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“Let’s go baby!”
“The Bachelor” alum Clayton Echard is breathing a sigh of relief after landing in hot water over a paternity test lawsuit. In a scene ripped out of almost every episode of “Maury Povich,” the reality tv star declared that he is not the father.
Echard, 30, was a contestant on season 18 of “The Bachelorette,” and the star of season 26 of “The Bachelor.” The real estate agent and former college football star was involved in a paternity lawsuit in August, when an expectant mother who believes that Echard is the father of her unborn babies demanded that he take a paternity test.
The 33-year-old podcast host from Scottsdale, Arizona — who wishes to remain anonymous — claimed in the lawsuit, which was first obtained by the US Sun, that she “engaged in sexual activity” with the reality TV star on May 20 in a one-night stand.
She claimed that she’s due to give birth to twins in February and recently filed a motion to seal the case, which has yet to be granted by the court.
She also alleged that Echard was being uncooperative.
The unnamed woman claimed the reality TV star did not believe she was pregnant and began sending her “erratic, illogical and threatening messages.” She filed screenshots of the alleged messages in court. “I don’t believe you for a second,” read one of the alleged messages from Echard.
“I legitimately hate you right now,” read another. “You have lost your mind and I hope YOU think about how terrible this is that you would subject me to this” and “My personal hell would be having to have you be a part of my life,” read other alleged messages.
Now, Echard is speaking out, and claiming that “the truth will set [him] free.”
The former “Bachelor” posted a screenshot of a receipt to his Instagram story on Thursday, showing he allegedly made a $725 payment on Sept. 21 for a paternity test.
He also shared an e-mail, reading, “Thanks for the call. My confusion has been cleared up. I will take my portion of the test on the 27th of September.”
“[Redacted] will take her portion on the 2nd of October,” he wrote. “Results will then take about a week to get back. I believe we’re all on the same page now.”
Echard’s time on “The Bachelor” was controversial. He ultimately chose Susie Evans, but before that, he sent her home and was intimate with other women.
In the dramatic finale, Echard decided not to give the final rose to either of the remaining two women – Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia – and pursued Evans.
Echard and Evans announced their breakup in September 2022.
In another slide on his Instagram Story on Thursday, Echard claimed, “I’ve been notified (and have confirmed) that there are other individuals out there with nearly identical accusations being made against them by the exact same person. Some of the court cases are still publicly accessible and active.”
The unnamed woman and Echard are both due in court for an early resolution conference on Sept. 28.
On Oct. 6, Echard announced that he is in the clear. “Listen, it’s Friday and you know what we need on a Friday? We need some good news and who has got the good news today? I got the good news today,” Echard, 30, said via an Instagram video on Friday, October 6. “The test results came back early and they said little to no fetal DNA present. Let’s go baby! I knew that was going to happen and thankfully five months of torture can finally be put to rest.”
He continued: “Two false accusations in two years — I really don’t want to look ahead to next year to see what will happen. I think two false accusations in a lifetime is enough. Thank you all for the support and love. This has been a trying time but I learned so much about myself and now back to the regularly scheduled program.”
In addition to the paternity mess, Echard is referring to rumors that he in 2022 he cheated on then-girlfriend Susie Evans in 2022.
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