One of the great Hall of Fame moments for The Bachelor franchise was when Clare Crawley seemingly confided in a raccoon. Until she was reportedly chosen to be the Bachelorette, six years after entering the franchise on Juan Pablo Galavis' season, it may have been what she was best known for. In the now-viral moment, Crawley sobs to a producer—yes, a producer!—during her first season of Bachelor In Paradise; the moment was edited to make it look like she was opening up to a nearby raccoon. Crawley was a good sport about the admittedly funny video, even pretending to talk to other animals on her next season of Bachelor In Paradise.
Crawley was upset with contestant AshLee Frazier.
So, a little background: On Bachelor In Paradise, Frazier had been talking to another contestant about Crawley's infamous rendezvous with then-Bachelor Galavis (ugh, Galavis), and called Crawley "cuckoo," as well as mocking her for getting intimate in the sea with Galavis (a whole thing). The episode saw Frazier call Crawley a "bitch," though Frazier later denied it:
For example, when I was on Bachelor in Paradise they had me walking away calling Clare a bitch. Never said that. It’s not even my voice. Why do that? I could have come up with something a little sassier or more like me to say something like, “Not really feeling that girl.” I would have owned it. Now you have America mad at me because I called her a bitch. I didn’t say that.
The whole thing was kind of boring, but it did give us the viral raccoon moment, for which I will be forever thankful.
Crawley stormed off and began talking to the "raccoon."
Again: Crawley was obviously talking to a producer, but a raccoon was edited in in the producers' place. Crawley can be heard ranting: "I don't want drama! This is f*cked up, to put me in this situation. This is something that I dreamt about...I don't want to have upset somebody...That creates drama. I don't f*cking drama. Take the date card! It's not worth it to me. This is f*cking drama! This whole sh*t is drama! I don't want this. And then I got bit by fire ants and it, like, it just sucks! I'm so eaten up. I look like I have chicken pox. Look at this!"
The moment was so iconic, it was later reenacted by Tayshia Adams.
People still talk about it.
The moment ranked #3 in ABC's 2016 round-up of the greatest Bachelor moments of all time. When rumors began circulating about Crawley's Bachelorette star turn, fans began wondering if there'd be a throwback to her raccoon days.
Like I said! Iconic!
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
