Lana Del Rey‘s ex-fiancé Clayton Johnson is sharing his honest feelings about the singer’s marriage to Jeremy Dufrene. The country singer, known for appearing on the now-canceled season of The Bachelorette with Taylor Frankie Paul, spoke publicly for the first time about seeing his former love settle down with someone else. Johnson made his comments during the April 22 episode of the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast, where he made it clear there is no bad blood between them.
Clayton Johnson Says He Has ‘Nothing but Amazing Things to Say’ About Lana Del Rey
Johnson did not hold back when discussing his past with the Born to Die singer. He told hosts Charity Lawson and Rachel Recchia that he still holds a deep respect for Del Rey. He described their connection as coming from a genuine and pure place. Johnson emphasized that despite the end of their engagement, his feelings for her remain positive.
“I think that when you love somebody and it comes from a pure place—and she’s somebody that I loved and I have love for her—to find her person and for her to be as happy as she is, like she is glowing, nothing could make me happier for her than that.”
The musician explained that while he is happy for her, the situation does come with complicated emotions. He acknowledged that seeing an ex move on permanently can be difficult. Johnson stated that he refuses to let those feelings turn into anger or resentment because his love for her was real.
The ‘Sting’ of Seeing an Ex Move On
During the podcast, Johnson got very real about the specific pain of watching a former partner get married. He used the word “sting” to describe the sensation. He stressed that his sadness does not come from a place of wanting her back, but rather from the natural human reaction of letting go of a past life.
“It might sting a little bit, to be honest with you, but if you really love somebody in the purest form, how could you be upset at that?” Johnson asked the hosts.
He wanted listeners to understand that feeling hurt does not mean wishing ill on the other person. Johnson contrasted his reaction with typical breakup drama, insisting that he has no interest in revenge. He specifically addressed rumors that he joined The Bachelorette to get back at Del Rey, who is a known fan of the franchise. He called those claims completely false.
“I truly don’t have any place in my heart for any sort of revenge, any hate,” Johnson clarified. “It did not come from a place of wanting to get back at her by any means. This was for me and this was for my journey.”
A Whirlwind Romance Accelerated by COVID
Johnson provided context about how his relationship with the Summertime Sadness singer became serious so quickly. The two were engaged in December 2020 but split in September 2021. He explained that the pandemic created a unique bubble for couples. He compared dating during lockdown to “dog years,” where every month felt like a year in the real world.
“We just really connected over what we wanted our futures to look like,” Johnson said. “I have nothing but amazing things to say about her.”
The two had actually met years before at church but reconnected during the health crisis. Johnson said their bond formed over long FaceTime calls and a shared love for old country music. He noted that while the pandemic “accelerated things,” the engagement felt right in every way at the time.
Despite the intensity of their past, Johnson is choosing to keep specific details private. He cited Del Rey as a very private person and said he does not want to share “any crazy details” about their life together. However, he confirmed that they remained in contact for a while after the breakup, “kind of testing the waters” before finally going their separate ways.
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Lana Del Rey’s New Life With Jeremy Dufrene
The “Video Games” singer officially married Jeremy Dufrene on September 26, 2024. The ceremony took place in Des Allemands, Louisiana, right in the bayou where Dufrene works as a captain for Airboat Tours by Arthur. The couple applied for their marriage license in Lafourche Parish and had pastor Judah Smith, who appears on Del Rey’s album Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, officiate the wedding.
Del Rey and Dufrene, who is an alligator tour guide, have known each other since 2019. The singer first went on one of his swamp tours while she was in Louisiana for the BUKU Music + Art Project festival. She posted photos from that trip on Facebook. She returned for another tour in May 2023 and tagged Dufrene in an Instagram post.
Recently, the couple was spotted enjoying a date in Los Angeles. They were seen leaving The Ivy, a famous celebrity hotspot. Del Rey looked relaxed in a striped top and denim shorts, while Dufrene kept it casual in a white t-shirt and baseball cap. The sighting showed the couple looking comfortable and happy together nearly a year after their wedding.
Del Rey has spoken briefly about why her relationship with Dufrene works. She told W magazine that she realized she loved him immediately but worried it might get difficult because of her fame. She shared that Dufrene told her, “You be you – and I’ll just love you more.” She also posted photos celebrating his birthday on Instagram, sharing snapshots of their everyday life, including Dufrene carrying plants from Home Depot.
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