 19 announced on March 15, fans are looking forward to seeing Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey star as co-leads with a fresh slate of prospective men.