In a refreshingly candid conversation, former Bachelor Clayton Echard opened up about the emotional toll of constant comparison within Bachelor Nation — especially when it comes to current fan-favorite Joey Graziadei.
During an episode of iHeartRadio’s Bachelor Happy Hour podcast on April 7, Echard, 31, admitted that being stacked up against other Bachelors, especially Graziadei, triggered feelings of jealousy and self-doubt. “It’s hard because you try to avoid it, but I get compared to every Bachelor,” he shared with hosts Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt. “Every season it’s like, ‘This guy’s better than him.’ My sense of self for a while kept getting rocked, especially Joey.”
Joey Graziadei, 29, who led The Bachelor Season 28 and is now happily engaged to Kelsey Anderson, has been widely celebrated by fans for his emotional intelligence, vulnerability, and charm. And while most of Bachelor Nation seems to be cheering Joey on, Clayton confessed it hasn’t always been easy for him to watch from the sidelines.
“I see online, ‘We love Joey. He’s so much better than Clayton,’ and I started to even find myself being envious of him,” Echard admitted. “I had to basically check myself and say it’s not his fault that he’s in the position that he’s in.”
Echard, who headlined Season 26 of The Bachelor in 2022 and ended the season with Susie Evans (the pair split just months later), said it took time and self-reflection to shift his mindset. “It’s tough,” he explained. “You want to be yourself and not focus on anything else, but once you’re in it, you’re never really let go from it.”
Despite the jealousy, Clayton clarified that he holds no ill will toward Graziadei personally. “I’ve briefly interacted with him and he seems like a nice guy,” he said.
The former football player also reflected on his relationship with the production team behind the franchise. After initially feeling frustrated by how he was portrayed on the show, he’s since come to a more balanced understanding. “I don’t hate this show. I hated the producers at one point for sure, but then I realized they’re not monsters. They have to create an entertaining TV show,” he said. “Also, you didn’t have a body double. You were in there doing all those things.”
Now, with some distance and perspective, Echard is choosing to take ownership of both the good and bad parts of his journey. “There’s a lot of people who want to take credit for the good but blame producers for the bad,” he said. “But the producers maybe also influenced you to do those good things too.”
While he’s still navigating the ups and downs of public life — including a recent feud with ex Gabby Windey — Clayton seems to be settling into a more self-aware chapter. And though he may still feel the sting of comparison, it’s clear he’s working on letting go of the pressure to measure up.
“I’m learning,” he said simply. “And that’s what matters most.”
