Former Bachelor Juan Pablo Galavis believes upcoming Bachelorette Clare Crawley is about to get a serious wake-up call. “Roles are reversed now and she will understand how hard it is to decide between the last three,” the season 18 star, 38, exclusively tells Life & Style. “Who knows? She might see things from my perspective for once.”

Clare, 38, famously told off Juan Pablo after he chose Nikki Ferrell during his final rose ceremony in 2008. “I thought I knew what kind of man you are,” she said at the time, adding that she “lost respect” for him. 

Despite the pair’s falling out, Juan Pablo insists he’s “happy” that Clare will be the new Bachelorette on season 16 of the hit dating series. “She has been looking for love for some time and she totally deserves it,” says the retired professional soccer player.

Juan Pablo Reflects on How Hard It Was to Say Goodbye to Clare Crawley
ABC

Juan Pablo is certainly right about that! Clare appeared on seasons 1 and 2 of Bachelor in Paradise, as well as Bachelor Winter Games in 2018. “She has been a part of the franchise shows for years, and now, she has the chance to pick who can potentially be the love of her life,” adds Juan Pablo. “Not an easy task, but a great opportunity for her.”

The Venezuelan heartthrob has no doubt that things will work out for Clare this time around. However, he does have some sage advice. “It’s worked in the past with many success stories of the show,” says Juan Pablo. “She just has to follow her heart, do what she believes is best for her future, be real and not let the show pressure her into making the wrong decision.”

Clare Crawley and Tayshia Adams Bachelorette Contestants
 Clare Crawley’s 'Bachelorette' Contestants Are a Whole Lot of Handsome

As for where Juan Pablo and Clare stand today? “I never had any bad blood with her,” he assures. “I did what I had to do, which was pick who I felt was The One. The experience taught me a lot, even after, to be honest, but my intention was never to hurt Clare or any other contestant. The show puts you in tough spots, so I can ultimately understand how she must have felt.”

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The new season of The Bachelorette has halted production amid the coronavirus pandemic. It was originally set to premiere in May, but will likely be pushed back. Be sure to check in for more updates!

Reporting by Diana Cooper

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