Former Bachelor Weighs In: Ben Higgins Thinks Clare Crawley Missed Out On A 'Good Opportunity' By Ditching The Show For Dale Moss

After Dale Moss confirmed that he and Clare Crawley had split after getting engaged over the summer, former Bachelor star Ben Higgins is weighing in on the dramatic ending — and thinks the 39-year-old should have given other men a shot while filming her season. 

“My most critical opinion is that it’s sad because Clare had a really good opportunity in front of her, and it ended after a couple of weeks,” the 31-year-old exclusively tells OK! from Orlando, Fla., while promoting the 2021 Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions. “She threw her eggs into the Dale basket, and it didn’t work, and that makes me feel bad for her.” 

Higgins believes Crawley “should have stayed” and found connections with other men who were vying for her heart. 

“I have obviously been through [a public breakup] — maybe in a little bit of a different fashion, but two years is a little different than two months,” the former reality star says, referring to his 2017 split from Lauren Bushnell. 

Higgins notes that Crawley is most likely “asking herself a bunch of questions” and thinking about what went wrong. 

However, Higgins — who is gearing up to release his first book, Alone in Plain Sight: Searching for Connection When You’re Seen But Not Known — remains positive that the two may be able to work things out. “My hope is that for at least a period of time, he was sold on the idea that he and Clare could work, it would be a really sad ending if this was done and this option got stripped from her,” he dishes. 

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At the end of the day, the handsome hunk is happy Bachelor Nation got to see Crawley take the reins and be the leading lady of the show, even if things didn’t work out. “I have always been supportive of Clare being the Bachelorette. I think it was a good thing, it was exciting. I think Tayshia [Adams] was an incredible Bachelorette, so I am glad we got to get them both but breakups aren’t fun, especially when the public is going to criticize you for it.

“Again, maybe they could get back together,” he says. “We don’t know how this plays out, we don’t know how this ends, but it’s unfortunate news.” 

On Tuesday, January 19, Moss, 32, revealed that he was single again. 

“I wanted [to] share with you all that Clare and I have decided to go our separate ways,” Moss wrote in a statement via his Instagram Story. “We appreciate the love and support we’ve received from so many people, but this is the healthiest decision for both of us at this time.” 

He continued, “We strongly believe in leading with love and always remaining true to oneself — something our families have taught and instilled in us throughout our lives. We only hope the best things for one another.” 

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The former flames apparently couldn’t agree on where to relocate after they got engaged after only knowing each other for two weeks. Now, the hairstylist is trying to pick up the pieces and move on. “Clare longs for a normal life away from the spotlight,” a source exclusively told OK!. “However, Dale is very career focused and believes this is his moment to strike while the iron is hot.” 

Tune in and watch Higgins compete in the golf tournament, which airs from January 21-24 on the Golf Channel and NBC.