Bachelor: Susie Evans Talked To Gabby Before Reaching Out To Clayton
Since The Bachelor finale, Susie Evans is opening up about speaking to Gabby Windey before she ever reached out to Clayton Echard once filming wrapped on his disastrous season. Three weeks ago Susie may have been the frontrunner of Clayton's season, as well as Bachelor Nation's first choice for him. But ever since the controversial finale aired, let's just say the fans are a little split. It all started when Susie explained during fantasy suites she couldn't stay if Clayton had been intimate with, or expressed deep feelings for any of the other women. After Clayton confirmed he had been intimate with, and said he was in love with, both Gabby and Rachel Recchia, Susie left. But not before an uncomfortable conversation in which Clayton somehow blamed Susie for his actions. After that, Clayton was left with just Gabby and Rachel and a rose ceremony from hell. At the rose ceremony, Clayton admitted in front of both women, that he was in love with all three of them, and had been intimate with both of them.
This didn't go over well. Both of the women ended up sobbing and debating leaving, with Gabby literally turning down her rose. When she was just moments away from leaving, Clayton convinced her, and Rachel, to stay, claiming he still loved both of them and could see his future wife in them. The next day, after the women had barely healed from the traumatic events of the day prior, they had to put on a happy face and meet Clayton's parents. Although they tried to make the best impression for their potential in-laws, Clayton jointly broke up with them the day after, as he was still in love with Susie. The women were heartbroken, and though Clayton and Susie weren't together at the end of filming, later on, Susie reached out and at the live finale special, they announced the pair had been dating ever since.
The announcement hasn't exactly been met with much support from Bachelor Nation, in part due to how Gabby and Rachel were treated by Clayton. But now, in an interview with People, Susie is explaining that Gabby already knew they were together. "I reached out to her and I was like, 'Hey, like I'm considering meeting up with Clayton, but I don't want to make a bad decision and I want your honest opinion. I was like, 'Do you think that he can redeem this?' And we had just a really honest conversation," she said. The conversation must have gone well as Susie did end up reaching out to Clayton, with the two rekindling their romance and officially are boyfriend and girlfriend. At the finale, Clayton even announced he'd sold his condo and was planning on moving to Virginia to be with Susie.
Though Susie didn't go into much detail surrounding the actual conversation, she did say, "Gabby fully supported me coming out to meet with Clayton again. She even said, 'I don't think Clayton's a bad guy. I don't think he had malicious intent at all.'" A sentiment many people, including Clayton himself, have echoed. But this notion of Clayton not having bad intent is reading a bit like a cop-out to some fans. Sure, it may not have been Clayton's intention to hurt Gabby and Rachel. But considering how he treated them both, intent doesn't really matter if hurting them ends up being the end result. Despite Gabby's feelings towards Clayton, Susie assures fans that she's been a "great friend" to her through it all.
Perhaps the best thing to come out of Clayton's season of The Bachelor is the friendships the women have been able to form. Throughout the season the women almost had an alliance against Clayton when he refused to let go of bully Shanae Ackney, Gabby and Rachel specifically have seemed to form an almost sisterly bond over all the things they've been through together. This can only get stronger as Gabby and Rachel are going to be the leads in a joint season of The Bachelorette, something all of Bachelor Nation seems to be celebrating.
Source: People