

Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to Marie Claire. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Even before we got the delightful news that Matt James is the new Bachelor and first Black lead in show history, we knew who he was: He's Bachelorette alum Tyler Cameron's BFF and he was scheduled to be a contestant on Clare Crawley's Bachelorette season later this year. Not only that, but Crawley and James may have indirectly had some early, pre-show beef—it's not confirmed, but there are some tweets and posts that seem to link the two to a disagreement over social media activity. (Will it make Bachelor networking events awkward, do you think??) Here's what we know about it so far, and we'll keep the post updated if things change.
Who was Clare tweeting about?
So, this all started when Crawley, who's been vocal on social media about what she needs and wants in her season, subtweeted someone on her season. For context, Cameo is a video messaging platform where celebs can send messages to fans.
If you are doing interviews and creating Cameo accounts before you are even on my season... you are in it for the wrong reasons... #dontwasteyourtimeApril 25, 2020
Respect the opportunity you’ve been given. Respect the rules. Respect me. @BacheloretteABC ❤️April 25, 2020
Fans were quick to point out that James was on Cameo—but that his work there was to raise money for those impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. James has done a ton of charitable work, especially through his ABC Food Tours community organization.
What did Clare and Matt say?
On his Instagram Stories (now expired), James said in a message, "Now, for those of you who may have missed the messaging earlier this week, myself and Alex Bachman...pledged all of our Cameo earnings to the Robin Hood Foundation to fight this fight," according to E! News. "We're just coming up with creative ways to raise money for these kids that are the future and I hope y'all can help." He did not appear to reference anything (or anyone) in particular, but the timing seemed more than a coincidence.
In response to a fan reply insinuating that her tweet was unfair against James, Crawley clarified that her comment was actually about multiple people:
You weren’t supposed to deduce babe, it was about MULTIPLE men and a general thought I was having while we sit here in a real life crisis where someone’s (everyone’s) time + sincerity hold so much weight and value. 🤷🏼♀️🥰April 26, 2020
And then Chris Harrison weighed in, telling Entertainment Tonight:
"First of all, everyone relax about the whole charity thing. Clare's not against charity, she's not against Matt doing charity. That's fantastic and Matt, good on you for doing something during this quarantine that's positive. But with that said, she's not specifically talking about Matt, she's just saying she's living under a certain set of guidelines and rules because she's the Bachelorette. She's kind of already in our family, and she's been respecting that. These guys aren't living under those guidelines, because they're not really part of our thing yet. And so they're out living their life, and they're kind of using having been picked to be on The Bachelorette as a bit of a bouncing point... so I think she's just like, 'Look, I wish everybody would respect the rules. We all play by the same rules, so when you come in, there is a sense of innocence and naivety and we can actually got through this.'..She's not mad at Matt, and it's all good. And she's not mad at anybody doing things for charity first of all, don't get mad at Clare."
And then Tyler Cameron himself weighed in, saying: "She came at my boy a little bit, you know, that tweet...and the funny thing is Matt had a Cameo, but the guy she picked too had a Cameo. So, you know, it’s interesting.” (Hmm.)
But James has been publicly supportive of Crawley's season, writing on Instagram: "I'm tuned in! She is gonna be great.”
Did Clare know about James' season?
Another interesting twist: Crawley didn't comment about James' season when the announcement was made, which felt...fishy. Us Weekly reported that Crawley "wasn’t given any heads up" and found out that James was becoming the Bachelor the way that everybody else did: Twitter.
However! ABC denies these claims. Its head of alternative programming, Rob Mills, said: “Somebody said something to Us Weekly that she did not know—that she found out on GMA. Of course we would never do that to Clare. She found out the day before."
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

Katherine’s a Boston-based contributor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle—from “Clueless” to Everlane to news about Lizzo. She’s been a freelancer for 11 years and has had roles with Cosmopolitan and Bustle, with bylines in Parents, Seventeen, and elsewhere. It’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.
-
The Chicest Makeup Bag Is Coming Your Way
It’s vegan, too.
By Sophia Rivka Vilensky
-
Finally, Vanna White Will Be Paid (at Least Closer to) What She Deserves
The ‘Wheel of Fortune’ cohost finalized a deal to remain on the show until 2026, after not getting a raise in 18 years and being paid five times less than Pat Sajak.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
When They First Began Dating, David and Victoria Beckham Met Up in Parking Lots to Keep Their Budding Romance a Secret
“That’s not as seedy as it sounds,” she said.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
The Best Bollywood Movies of 2023 (So Far)
Including one that just might fill the Riverdale-shaped hole in your heart.
By Andrea Park
-
‘Bachelor in Paradise’ 2023: Everything We Know
Cue up Mike Reno and Ann Wilson’s “Almost Paradise."
By Andrea Park
-
Who Is Gerry Turner, the ‘Golden Bachelor’?
The Indiana native is the first senior citizen to join Bachelor Nation.
By Andrea Park
-
‘Virgin River’ Season 6: Everything We Know
We've got good and bad news.
By Andrea Park
-
Kim Cattrall Didn't See or Speak to Her Costars When Filming 'And Just Like That' Cameo
That's some type of commitment.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
The 50 Best K-Dramas You'll Be Completely Hooked On
Wait, how is it already 2 a.m.?
By Quinci LeGardye
-
Selena Gomez Revealed Meryl Streep Is Joining 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 3
Fans are losing it.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
The 56 Best Musical Movies of All Time: Iconic Movie Musicals
All the dance numbers! All the show tunes!
By Amanda Mitchell