Clayton Echard Admits He Was 'Accidentally Chaotic' on The Bachelor but He Had the 'Best Intentions' (Exclusive)

Clayton Echard is revealing his toxic trait.

During an exclusive interview with PEOPLE at Netflix Summer Break at the Santa Monica Pier on July 17, The Bachelor alum, 32, teases, “If I have a toxic trait, it's being accidentally chaotic.” 

“So I feel like I go on reality television with good intentions,” he says of season 18 of The Bachelorette before becoming the season 26 lead of The Bachelor. “I mean well, [but] the outcome just doesn't end up working in the way I want it to work. But I have the best intentions."

As fans may recall, Echard declared he was in love with three women — Susie Evans, Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey — during his time on The Bachelor. 

After sending Evans home, the former football player realized he ultimately wanted to pursue a relationship with her — and broke up with Recchia and Windey.

Evans initially refused to get back together with him, but the pair later revealed they were in a relationship on the After the Final Rose special. They announced their split in a joint Instagram statement in September 2022.

The reality star — who is set to appear on Perfect Match season 3 alongside Recchia — tells PEOPLE, “I can only receive the love that I was able to give, and so I think I had a lack of emotional maturity when I was on The Bachelor.” 

“I've since developed a greater sense which now allows me to attract that energy, so I think I'm closer to being able to attract what I really desire,” he adds.

As for what he hopes to find in a partner, Echard explains, “I'm looking for somebody that I can grow with, that they can support my dreams and I can support theirs equally.” 

“For me, it's important that I have someone with a growth mindset.” he continues. “I don't want to be normal. I want to be abnormal in the best possible way, and I'm looking for someone that matches that energy that I can wake up next to every day.” 

“They look at me and they're like, Let's make s--- happen today. That's the kind of mentality I want," he adds.

In addition to exes Echard and Recchia, Carrington Rodriguez, Justine Joy, Amber "AD" Smith, Jalen Brown, Alex Zamora, Scott van-der-Sluis, Cody Wright, J.R. Warren, Sandy Gallagher, Olivia Rae, Louis Russell, Hannah Burns, Juliette Porter, Ollie Sutherland, Ray Gantt, Daniel Perfetto, Madison Errichiello, Lucy Syed, and Freddie Powell are also set to appear on the upcoming season of Perfect Match.

Fans will find out if Echard gets a second chance with Recchia and if he ultimately finds his perfect match when season 3 premieres in August.

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Perfect Match season 3 premieres with the first six episodes on Aug. 1, and episodes will drop weekly through the finale on Aug. 15.