Clayton Echard blamed the edit for how his relationship with Rachel Recchia appeared to viewers watching Netflix’s Perfect Match.
PEOPLE reported that Clayton “really enjoyed” the experience, but he didn’t feel the same watching the show back.
Blame the edit (Clayton’s Version):
“Unfortunately, I’m not too happy with the edit.”
Clayton continued, “I’m not going to sit here and dodge responsibility, but I just thought it went differently. I thought it could have been portrayed differently.”
The former Bachelor acknowledged that “there’s always missing context.” However, he understands producers have to make choices. There’s “only having so much time to use when they air these episodes.”
ICYMI:
Clayton was initially matched with Siesta Key alum Juliette Porter in the first episode. But once Rachel joined the villa, he set his sights on her … again.
Never forget, Rachel was one of the finalists on Clayton’s season of The Bachelor in 2022. Right before the finale, he ended his relationship with her and fellow runner-up Gabby Windey (after sharing intimate information about them on the world’s stage). He still had feelings for Susie Evans, who he had previously eliminated. Clayton and Susie rekindled their romance but ultimately called things off in September 2022.
A change of heart?
“When Rachel walked in, it was a rush of emotions. All the feelings that you once had, they come back up.” Clayton realized that things may have “changed” between them, but he felt a sense of hope. “Maybe now this is the right timing for us. So that’s what all went through my head.”
After Clayton asked Rachel to match with him, his intuition took over, and he realized they weren’t a match. “How I got to that point was through the conversations we had [and] my intuition, the things that I’m looking for in life, prior experiences, the conversations her and I had [and] there were things that were said that I said, ‘Yeah, this isn’t going to work.’”
“I know what it is I’m looking for, and things have changed. We’ve changed.” Clayton would not publicly disclose that on the podcast or to Rachel. “I don’t think she would receive them well.”
“I think she would feel, like, they were an attack if I were to say it coming from me,” he said. “It will be something that she’ll understand over time.”
**I feel like Clayton wants an ‘attaboy’ for not mansplaining that, thus making his ick factor continue to skyrocket.**
