Fresh off of the explosive “Love Is Blind” season six reunion, cast member Clay Gravesande appeared on the Thursday, March 14 edition of“Tamron Hall” for a daytime exclusive interview. Clay opened up his relationship with Amber Desiree “AD” Smith and his decision to say “I don’t” at the altar, rocking the fierce “Love Is Blind” fanbase. Joined by his mom, fan favorite Margarita Gravesande, the mother-son duo also reflected on Clay’s hesitations about marriage and commitment, stemming from his parents’ complicated marriage. More inside…
Clay Gravesande on “AD” being the love of his life:
“You know, going through this process I faced a lot of traumas just with, you know, my parents’ relationship. I was carrying a lot of baggage and ‘AD’ did offer a soft space for me to actually – a safe space in a sense – for me to express myself and for me to actually unpack things that I was struggling with. So when I say she’s the love of my life, she really kind of changed and turned my life upside down where now I can look at myself as a husband and not this playboy who I was before I got on the show.”
Clay on why he ultimately decided to say “I don’t” at the altar:
“We had a really good last two weeks of our relationship. You know, we had a lot of ups and downs but the last two weeks [were] really good. We really got to a point where we could see ourselves as being a married couple. I think for me, Tamron, it was just watching her walk across the aisle, it really sat with me like this is really real. And I just think that I just got pessimistic – I didn’t trust the process. I didn’t trust myself and ultimately I made the decision. I said, I don’t think I am a husband and I didn’t want to put her through anything..”
Clay on what was going through his mind on his wedding day:
“You know, it’s funny you say it’s a short walk [down the aisle], I honestly felt like it was an eternity. I felt like every step she took, I’m just battling with myself. So honestly, it just kind of dragged out and you’re having these thoughts in your head – you know how things could be internally when you’re just battling with your inner demons.” Clay on what he was telling himself as “AD” was walking toward him at the altar: “Essentially Clay, you know, you’re not that guy. You know you’re not, you know, a husband. It was a tough realization to have because you want to show up and at the end of the day, I put on a tuxedo, I was ready to be a husband that day.”
Clay on the status of his relationship with his father:
“I do want to say me and my dad have had conversations, we are on a path of healing. We had a family brunch, and I think it’s an amazing thing – although my dad had [made] mistakes in the past, you know what we’ve done as a family to get together and actually have my dad apologize to each and every one of us and acknowledge it. I felt it. it was real. And I do think we’re on a path of healing.”
Margarita Gravesande on Clay’s anxiety tied to marriage and commitment:
“Well, you have to understand as a mom, when I looked at him, my heart was just broken. And I knew exactly in that moment what was occurring, because I saw it on his face. He wanted to be in a relationship, he wanted to be married, but I also felt like he was just dealing with a lot of emotions that really [weren’t] his to deal with. And unfortunately, I didn’t know what I didn’t know until in the end, and I never said anything to my ex-husband that I knew because that was his story to tell him.”
Margarita on why she wanted Clay to go on “Love Is Blind”:
“I wanted him to find someone who would be able to take care of him and to also to just see him as I see him because I knew that he was a great provider. And he has a great heart and I wanted someone just to be able to mesh with that. And I thought if he can get someone that was spiritual, as well as someone who just kind of [had] the chemistry with him, it would be a great story.”
Clay on his current relationship with “AD”:
“You know me she’s always gonna have a special place in my heart. The fact of how she was just being so open with me and provided a safe space for me, it’s like something I’m never gonna forget. However, we’re at different places in terms of our healing journey. ‘AD’ right now wants to be a wife at this moment, where I’m still putting in the work. I’m going to therapy and I’ve switched [to a] different therapist – I have a new one now that’s been working really well. So the best thing I could do is support ‘AD’ and support all the decisions that she makes and I think we are good friends.”
