The Bachelor's Clayton Echard Addresses Ex Susie Evans Cryptic Comments About His Character After Breakup: 'I Can Forgive'

Mar. 15, 2025

Clayton Echard; Susie Evans.Photo:Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock; Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage

Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock; Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage

In a new episode ofThe Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcastreleased Wednesday, Jan. 22, the formerBachelorettecontestant, 31, was asked how he felt about a certain cryptic comment Susie, also 31, said about him last summer.

Susie and Clayton.Craig Sjodin/abc

“I’m gonna read a quote that Susie said about youduring your trial, and it’s interesting," Ben said, referring to thepaternity case Clayton wonlast summer. “I wanna hear what you think of it. I want you to break it down for us.”

The reality star couldn’t help but laugh.

Clayton previously said he was “so grateful” for Susie’s support during his paternity suit in July 2024, and his stance is still much the same — though that doesn’t mean he sees a future for them.

“Oh, Susie,” Clayton began. “You know, I’m gonna hold off on that.”

Clayton Echard; Susie Evans.Craig Sjodin via Getty

However, he proceeded to share his take.

“I think that there was reasons why her and I broke up and there was equal, you know, there’s no blame to be dispersed out, but there’s reasons why it didn’t work from my point of view with the way that she acted and vice versa,” he said.

The former NFL player continued, “I don’t think that comment was necessary in the way it was framed. I also don’t think a few other things she said at some points. So I felt like she was trying to make it seem like I was the whole reason that the relationship didn’t work.”

Clayton Echard.ABC/Pamela Littky

“If you’re bringing this up as a quote, you got to wonder why was it said that way,” he said. “You could have just said Clayton’s not a liar. Why did you say he might be many things? So I haven’t been in favor and I’ve told her that.”

“She’s aware at some of the ways that she’s said things, but it is what it is,” Clayton continued. “She can respond to that accordingly what she meant. I never got an answer as far as what that meant myself, but I just moved on from it, let it go. We’re not perfect and at some points we all say things that in hindsight we probably shouldn’t have said, so I can forgive her for that if there was a need for it.”

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Clayton and Susie met onThe Bachelorin 2021, and rekindled their relationship off-screen before calling it quits in September 2022.

PEOPLE reached out to Susie for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

source: people.com