Clare Crawley made headlines for her decision as the Bachelorette even before the show started airing. The 39-year-old hair dresser reportedly quit the show two weeks into filming after falling for 31-year-old former NFL player Dale Moss. With plenty of rumors circulating about what happened on set, Bachelor Nation alum Nick Viall shared his own theories.
“There’s definitely a scenario that we haven’t really discussed where maybe they just found out she was texting with this guy. And maybe they just found out that, like, she was way too in with this guy,” Viall told Us Weekly. The 39-year-old Bachelor Nation star also shared his belief that the show's producers may have realized it wouldn't come across as “believable” to have Crawley continue her journey with the other suitors when she was already in love with Moss.
“[As the lead], you have to do things that you don’t necessarily want to do, and you have to be easy to work with," Viall continued. "And you got to make a show. And if she was unwilling to make a show, in whatever way, [or] she was only willing to make the show that she wanted, then they might have been like, you know what, we’re done. We’ll let you date this guy, and we’ll tell your story, but we’re going to bring in someone who wants to find love and make a TV show. That’s entirely possible too.”
Though ABC has yet to confirm any of the rumors, multiple outlets confirmed Tayshia Adams was called in to replace Crawley just two weeks into production. Viall told Us that the producers “are always very good at adapting” when behind-the-scenes plot twists take place.
While Viall had nothing but praise for the show's producers, he had some criticism for Crawley. “In terms of as far as, you know, for all the people who want to be like, ‘Good for Clare. This is about finding love!’ Can we stop pretending it’s not a TV show?" Viall said. "Can’t it be both? Can’t people be both sincere and willing to be participants in making a TV show so people can be entertained? It’s not mutually exclusive, you know?”
Despite not agreeing with Crawley's decision to step down, like any Bachelorette fan, Viall says this season "sounds like it is going to be fun to watch.” The Bachelorette returns on October 13, at 8 p.m. ET..
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