Colton Underwood says he feels ‘awesome and free and happy’ after coming out as gay during a sit down interview on Good Morning America, which aired Wednesday.
The former Bachelor, 29, was spotted out in NYC after the episode aired, telling TMZ that the outpouring of support ‘has all been great, it’s all been love.’
After flashing a few smiles, Underwood hopped into a black SUV with his crew and sped off, as per the outlet’s video.
Thriving: Colton Underwood says he feels ‘awesome and free and happy’ after coming out as gay during a sit down interview on Good Morning America, which aired Wednesday
The former football player kept casual for his midday outing a grey graphic tee, jeans, and a backwards cap.
Colton is set to show his journey coming out and living as a gay man in a new Netflix reality show, according to TMZ.
He has reportedly had film crews ‘following him for the past few weeks’ prior to revealing his sexuality on the talk show, where he told Robin Roberts he even attempted suicide while struggling with his identity.
Colton enlisted the help of a few friends and prominent members of the LBGTQ+ community for the show, including his buddy Olympian Gus Kenworthy, as he establishes himself as a gay man.
Support: The former Bachelor, 29, was spotted out in NYC after the episode aired, telling TMZ that the outpouring of support ‘has all been great, it’s all been love’
All smiles: After flashing a few smiles, Underwood hopped into a black SUV with his crew and sped off, as per the outlet’s video
Underwood revealed his truth on Wednesday where he admitted he was in the best place he’s ever been emotionally.
‘I’m emotional, but I’m emotional in such a good, happy, positive way,’ he said. ‘I’m like the happiest and healthiest I’ve ever been in my life and that means the world to me. I think overall the reason why now is because I got to a place where I didn’t think I was ever going to share this. I would have rather died than say, “I’m gay.”‘
Colton, who documented his quest to find his perfect woman on three seasons of the ABC dating show franchise, admitted that he thought being chosen for The Bachelor was a sign that God was ‘making him straight.’
Casual: The former football player kept casual for his midday outing a grey graphic tee, jeans, and a backwards cap
A closer look: Colton is set to show his journey coming out and living as a gay man in a new Netflix reality show, according to TMZ
When asked whether he ever attempted to harm himself, Colton — who was known to many as the ‘virgin Bachelor’ after revealing during The Bachelorette in 2018 that he had never had sex — admitted that there was a ‘moment in LA’ when he tried to take his own life.
‘There was a moment in LA [when] I woke up and I didn’t think I was going to wake up,’ he revealed. ‘I didn’t have the intentions of waking up and I did.’
Colton opened up about how his Catholic upbringing made him suppress his sexuality for years, admitting that he has ‘known he was different since the age of six’, and realized he was gay when he was a freshman in high school – but felt he had to suppress his sexuality because he’d always been taught it was ‘a sin.’
Honest approach: Underwood revealed his truth on Wednesday where he admitted he was in the best place he’s ever been emotionally
Always known: Colton opened up about how his Catholic upbringing made him suppress his sexuality for years, admitting that he has ‘known he was different since the age of six’
‘I was a freshman in high school when I knew I was gay and by that time I had already grown up in the Catholic church, I [had] gone to Catholic grade school, [and] I had learned in the Bible that [being] gay is a sin,’ he said, adding that he was always made to feel that being gay was bad because the label was used to criticize things by many of his football teammates growing up.
He also issued an apology to the women that he dated and ‘misled’ during his time on The Bachelor franchise, as well as the viewers who — as Roberts noted — ‘were cheering him on and wanting him to find love.’
‘I just wish I wouldn’t have dragged people into my own mess of figuring out who I was,’ Colton admitted.
‘I genuinely mean that. But I also at the same time like but I can sit here and say I’m sorry to all those women and can also say thank you because without them and without the bachelor franchise, I don’t know if like this would have ever came out.’
Difficult: Colton, who documented his quest to find his perfect woman on three seasons of the ABC dating show franchise, admitted that he thought being chosen for The Bachelor was a sign that God was ‘making him straight’
Dating: His first appearance on the popular dating franchise was on season 14 of The Bachelorette when he vied for Becca Kufrin’s heart, but ultimately came in fourth place
He added that his relationship with Cassie Randolph — the woman whom he chose as his winner on The Bachelor and lost his virginity to on the show — made his struggle with his sexuality even ‘harder and more confusing’, because he ‘loved everything about her.’
The former Bachelor said that he has privately come out to his closest friends and family, and has received a wealth of ‘love and support’, although he did not reveal whether he had spoken to his ex-girlfriends personally about his sexuality before appearing on GMA.
His first appearance on the popular dating franchise was on season 14 of The Bachelorette when he vied for Becca Kufrin’s heart, but ultimately came in fourth place.
He later appeared on Bachelor in Paradise before briefly reconciling with ex Tia Booth, and then stood at the helm of the show for season 23 of The Bachelor in 2019.
Romance: Underwood connected with Cassie Randolph during his season of The Bachelor, but she quit the show before fantasy dates and they ended up pursuing a romantic relationship once the show was over
‘The two of us were able to reach a private agreement to address any of Cassie’s concerns,’ he said. ‘I do not believe Cassie did anything wrong in filing for the restraining orders and also believe she acted in good faith. I appreciate everyone’s respect for privacy regarding this matter’
Underwood connected with Cassie during his season of The Bachelor, but she quit the show before fantasy dates and they ended up pursuing a romantic relationship once the show was over.
In his memoir The First Time: Finding Myself and Looking for Love on Reality TV, Colton revealed that he lost his virginity to Cassie while they were filming for The Bachelor, explaining that the couple decided to have sex while enjoying a night in a fantasy suite.
Their relationship ended in May 2020, but things took a turn a few months later when Cassie, 25, filed a restraining order against Colton who allegedly placed a tracking device on her car. Charges were later dropped.
Randolph accused Underwood of harassing her with text messages and showing up at her home uninvited. She also claimed he would loiter outside her parents house in Huntington Beach, California in the early hours of the morning.
In the past: Their relationship ended in May 2020, but things took a turn a few months later when Cassie, 25, filed a restraining order against Colton who allegedly placed a tracking device on her car. Charges were later dropped; seen in 2019
‘The two of us were able to reach a private agreement to address any of Cassie’s concerns,’ he said. ‘I do not believe Cassie did anything wrong in filing for the restraining orders and also believe she acted in good faith. I appreciate everyone’s respect for privacy regarding this matter.’
Prior to his debut on the Bachelor franchise in 2018, Colton had a public relationship with Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman, whom he asked out via video when she was doing an interview with Yahoo.
Colton and Aly dated from August 2016 until April 2017, when she broke up with him via FaceTime, with the ex-Bachelor star later describing her as his ‘first love’ and admitting that their split was ‘really tough.’
