The Bachelor alum Clayton Echard has addressed speculation he may be going on Bachelor in Paradise this summer.

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Bachelor in Paradise's ninth season will film this summer in Mexico and air on Tuesday nights at 9PM ET/PT this fall.

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)

The official cast and premiere date for Bachelor in Paradise have yet to be announced, but The Bachelor and The Bachelorette alums have been teasing for months whether they'll be on Paradise next season.

And Clayton, who appeared on Michelle Young's The Bachelorette season before starring on The Bachelor's 26th season in 2022, just confirmed if he'll be looking for love on the ABC reality spinoff this year.

"Alright, so I've seen some speculation on the Internet of whether or not I'm going to Paradise. I'm setting the record straight today: I am not, in fact, going," Clayton revealed in a recent Instagram Stories video posting.

"But what I am going to do today is my first-ever dance class."

Clayton's "dance class" reference has fans speculating he may be competing on the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars, which will air Monday nights on ABC this fall.

Clayton, who split from Susie Evans in September 2022, said on the May 4 episode of the "Click Bait with Bachelor Nation" podcast that he could "yeah, maybe" see himself joining the Bachelor in Paradise cast.

"It just depends on who would be going, because I'd have to see and do my own research, like, 'Is there anyone here I would actually have interest in going for?'" Clayton reasoned.

"Otherwise, if I didn't have any interest, what am I doing? I'm just going for the wrong reasons, and we all know how that shakes out."

When pressed to reveal whom he'd be interested in possibly meeting in Paradise, Clayton disclosed how he was "talking to" a woman at the time -- but they weren't officially dating or exclusive yet.

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS)  

Clayton, feeling "a little dangerous," ultimately shared as a result, "We'll see where that heads. But you know what? From all the things I can see on social media and from what I saw on TV, I think [Jess Girod] was pretty cute."

Clayton elaborated in his chat with Joe Amabile, "She's a pretty cute girl. There you go. If you want the click bait, she's somebody who I'm like, 'Hey, there could be some interest there.'"

Bachelor in Paradise 8 alum Johnny DePhillipo told BachelorNation.com in April, "Hell yeah, I would go back to Paradise. I know first-hand that it works. I would love to go back. If they want me next year, I'll be there!"

Johnny fell in love with Victoria Fuller in Paradise last year and they got engaged. However, the couple split and Victoria is now in a serious relationship with The Bachelorette 17 alum Greg Grippo.

The Bachelor 27 bachelorette Mercedes Northup expressed on "Click Bait" in February how she'd "for sure" be interested in a possible Bachelor in Paradise stint and she'd "low-key thrive" in that atmosphere.

Susie, on the other hand, said she's unlikely to go on the show due to her busy career as a wedding videographer.

And The Bachelor 27 bachelorettes Ariel Frenkel and Gabi Elnicki also shared how they're unsure of whether Bachelor in Paradise is for them after they both had their hearts broken by Zach Shallcross.

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' COUPLES NOW: WHO DID 'THE BACHELOR' STARS AND THEIR BACHELORETTE PICKS ACTUALLY END UP MARRYING? (PHOTOS)

Ariel said on "The Viall Files" podcast, however, she'd remain "open-minded" about going on Paradise, and Gabi revealed on "Click Bait" in April that she was still healing from her breakup with Zach and didn't know much about the men in Bachelor Nation.

Bachelor in Paradise's eighth season wrapped in late November 2022.

Michael Allio and Danielle Maltby are the only couple who made it to the Season 8 finale and are still together following Bachelor in Paradise couple Serene Russell and Brandon Jones' recent announcement that they have broken up and ended their engagement.

Before Bachelor in Paradise debuts its new season, The Bachelorette's 20th season starring Charity Lawson will begin airing on Monday, June 26 at 9PM ET/PT on ABC.

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)

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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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