Clayton Echard is speaking out after his emotional reunion with Rachel Recchia on Perfect Match season 3 left her in tears. The two had previously tried to find love on The Bachelor, and their brief rekindling on the new Netflix reality show sparked intense emotions and drama.
Despite the fallout, Clayton is standing by his actions, explaining his reasoning for ending things with Rachel once again.
Clayton Reflects on His Decision to End Things with Rachel
In episode 3 of Perfect Match season 3, Rachel entered the villa, setting the stage for a tense and emotional reunion with Clayton. The two briefly matched up for the night, but Clayton soon decided to end things. He explained that his intuition told him it wasn’t going to work out between them.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Clayton, 32, shared his reasoning: “I’m glad they showed that… I was hoping they were going to. I don’t really think there’s a specific answer other than it was a feeling.”
Clayton explained that when he woke up the next morning, he felt a “pit in my stomach,” realizing he made the wrong decision. After giving it time and reflecting on the situation, he decided to act quickly, saying, “I just had to end it.”
Despite the hurt he caused Rachel, Clayton emphasized that he never intended to hurt her and wanted to make the decision as soon as he knew it was the right one. “Unfortunately, in dating shows, there’s emotions attached, so it’s hard to get out unscathed,” he admitted.
The Fallout and Rachel’s Emotional Response
Rachel, 29, took the news hard, breaking down in tears after Clayton explained why he was ending their brief reunion. She shared her frustration with him, saying, “He literally did it again.
This is the third time he’s done this to me.” She expressed feelings of betrayal, questioning why he would put her in that position again.
Clayton, however, stood firm in his decision. “My intuition was telling me that this is not going to work between us, and I don’t want to hurt you,” he told Rachel. Though Rachel struggled with the decision, she later shared with PEOPLE that she was unsure whether she should have given him a second chance in the first place.
Clayton Reflects on His Relationship with Rachel and Fans’ Reactions
Clayton acknowledged that Bachelor Nation fans would likely have mixed opinions about his actions. “I think it’s going to be a split,” he said, anticipating that some viewers would understand his decision, while others might criticize him. But Clayton is confident that he did what he thought was best, regardless of the reactions from others.
“Truthfully, I did what I thought was best, and I stand by that,” he said. While acknowledging that the breakup was difficult, he emphasized the importance of following his instincts.
Moving Forward: Is Clayton Done with Reality TV?
Although Clayton has experienced heartbreak on The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and Perfect Match, he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of returning to reality TV dating shows in the future. “I’m open to anything,” he said, though he expressed some uncertainty about whether dating shows were the right fit for him.
After ending things with Rachel, Clayton decided to leave the villa, feeling that there were no other matches for him to explore. Meanwhile, Rachel moved forward in the game, matching with Love Island USA alum Scott van-der-Sluis.
Clayton Echard’s actions on Perfect Match sparked controversy and emotional moments for both him and Rachel. While their brief reunion ended in tears and disappointment, Clayton stands by his decision, believing it was the right choice for both of them.
As the Perfect Match season progresses, it remains to be seen whether Clayton will find love in reality TV again, but for now, he’s focused on closure and moving forward from the past.
