The Golden Bachelorette star Joan Vassos has defended Clayton Echard and slammed Gabby Windey after Clayton accused Gabby of "bullying" and "attacking" him on social media.

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Gabby appeared on the "Las Culturistas" podcast last week and said of Clayton, "Have you seen his dancing videos? Oh my god. They will make you run. I'm going to send you one and you'll wish you didn't have eyes."

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Gabby also compared Clayton's looks to a "toe" and said she can't believe she had fallen in love with him on The Bachelor's 26th season.

Clayton fired back at Gabby, who had finished in the Top 3 on his The Bachelor season, in a lengthy Instagram video and captioned it, "Bullying people for their physical looks and their passions is completely unnecessary and behavior like this needs to be called out, so that hopefully it isn't continued."

"You have a massive platform and influence, Gabby," he added. "So, I hope you can reflect upon this moment and be better going forward."

Joan, who starred on Season 1 of The Golden Bachelorette and is now a beloved member of Bachelor Nation, supported Clayton in the comments and commended him for sharing his truth.

"It's shocking that anyone feels it's ok to bully but especially adults who know better," Joan wrote.

"I'm sure Gabby thought she was being entertaining and funny but it's not when it's at the expense of someone else's feelings."

Joan agreed with Clayton by saying, "What kind of example are we showing the youth of today when someone they look up to and admire because they had the privilege to be on tv acts like this."

"They are learning from us and we need to be better," Joan concluded. "Thank you Clayton for speaking out and keep on dancing my friend!"

Clayton also received praise from The Bachelor alum Kelley Flanagan and The Bachelorette alum Dotun Olubeko.

Kelley wrote, "Keep doing you Clayton."

And Dotun gushed, "Now that's how you handle it my guy [clapping-hands emoji] -- mad respect. Keep doing you Clayton."

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Clayton began his Instagram video by pointing out how this is the second time Gabby has taken jabs at him recently online.

Clayton explained how his dance videos on social media promote "self-love and self-confidence." He said learning hip-hop moves challenge him and serve as a form of therapy -- a way to release his "anger and frustrations" -- in his post-reality TV life.

"I'm not the greatest at it and I'm aware of that. I'm not delusional... but I have to stand up for myself," Clayton noted.

Clayton went on to address Gabby directly, saying, "Gabby, what you're doing is bullying. There's no other way around it."

Clayton sternly voiced the following: "You're attacking me for my physical appearance. You're attacking me for a passion that I love that's changed my life. It's unnecessary, and it's not funny."

Clayton told Gabby that she has "such a large platform" and she "is setting a really bad example." He said he finds it "disheartening" and upsetting that this is how she is choosing to use her big platform.

Clayton continued, "So I am standing up for myself because I just think it's the right thing to do. I don't want people to be scared to try something new because bullying online, like what you're doing, impacts then in a way that it stops them."

Clayton flat out told Gabby to "do better."

"This isn't lighthearted. I don't want to hear this whole, 'Oh, just relax. It was a joke.' It's not a joke. I haven't talked to you in three years and you continue to take shots at me, and it's just unnecessary," Clayton snapped.

"So I hope you do better, and I hope I don't have to make videos like this. But I do believe accountability should be had."

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On The Bachelor's 2022 season, Clayton dumped Gabby and Rachel Recchia in favor of Susie Evans, who didn't seem interested in dating Clayton until The Bachelor began airing on ABC.

Gabby and Rachel then starred on The Bachelorette's nineteenth season. Gabby got engaged to Erich Schwer but the pair ultimately split.

Clayton and Susie also broke up in September 2022, and Clayton went on to pursue a career in real estate and solar sales.

Gabby, for her part, recently won Dancing with the Stars as well as Season 3 of The Traitors, and she just married her partner Robby Hoffman earlier this year.

Joan is also in a happy relationship with her The Golden Bachelorette winner Chock Chapple. The couple's engagement aired on the show's finale in November 2024.

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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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