Clare Crawley was never looking to give Matt James her final rose.
The reality star, 43, reflected on how the athlete, 33, almost appeared on her season of “The Bachelorette.”
“Catching up on socal news and smh at some of this stuff,” Crawley wrote on her Instagram Stories Wednesday, referring to his split from Rachael Kirkconnell. “Remember that one time I specifically asked producers to please not allow one specific guy on my season because I knew for a fact he was NOT looking for a serious relationship whatsoever.”
She added, “I didn’t want him to waste anyone’s time. So, instead, they made him the next Bachelor.”
Viewers first met Crawley on Juan Pablo Galavis’ season of “The Bachelor” in 2014 before she appeared on “Bachelor in Paradise” and “Bachelor Winter Games.”
In 2020, Crawley became the franchise lead – but her journey was initially delayed amid the coronavirus pandemic. James was originally slated to appear as one of her suitors, however, when production started up, he was no longer a cast member.
The businessman went on to become the first Black Bachelor after being known as Tyler Cameron’s roommate and college friend.
Crawley’s season ended within 12 days when she got engaged to Dale Moss. After their split, she eventually tied the knot with now-husband Ryan Dawkins. The two welcomed a baby girl last January via surrogate.
Crawley’s commentary comes on the heels of James allegedly blindsiding finalist Kirkconnell, 28, with a breakup after the two dated on and off for four years.
“He said that, at the end of the day, there were just qualities about me that he worries about having in a wife,” Kirkconnell claimed on Tuesday’s “Call Her Daddy” podcast episode. “At the end of the day, there are things that we aren’t compatible with and the whole accountability and saying sorry and all that was really the main thing.”
She continued, “It was just one of those things where he, I think, just had this realization that ‘I should want to propose to you by this time. Like, at this point in our relationship, I should be wanting those things and I should be ready for that. But I’m not still, I still don’t feel like we’re ready or I don’t feel like I’m ready. I don’t know if I ever see myself proposing to you. I can’t actually see myself married to you.’”
And during his season, James did not propose to Kirkconnell but instead opted to date her. They briefly broke up after past racially insensitive photos of the influencer resurfaced online.
“He felt so much pressure to just make the right decision and to stand by what was right for him at the time,” Kirkconnell recalled on the podcast. “And, you know, strangers and people that were really close to him in his life were saying, like, ‘I don’t think you should be with her.’ And so I think at the time, he thought that was the right decision, just to take a step back and not be together.”
According to the graphic designer, she was “definitely shocked” when James broke it off the first time.
“We were very happy together, even with all of the chaos around us when it was just me and him behind closed doors, it was amazing,” she said. “It was so much fun. We were so happy when we decided to not let the outside noise get to us.”
James has yet to publicly address any of Kirkconnell or Crawley’s claims since his initial breakup post.
“Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts,” he wrote via Instagram at the time.
“Give us a peace [sic] about this decision to end our relationship that transcends worldly understanding. Shower our friends and family with kindness and love to comfort us. And remind us that our Joy comes from you, Lord.”
