The whirlwind romance of Clare Crawley and Dale Moss from the early episodes of The Bachelorette Season 16 has come to an end after just five months of engagement, as announced by Moss himself via social media. Speaking in terms of "we" and "us," Moss said that they hope for the best for each other and decided to go their separate ways. Now, just days after Moss shared his side of the story, the plot has thickened. Was he cheating on Crawley during their entire engagement?
As it turns out, there are several sides to this story, with Clare Crawley herself pitching in with her own perspective on the breakup as well. According to E! News, multiple sources familiar with Crawley and Dale Moss' breakup believe that he had been cheating on the former Bachelorette all along. A source claims that Moss was reportedly close with a woman in what Moss told Crawley was a business relationship since 2019, but Crawley had suspicions that were ultimately confirmed when she saw proof that Moss was with this other woman every time he made a solo trip to New York.
Sources state that Dale Moss can join the list of Bachelor Nation alums who were there "for the wrong reasons," looking for fame in the form of podcast hosting (which has worked for others out of Bachelor Nation) and modeling. Another reported insider says that Clare Crawley was "completely blindsided" by Moss' post that they had broken up, when she believed despite evidence to the contrary that they were working on their relationship. Signs from these sources indicate that Moss was cheating and then shocked Clare by going public with a breakup, but those aren't the only rumors floating around.
A source close to Dale Moss told ET that reports of him cheating on Clare Crawley "are not true," and the woman he is accused of cheating with is said to have been helping him to find an apartment for both him and Crawley in New York City. The source claims that Moss was faithful "the entire time he was dating Clare." At this point, it's anonymous source vs. anonymous source, so let's turn to what Crawley herself has to say. The brief Bachelorette leading lady took to Instagram to break her silence:
I was made aware of a 'mutual' statement at the same time you all were, so I've needed some time to really digest this. Speaking for myself, my intentions with this relationship have always been very clear, so the truth is I am crushed. This was not what I expected or hoped for and am still trying to process this. 2020 was one hell of a year, with covid, battling severe anxiety post-show, balancing a public new relationship, all while slowly losing my mother. It hasn't been ideal circumstances, but that is life right. I have been looking forward to the light at the end of the tunnel. Our relationship was not perfect, but I can say that I was genuinely invested with all of my heart. I may not have all the answers, but I do know this- I will continue to show up, stand by my word, and be committed to love.
Whether or not the cheating allegations are true remains to be seen, and Clare Crawley didn't address them in her statement on the breakup. That said, it seems clear that she has taken the breakup very hard, especially without getting advance notice of what Dale Moss was going to post. As for her declaration that she'll continue to "be committed to love," that's a brave statement considering her heartache stemming from the infamous breakup with Juan Pablo Galavis on The Bachelor, the broken engagement from Bachelor Winter Games, and now the post-Bachelorette breakup with Moss.
All things considered, the breakup might not come as the biggest surprise to viewers who watched the romance unfold on The Bachelorette. Dale Moss seemed surprised to be somewhat put on the spot with the news that Clare Crawley was ready for a proposal, but went ahead and popped the question anyway. Some Bachelor Nation romances work out despite unlikely circumstances; Moss and Crawley will join the ranks of those that didn't. Maybe Matt James will have better luck with his current run on The Bachelor, on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC!
