WEBVTT - America’s Most Hated Bachelor | EP 1 0:00:02.720 --> 0:00:05.760 It's just before seven am on January twenty ninth, twenty 0:00:05.800 --> 0:00:12.360 twenty five, in Scottsdale, Arizona, willase search war. Arizona has 0:00:12.360 --> 0:00:15.760 a reputation for relentless heat, but after years of living there, 0:00:16.200 --> 0:00:19.320 I know better. Winters in the desert can be chilly, 0:00:19.960 --> 0:00:22.840 and this morning was one of those days. It was 0:00:22.920 --> 0:00:25.120 forty five degrees and still dark outside. 0:00:26.200 --> 0:00:28.960 We have a search warn Okay, we're serving on the 0:00:29.080 --> 0:00:31.400 behalf of the Maricopa County's Attorney's office. 0:00:31.440 --> 0:00:32.600 You need to open up the door. 0:00:34.680 --> 0:00:36.919 The Scottsdale Police are at the home of thirty four 0:00:37.000 --> 0:00:40.320 year old Laura Owens. She and her parents live in 0:00:40.360 --> 0:00:44.400 one of the most desirable areas of Scottsdale. Think upscale 0:00:44.479 --> 0:00:48.360 ranch style homes on spacious lots. It's a rare urban 0:00:48.360 --> 0:00:52.480 neighborhood that still allows horses. But this morning the calm 0:00:52.479 --> 0:00:53.840 and quiet was interrupted. 0:00:55.440 --> 0:00:56.280 We might entry. 0:00:56.640 --> 0:00:59.040 We're you're contacting the character right now. 0:00:59.040 --> 0:00:59.760 You're good to move to the. 0:01:02.600 --> 0:01:05.640 Laura lives in a casida on her parents' property, which 0:01:05.680 --> 0:01:08.319 is kind of like a little studio apartment that's separate 0:01:08.319 --> 0:01:12.200 from the main house. Through a sliding glass door, officers 0:01:12.240 --> 0:01:15.480 can see Laura who is already awake and feeding her dogs. 0:01:18.120 --> 0:01:19.760 Laura, scott Stale police. 0:01:21.360 --> 0:01:22.319 Can you see my badge? 0:01:22.600 --> 0:01:23.960 What with the scott step Police department? 0:01:24.000 --> 0:01:24.280 Okay? 0:01:24.280 --> 0:01:25.720 Can you come out and talk with us police? 0:01:26.440 --> 0:01:28.960 No, the county attorneys have a search warm for your property, 0:01:29.040 --> 0:01:30.120 so we need you to come out. 0:01:30.440 --> 0:01:32.119 Okay, I'm sorry. 0:01:32.200 --> 0:01:34.039 It's not even seven in the morning. 0:01:34.640 --> 0:01:35.280 That's fine. 0:01:36.080 --> 0:01:39.920 Laura looks incredibly thin, dressed in an oversized Fleetwood mac 0:01:39.959 --> 0:01:42.840 t shirt and leggings. Her dark hair is pulled back 0:01:42.880 --> 0:01:46.520 in a ponytail. She's not exactly shocked to see the police, 0:01:46.920 --> 0:01:48.560 but she is annoyed by their timing. 0:01:49.880 --> 0:01:51.760 I was told that if the police were going to 0:01:51.800 --> 0:01:53.880 calm they would come during business hours. Can I call 0:01:53.920 --> 0:01:54.960 my attorney please? 0:01:56.120 --> 0:01:58.760 Laura reaches for her cell phone and calls her attorney, 0:01:58.840 --> 0:01:59.600 David Jingers. 0:02:00.480 --> 0:02:02.240 David, do you know what's going on right now? 0:02:03.560 --> 0:02:06.440 The Scottsdale Police are trying to handle this as calmly 0:02:06.440 --> 0:02:10.120 as possible, but Laura's getting more agitated by the minute. 0:02:11.040 --> 0:02:13.560 Our target is very animated at this point. The season 0:02:13.600 --> 0:02:15.240 to come out. She's speaking to us through a. 0:02:15.280 --> 0:02:16.320 Sliding glass door. 0:02:16.720 --> 0:02:17.520 We're getting her an. 0:02:17.400 --> 0:02:19.400 Opportunity to talk to her attorneys and they don't have 0:02:19.440 --> 0:02:20.240 to escalate things. 0:02:20.320 --> 0:02:21.639 But that's just where we're at right now. 0:02:22.120 --> 0:02:26.000 I'm going o'clock in the morning. She's on speaker with 0:02:26.040 --> 0:02:28.200 her attorney, and the attorney's advising her. 0:02:28.120 --> 0:02:28.679 To come out. 0:02:30.240 --> 0:02:33.560 There's a lot open the door. 0:02:34.440 --> 0:02:37.080 Did you think of authority to search for i'n o'clock 0:02:37.120 --> 0:02:37.840 in the morning. 0:02:42.480 --> 0:02:45.800 With her lawyers? Okay? She slowly opens her screen door 0:02:46.080 --> 0:02:48.480 and the Scottsdale Police lead her into the main house 0:02:48.639 --> 0:02:58.160 where her parents are waiting. Laura's having a meltdown. 0:03:01.400 --> 0:03:02.639 I agree. 0:03:02.280 --> 0:03:06.480 I agree. This is so. Laura is a subject of 0:03:06.520 --> 0:03:11.079 an investigation by the courts is regarding that. 0:03:11.400 --> 0:03:15.680 Even when it's not even seven o'clock, get pregnant by 0:03:15.720 --> 0:03:17.320 the fucking wrestler. 0:03:18.880 --> 0:03:23.200 The Bachelor, as in the hit reality TV show Imagine, 0:03:23.200 --> 0:03:26.280 one of its stars a former lead at the center 0:03:26.480 --> 0:03:30.360 of a major paternity scandal. The man whose story prompted 0:03:30.360 --> 0:03:34.120 this early morning police raid is none other than Clayton Eckered. 0:03:35.000 --> 0:03:38.280 He's one of the most notorious and unpopular bachelors of 0:03:38.320 --> 0:03:42.440 all time. His season fell to pieces, leaving him single 0:03:42.760 --> 0:03:45.120 and rejected by the woman he'd fallen in love with. 0:03:45.960 --> 0:03:49.600 After the show, he moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, hoping for 0:03:49.680 --> 0:03:53.840 a fresh start on the show. Clayton didn't meet his person, 0:03:54.280 --> 0:03:57.280 but after moving to Arizona, he would meet the person 0:03:57.520 --> 0:04:03.600 that would change the course of his life forever. I'm 0:04:03.640 --> 0:04:37.160 Stephanie Young and this is Love Trapped Tractic. Nearly two 0:04:37.240 --> 0:04:39.960 years before the police raid, Laura Owens hooked up with 0:04:40.000 --> 0:04:43.920 Clayton eckered and allegedly became pregnant. That is only the 0:04:43.920 --> 0:04:46.920 beginning of the story, a story that is still very 0:04:46.960 --> 0:04:49.920 much going on. It's about how difficult it can be 0:04:49.960 --> 0:04:54.080 to verify the truth, especially when facts are constantly shifting. 0:04:56.120 --> 0:04:58.760 Anytime someone doesn't want to give you the full information, 0:04:58.960 --> 0:05:00.000 they lose all credibility. 0:05:00.240 --> 0:05:02.799 I don't know what she did, but we certainly didn't 0:05:02.880 --> 0:05:06.040 rule out the spit maneuver. The things that she said 0:05:06.040 --> 0:05:08.360 to Clayton, the famous lines about don't want you to 0:05:08.400 --> 0:05:10.480 feel how tight I am and stuff like that. Why 0:05:10.520 --> 0:05:12.440 would she have said that if they had already had sex. 0:05:12.600 --> 0:05:16.000 She says, we were sexually intimate. Okay, well, now he's 0:05:16.000 --> 0:05:17.520 saying you only had two blowjobs. 0:05:17.600 --> 0:05:19.360 Blowjobs don't make babies. 0:05:19.440 --> 0:05:22.920 It's like a miracle somehow that she got pregnant. 0:05:23.120 --> 0:05:26.159 She could have shot herself in the ass with fertility drugs. 0:05:26.400 --> 0:05:28.480 They hooked up, but they didn't have sex. 0:05:28.800 --> 0:05:31.520 Turkey Basters. It's just so chaos. 0:05:33.240 --> 0:05:35.400 In the end, the man at the center of this 0:05:35.480 --> 0:05:39.840 drama would begin to question everything, setting him on an 0:05:39.839 --> 0:05:42.159 all consuming path to prove the truth. 0:05:49.440 --> 0:05:50.720 Hello, this is Clayton speaking. 0:05:51.240 --> 0:05:53.320 Hey Clayton and Stephanie from Glass Podcasts. 0:05:53.320 --> 0:05:56.320 How are you today, Hey, Stephanie. I'm doing good. It's 0:05:56.360 --> 0:05:59.480 honestly just another slow Friday today. 0:06:00.240 --> 0:06:02.800 When I first heard about this case, it sounded simple, 0:06:03.680 --> 0:06:06.960 but as I began looking into it myself, the twists 0:06:07.000 --> 0:06:10.920 and turns became increasingly strange. So I gave Clayton a call. 0:06:12.279 --> 0:06:15.360 We have emailed back and forth a few times about 0:06:15.360 --> 0:06:20.000 this whole Laura Owen saga and I want to tell 0:06:20.040 --> 0:06:22.240 your story. I want to tell it in a podcast 0:06:22.320 --> 0:06:24.040 and get all the details out there. I know you've 0:06:24.040 --> 0:06:26.120 shared some, but I don't think that you've shared all 0:06:26.160 --> 0:06:26.680 of them yet. 0:06:27.880 --> 0:06:31.320 I mean, there's so much I do want it out there, 0:06:32.960 --> 0:06:36.400 just full transparency. I just I hope it's told correctly. 0:06:37.680 --> 0:06:40.159 This would be my first of many phone calls with Clayton. 0:06:40.960 --> 0:06:42.800 I live in Chicago now, but I used to call 0:06:42.880 --> 0:06:46.720 Arizona home. It's one of my favorite places. It's where 0:06:46.760 --> 0:06:50.040 I attended college, It's where I got married and began 0:06:50.120 --> 0:06:53.680 my career in radio and podcasting. I was actually in 0:06:53.839 --> 0:06:56.760 Arizona shopping for a wedding dress when I first heard 0:06:56.760 --> 0:06:59.160 about this on the news, and I'll be heading back 0:06:59.200 --> 0:07:02.000 there soon to start reporting on this case myself. 0:07:04.080 --> 0:07:08.400 So how do you feel about letting me share your story? 0:07:09.279 --> 0:07:12.040 I mean, Stephy, I hope that over time that this 0:07:12.120 --> 0:07:14.720 becomes a budding friendship and like I can trust you 0:07:14.840 --> 0:07:16.800 and it can be told in the way that it 0:07:16.840 --> 0:07:18.520 needs to be told and how I would like for 0:07:18.600 --> 0:07:20.800 it to be told. But I'm going to also just 0:07:20.880 --> 0:07:24.040 again be completely honest because that's how I live my life. 0:07:24.640 --> 0:07:27.840 I've been screwed over so many times by producers that 0:07:27.920 --> 0:07:29.440 have told me this is how I'm going to be 0:07:29.520 --> 0:07:32.120 seen and then it's complete opposite. So, like, is there 0:07:32.160 --> 0:07:35.240 a little bit of hesitancy? Yeah, I'm going to definitely 0:07:35.280 --> 0:07:38.840 want to be in the know as much as possible. 0:07:40.760 --> 0:07:44.000 Clayton's story is an epic battle of he said. She said, 0:07:44.760 --> 0:07:48.800 It's a story about who you believe and why. Over 0:07:48.840 --> 0:07:52.280 the past two years, it's ignited the Internet, becoming a 0:07:52.360 --> 0:07:58.160 kind of viral cautionary tale. Along the way, dozens of citizens, sleuths, 0:07:58.400 --> 0:08:04.680 and armchair investigators joined the conversation, scrutinizing every little detail. 0:08:05.000 --> 0:08:07.920 But here's the thing. When the news broke that Clayton 0:08:08.000 --> 0:08:10.920 was part of this paternity scandal, no one believed him 0:08:10.920 --> 0:08:14.160 at first because he was a reality TV star and 0:08:14.240 --> 0:08:17.920 an unpopular one at that. All of a sudden, his 0:08:18.000 --> 0:08:20.000 word was at the center of a case that would 0:08:20.000 --> 0:08:22.080 put him back in the spotlight in a way he 0:08:22.200 --> 0:08:23.120 never expected. 0:08:25.320 --> 0:08:28.280 Just so you know, I have family that lives in Phoenix, 0:08:28.280 --> 0:08:30.640 So next time I'm in Arizona, I'd love to try 0:08:30.680 --> 0:08:33.679 to get together and maybe have a conversation to see 0:08:33.800 --> 0:08:36.319 how we can tell this story together in a way 0:08:36.320 --> 0:08:37.000 that makes sense. 0:08:37.559 --> 0:08:39.240 Honestly, I think that'd be great. I mean, I'm a 0:08:39.320 --> 0:08:41.959 huge believer in just face to face interaction, and I 0:08:42.000 --> 0:08:44.880 would really like that that way, obviously, we can get 0:08:44.920 --> 0:08:48.400 to know one another and understand what seriously we're both 0:08:48.440 --> 0:08:51.280 getting into. Because I you were going to be in 0:08:51.360 --> 0:08:52.200 over your head. 0:08:53.160 --> 0:08:56.360 And he was right. I had no idea how big 0:08:56.400 --> 0:09:03.439 this story really was. To really understand what's going on here, 0:09:03.760 --> 0:09:06.680 you first have to understand how Clayton was portrayed on 0:09:06.720 --> 0:09:11.120 TV and why he was so unpopular. You see, his 0:09:11.200 --> 0:09:13.200 season of The Bachelor ended in flames. 0:09:15.440 --> 0:09:18.040 The Rose ceremony from hell. It's one of the most 0:09:18.120 --> 0:09:21.600 memorable moments in the history of the show that basically 0:09:21.640 --> 0:09:22.760 blew up his whole season. 0:09:24.120 --> 0:09:31.120 I promise you, when you look back at this. 0:09:30.040 --> 0:09:31.120 This is gonna a hant you. 0:09:31.080 --> 0:09:32.200 The fact that you let me go. 0:09:33.559 --> 0:09:36.440 It didn't help that the three final contestants were some 0:09:36.520 --> 0:09:40.160 of the most likable in the entire franchise. Clayton came 0:09:40.200 --> 0:09:44.360 off as almost insensitive, but that's only part of what 0:09:44.400 --> 0:09:49.520 earned him the title of most hated Bachelor ever. He 0:09:49.640 --> 0:09:53.360 left the show in embarrassment. The internet turned on him. 0:09:53.679 --> 0:09:55.800 This is going down as an all time bad season. 0:09:55.880 --> 0:09:58.640 He's going down as an all time bad Bachelor. I've 0:09:58.640 --> 0:10:00.640 been saying all season that I think this guy sucks. 0:10:00.960 --> 0:10:03.360 His words and his actions did not line up. 0:10:03.760 --> 0:10:06.480 I see any of these people defending this guy, how 0:10:06.559 --> 0:10:07.440 many Shame on you. 0:10:10.160 --> 0:10:14.160 And in the end, Clayton was left alone. He was 0:10:14.200 --> 0:10:15.080 at an all time low. 0:10:16.000 --> 0:10:18.520 I was the worst Bachelor ever. At this point, people 0:10:18.520 --> 0:10:20.800 were hating me everything that they were watching on TV. 0:10:21.880 --> 0:10:24.240 I thought, how am I ever going to recover from 0:10:24.240 --> 0:10:41.120 what I've done. 0:10:43.520 --> 0:10:45.720 I'll admit it. I have always been a fan of 0:10:45.720 --> 0:10:49.080 The Bachelor franchise, but I missed Clayton's season, and it 0:10:49.160 --> 0:10:52.880 turns out a lot of people did. Before I began 0:10:52.960 --> 0:10:56.040 reporting on this story, I went back and watched Clayton's season. 0:10:56.800 --> 0:11:00.000 I've got to be honest. While I was definitely entertained, 0:11:00.720 --> 0:11:03.680 it was also a bit of a train wreck. I 0:11:03.679 --> 0:11:06.760 could see why he got the reputation he did. Even 0:11:06.800 --> 0:11:09.559 his brother Nate didn't think he did a very good job. 0:11:10.080 --> 0:11:11.960 I wouldn't give him the best grade. I think he 0:11:12.040 --> 0:11:15.160 was authentic. I think he was himself, but it just 0:11:15.240 --> 0:11:16.960 ended up getting him in more trouble. 0:11:18.360 --> 0:11:22.600 Respectfully, there have been many other Bachelor contestants who have 0:11:22.720 --> 0:11:27.720 actually committed crimes. Clayton's only crime was not being likable. 0:11:28.520 --> 0:11:32.719 He's blunt and truthful, and oftentimes that lands him in 0:11:32.760 --> 0:11:33.280 hot water. 0:11:35.520 --> 0:11:39.040 When people watch a show like The Bachelor, they think 0:11:39.080 --> 0:11:41.559 that they know you based on what they watch on TV. 0:11:42.440 --> 0:11:45.640 And what sucks is that I didn't get a great edit, 0:11:45.760 --> 0:11:49.000 and so now people were less likely to want to 0:11:49.120 --> 0:11:52.600 rally behind me with this whole cause because they didn't 0:11:52.679 --> 0:11:54.800 like me based off of what they saw on TV. 0:11:55.880 --> 0:11:58.320 I had my own preconceived notions about Clayton before I 0:11:58.400 --> 0:12:01.199 met him, kind of thought the same thing a lot 0:12:01.200 --> 0:12:04.800 of people did. He was your typical playboy. I had 0:12:04.800 --> 0:12:07.920 to get to know him myself because the story isn't 0:12:07.960 --> 0:12:08.760 about the bachelor. 0:12:15.240 --> 0:12:16.720 Hey, how's it going. 0:12:16.840 --> 0:12:18.600 Oh my gosh, you really are that tall. 0:12:18.840 --> 0:12:22.199 I got less with some hight. Good to see you too, 0:12:22.559 --> 0:12:26.120 Absolutely welcome to the humb little abode. 0:12:27.840 --> 0:12:30.720 I met Clayton for the first time last August when 0:12:30.760 --> 0:12:34.120 I was visiting my parents in Arizona. He's a big guy. 0:12:34.720 --> 0:12:37.480 His hands are double the size of mine. He's got 0:12:37.480 --> 0:12:41.560 a killer smile, hazel eyes, and a square jaw. He 0:12:41.640 --> 0:12:45.520 has thick, curly hair most men or women would die for, 0:12:46.280 --> 0:12:48.400 and at six', five he towers over. 0:12:48.480 --> 0:12:52.480 ME i drank cream soda growing, up and my parents, 0:12:52.520 --> 0:12:54.200 said you, know if you keep drinking, that you're gonna 0:12:54.360 --> 0:12:56.880 stunt your. Growth SO i switched over to, milk AND 0:12:56.920 --> 0:12:58.719 i think there was hormones in the. Milk all those 0:12:58.720 --> 0:12:59.920 hormones were probably pumping up. 0:12:59.840 --> 0:13:04.600 My, Today clayton is a pretty normal. Guy he's in solar, 0:13:04.640 --> 0:13:08.160 sales he's a, realtor he takes hip hop dance, classes 0:13:08.679 --> 0:13:12.840 and he owns and manages An airbnb In. Scottsdale in, 0:13:12.840 --> 0:13:15.200 fact the DAY i met, him he shared his original 0:13:15.240 --> 0:13:18.960 concept of an Optional airbnb add, on where for an additional, 0:13:19.040 --> 0:13:22.520 fee he would personally provide guests with the Private Rose ceremony. 0:13:22.559 --> 0:13:26.240 EXPERIENCE i give them the exact same spiel THAT i 0:13:26.240 --> 0:13:29.600 would have given to the women on the. Show i'm 0:13:29.600 --> 0:13:33.280 so grateful that you all are here tonight's for this incredible. 0:13:33.280 --> 0:13:35.480 Moment what a journey we all have. 0:13:35.600 --> 0:13:39.320 Had as a lifelong fan of the. Franchise when he 0:13:39.400 --> 0:13:42.680 recreated This Rose ceremony, moment for, me it was Like 0:13:42.760 --> 0:13:44.080 clayton became The bachelor. 0:13:44.120 --> 0:13:47.760 AGAIN i had a videographer here to film all of, 0:13:47.800 --> 0:13:49.760 that AND i released it in THE abc hit me 0:13:49.800 --> 0:13:50.199 with The Seasoned. 0:13:50.200 --> 0:13:54.520 Assist The Season assist wouldn't be the last of his legal, 0:13:54.559 --> 0:13:59.199 troubles as you'll soon find. Out so how Did clayton 0:13:59.240 --> 0:14:02.079 even get here in the first? Place what was his 0:14:02.120 --> 0:14:05.280 path to becoming The? BACHELOR i wanted to start from the. 0:14:05.280 --> 0:14:09.160 Beginning clayton grew up In, missouri and spent twenty eight 0:14:09.240 --> 0:14:12.800 years of his life. There And clayton is your Normal midwest. 0:14:12.840 --> 0:14:17.559 GUY i grew up with my two younger brothers and 0:14:17.679 --> 0:14:21.000 we're just a household of, boys and we competed in 0:14:21.160 --> 0:14:25.360 every single, thing from sports to. Grades so a lot 0:14:25.400 --> 0:14:30.120 of WHO i am today stems from those early childhood. 0:14:30.480 --> 0:14:32.000 Challenges amongst me and my. 0:14:32.040 --> 0:14:36.000 Brothers clayton says his younger brother outshined. 0:14:36.080 --> 0:14:40.680 Him he had a lot of confidence growing up THAT 0:14:40.760 --> 0:14:45.120 i never, possessed and so he succeeded at a higher 0:14:45.240 --> 0:14:47.640 level than. ME a lot of the girls loved. Him 0:14:47.760 --> 0:14:50.520 he was smooth because he didn't overthink. Things, MEANWHILE i 0:14:50.560 --> 0:14:53.120 was getting friendzoned by all the girls in my. Grade 0:14:53.760 --> 0:14:55.880 even girls in my grade liked my brother more than 0:14:55.880 --> 0:14:56.280 they liked. 0:14:56.320 --> 0:15:00.000 Me When clayton got to high, school he was determined 0:15:00.080 --> 0:15:00.600 and to prove. 0:15:00.640 --> 0:15:04.280 Himself that's WHEN i, Decided, hey the way THAT i 0:15:04.480 --> 0:15:09.320 establish worth is by becoming the best on the football 0:15:09.360 --> 0:15:13.600 field and becoming like the most sought after man THAT 0:15:13.680 --> 0:15:14.000 i can. 0:15:14.040 --> 0:15:18.080 Be clayton had a good senior football, season not good 0:15:18.160 --> 0:15:20.520 enough to get a, scholarship but good enough to walk 0:15:20.560 --> 0:15:21.880 on the team at The university Of. 0:15:21.880 --> 0:15:24.760 Missouri everyone expected me not to make. It it's A 0:15:24.760 --> 0:15:26.920 DIVISION i, program top program in the, state. 0:15:30.040 --> 0:15:32.280 And he made. It he became a tight end on 0:15:32.320 --> 0:15:34.080 the team and even went on to play in THE. 0:15:34.200 --> 0:15:38.080 Nfl he was cut early, on but, hey he made. 0:15:38.080 --> 0:15:42.120 It that's what mattered to, him and this experience led 0:15:42.160 --> 0:15:45.120 him to the next chapter in his, career medical device. 0:15:45.160 --> 0:15:48.640 Sales they love their, athletes so they're, like, hey we 0:15:48.640 --> 0:15:50.280 don't care if you don't have any sales. Experience we love, 0:15:50.320 --> 0:15:52.840 athletes and so they bring me. On SO i get this, 0:15:52.960 --> 0:15:54.040 nice great job out of. 0:15:54.040 --> 0:15:58.360 College clayton paid his dues in the industry while living In, Columbia. 0:15:58.360 --> 0:16:01.920 Missouri he was big into fitness and posting his workout 0:16:01.960 --> 0:16:06.080 videos On, instagram but on his twenty eighth, birthday he 0:16:06.160 --> 0:16:08.520 had what he referred to as a quarter life. 0:16:08.600 --> 0:16:13.520 CRISIS i had this epiphany WHERE i REALIZED i had 0:16:13.600 --> 0:16:16.560 not grown as a person in five. Years that's HOW i. 0:16:16.600 --> 0:16:20.120 FELT i was doing the same job That i'd been 0:16:20.160 --> 0:16:23.840 doing for the last five. Years, ROMANTICALLY i was just dating. 0:16:23.920 --> 0:16:28.480 CASUALLY i hadn't grown in that regard, whatsoever AND i 0:16:28.960 --> 0:16:31.280 REALIZED i need to get out of this. Environment i'm. 0:16:31.320 --> 0:16:34.560 Stagnant that's when everything changed for. 0:16:34.640 --> 0:16:37.960 HIM i got A dm from a casting producer On. 0:16:38.000 --> 0:16:43.200 INSTAGRAM a producer From The bachelor was searching via fitness, 0:16:43.280 --> 0:16:46.000 hashtags WHICH i had put on one of my, pictures 0:16:46.040 --> 0:16:47.200 and that's how they found. 0:16:47.200 --> 0:16:50.800 Me it wasn't the first time he'd been. Scouted he'd 0:16:50.800 --> 0:16:53.320 been approached to be On Love island and AN Hbo 0:16:53.400 --> 0:16:56.520 christmas dating. Show he turned them both down and told 0:16:56.520 --> 0:17:00.280 his brother that the only show he would considers The. 0:17:00.280 --> 0:17:05.120 Bachelorette but then when the opportunity was actually presented. 0:17:04.680 --> 0:17:07.520 To, Him i'm, like there's no WAY i can do. 0:17:07.600 --> 0:17:10.920 This so my brother brings it up one day and he's, 0:17:11.000 --> 0:17:13.159 like you're you going to go on the? Show AND i, 0:17:13.200 --> 0:17:15.959 SAID i don't think. So he, goes, oh so you're 0:17:16.000 --> 0:17:17.800 not a man of your. WORD i, said what do you? 0:17:17.880 --> 0:17:20.520 Mean he, goes don't you remember that conversation we? Had he, 0:17:20.560 --> 0:17:22.199 said you said the one show you would go on 0:17:22.240 --> 0:17:24.320 as a. Bachelorette he, goes and so now you're not 0:17:24.320 --> 0:17:25.480 going to do, It so you're not a man of a, 0:17:25.560 --> 0:17:27.840 Word and that's ALL i. 0:17:27.880 --> 0:17:32.159 Needed he agreed to go On The. Bachelorette he barely 0:17:32.200 --> 0:17:34.880 watched the, show except when he was glancing over his mom's. 0:17:34.880 --> 0:17:38.800 Shoulder it was my mom's favorite show growing. Up it 0:17:38.880 --> 0:17:39.880 was always on in our. 0:17:39.880 --> 0:17:43.919 House clayton was cast On Michelle young's season Of The 0:17:43.960 --> 0:17:48.119 bachelorette in twenty twenty. One michelle's a natural beauty with 0:17:48.200 --> 0:17:52.600 wavy black. Hair she's a college basketball player turned elementary school. 0:17:52.600 --> 0:17:56.760 Teacher clayton thought she was dropped dead, gorgeous but when 0:17:56.760 --> 0:17:59.040 he got on set for the first, time he was 0:17:59.200 --> 0:18:00.840 overwhelmed by the production of it. 0:18:00.880 --> 0:18:05.040 ALL i will never forget my first night BEFORE i 0:18:05.080 --> 0:18:08.080 walked onto reality. Television he was. 0:18:08.119 --> 0:18:10.280 A nervous wreck when he got out of the limo 0:18:10.359 --> 0:18:10.640 to Meet. 0:18:10.640 --> 0:18:15.320 MICHELLE i step out the. Limo lights are blinding. Me they, 0:18:15.320 --> 0:18:17.040 said if you mess, up keep. Going there are no. 0:18:17.080 --> 0:18:19.439 Redos when the cameras were thrown on, me it was 0:18:19.480 --> 0:18:24.080 just a. SHOCK i was in that, moment wondering IF 0:18:24.080 --> 0:18:26.280 i was swaying my arms too much WHILE i was. 0:18:26.320 --> 0:18:29.480 Walking that's how hyper FIXATED i was on the minute, 0:18:29.480 --> 0:18:31.240 things because all of a, sudden in that, moment you're 0:18:31.280 --> 0:18:34.680 like nothing is, hidden everything is out, there. 0:18:35.680 --> 0:18:38.119 And things didn't get any better once he met the 0:18:38.160 --> 0:18:39.959 other guys. 0:18:39.760 --> 0:18:41.280 First GUY i see ends up being the guy that 0:18:41.320 --> 0:18:44.040 won the whole. Thing he's six foot, eight light, skin 0:18:44.240 --> 0:18:46.720 looks like a. Model i'm, like, Oh i'm. Done there's 0:18:46.760 --> 0:18:48.760 no Way i'm gonna make this last longer than one 0:18:48.840 --> 0:18:49.480 night if this is my. 0:18:49.560 --> 0:18:54.280 Competition clayton made it past night, one but he didn't 0:18:54.280 --> 0:18:55.040 get a lot of screen. 0:18:55.080 --> 0:18:58.879 Time it was hardly Any it was like eight minutes. Max. 0:18:58.960 --> 0:19:04.240 Maybe ultimately he was sent home before hometown. Dates michelle 0:19:04.240 --> 0:19:06.560 walked into the limo and he was driven off the, 0:19:06.600 --> 0:19:10.320 set but the next Morning clayton was called for one 0:19:10.400 --> 0:19:14.600 final exit. Scene michelle was an elementary school, teacher and 0:19:14.680 --> 0:19:17.760 earlier in the, Episode clayton met two of her. Students 0:19:18.080 --> 0:19:20.240 he was brought in to shoot a final scene where 0:19:20.280 --> 0:19:23.600 the two kids gave him handwritten goodbye. Letters we Watched 0:19:23.600 --> 0:19:25.840 clayton read each letter and well up with. 0:19:25.880 --> 0:19:31.320 Tears it was surprising because you are super genuine AND 0:19:31.400 --> 0:19:33.720 i liked you a, lot AND i know you'd be 0:19:33.760 --> 0:19:37.600 a really great husband for Miss. Young you will probably 0:19:37.640 --> 0:19:43.119 meet someone else and fall in love and have lots 0:19:43.160 --> 0:19:44.680 of kids and be a great. 0:19:44.760 --> 0:19:48.439 Dat clayton didn't realize it in the, moment but this 0:19:48.520 --> 0:19:52.159 scene was his screen test to be The. Bachelor this 0:19:52.200 --> 0:19:52.600 is one to. 0:19:52.600 --> 0:20:00.320 Find love so badly AND i have a, Family, Well 0:20:00.359 --> 0:20:01.679 i'll do whatever it takes in. 0:20:01.760 --> 0:20:09.080 Them he nailed, it and then his producer made the. 0:20:09.080 --> 0:20:13.240 Offer they wanted him to be the Next. Bachelor Even 0:20:13.320 --> 0:20:13.879 clayton was. 0:20:13.920 --> 0:20:18.199 SURPRISED i got sent home with seven guys ahead of, 0:20:18.200 --> 0:20:19.959 me SO i figured that wasn't even. Contention so when 0:20:20.000 --> 0:20:22.159 he said, THAT i was, like, Yeah i'll do. 0:20:22.240 --> 0:20:26.000 It clayton said something that stood out to. Me he 0:20:26.080 --> 0:20:28.720 was sent home earlier in the season than most future, 0:20:28.800 --> 0:20:32.200 leads so picking him was kind of a strange. CHOICE 0:20:33.400 --> 0:20:36.240 i wanted some insight on, this SO i turned To Reality. 0:20:36.280 --> 0:20:40.480 Steve he's a, podcaster, blogger and de facto authority on 0:20:40.520 --> 0:20:44.000 The bachelor. Franchise he knows how the show works behind the. 0:20:44.000 --> 0:20:47.840 Scenes here's why he thinks the show Casts clayton as the. 0:20:47.960 --> 0:20:52.240 Lead my guess was to control, him a guy that 0:20:52.800 --> 0:20:55.760 they could clearly, See, hey he's going to do what 0:20:55.800 --> 0:20:57.879 we tell him to do because he's so grateful for this. 0:20:57.960 --> 0:21:02.399 Opportunity the thing, Is clayton was grateful for the. 0:21:02.440 --> 0:21:08.240 Opportunity it was validation THAT i was, special which the 0:21:08.280 --> 0:21:12.360 people pleaser and me was always. Chasing so to have 0:21:12.560 --> 0:21:14.760 that moment come to a place where it was, like 0:21:15.040 --> 0:21:16.639 we want you to be the. GUY i was, Like 0:21:16.680 --> 0:21:19.720 i'm the, guy and you don't just become the guy 0:21:20.440 --> 0:21:22.439 without having a whole track record of. 0:21:22.480 --> 0:21:26.560 Success he finally found the validation he was looking, for 0:21:27.359 --> 0:21:29.600 but he didn't realize that once you invite the world, 0:21:29.640 --> 0:21:31.679 in you can't tell them when to. 0:21:31.760 --> 0:21:34.439 Leave i'll never forget. This producer looks at me and she, 0:21:34.520 --> 0:21:38.920 goes take this moment in because this is the last 0:21:38.960 --> 0:21:41.920 moment of silence that you'll likely have in your life 0:21:41.920 --> 0:21:45.800 for a long. Time if, ever that's the MOMENT i, 0:21:45.800 --> 0:21:48.879 remember because my life has never been the same since that. 0:21:48.960 --> 0:21:50.880 Point the noise has never. 0:21:50.920 --> 0:21:55.240 Stopped clayton began filming his season of The bachelor in 0:21:55.320 --> 0:21:58.480 Late september of twenty twenty, one and he was ready 0:21:58.480 --> 0:21:58.800 to find. 0:21:58.840 --> 0:22:04.720 Love POINT i was so overcome with just. Excitement what 0:22:04.920 --> 0:22:07.600 is my? Life this isn't even. Real pinch, me but 0:22:07.640 --> 0:22:09.480 don't actually pinch, me because if this is a, DREAM 0:22:09.480 --> 0:22:12.160 i don't want to wake up from. It that's how 0:22:12.480 --> 0:22:15.800