Clayton Echard is feeling all the feels right about now.
And also raising all sorts of questions.
The Bachelor was placed squarely on the scalding hot seat during Monday’s Women Tell All special, but not before uploading a mysterious photo on Instagram the day before, including with it a caption that read:
Looking back at my past and future.
As you can see, Echard is standing in front of a pool and wearing a grey long sleeve shirt and blue pants, while looking over his shoulder… directly into the camera.
According to various social media users, this is a clear sign that — BACHELOR SPOILERS ALERT! — Clayton did not find true love on Season 26.
“This is a single things to post!! No lady would let him post this!!” one fan wrote, for example.
That seems to be a bit of wild speculation, but there has been a great deal of recent chatter over the way The Bachelor is about to end.
“I don’t think anyone expected my journey to end the way that it did, including myself, nor did I want it to be that way,” Echard said on the Women Tell All episode this week, teasing whatever is about to transpire as follows:
“Everyone will be kind of surprised.
“I wish it could have went any other direction, but it went the direction that it did.”
Cue the creepy music!
Speaking to Us Weekly after this special wrapped up, Echard was clearly shaken up.
“I do wear my emotions on my sleeve, especially with facial expressions,” the 28-year-old told this tabloid backstage at the taping, adding of how he felt while his suitors sort of went off on him:
“A few of the women come up afterward and [to] tell me, ‘Hey, smile.’
“I think it’s pretty apparent that I was a little rattled by this. It really hurts me.”
Clayton emphasized that he’s “always been a people pleaser,” which made it challenging to take on the role of The Bachelor.
“I’ve always tried to keep as many people happy as I interact with.
“And tonight showed me that I really frustrated a lot of these women, and I hope that they can forgive me, ultimately,” he continued.
“But I could only say what I felt was needed to be said. I hope they understand that I’m human. And I tried my best.”
The most prominent voice on the special belonged to Season 26 villain Shanae Ankney.
“I don’t like to hold onto anything. I am willing to forgive everyone for their actions. I was shocked by Shanae,” Clayton confessed to Us about watching the show.
“I think she showed me one thing and did another on camera, but you know what?
“I think everybody deserves some grace and I certainly hope that if she feels apologetic for what she did, then I can forgive her.”
In general, the former football player said he wishes he could have some do-overs.
“I should have asked more questions. I don’t necessarily know what in particular I could have done specifically,” he said.
“I mean, our days, we were running around doing a million things. It’s not like we had downtime, but I could have in those moments just asked another question or two.
“And that may have uncovered what I needed to uncover.”