Skip to main content

Many fans of The Bachelor have come to expect new revelations from previous contestants. But for the first time ever, a lead came out as part of the LGBTQ community after their season — Colton Underwood. The former lead and football player announced that he is gay after he led a season looking for love with solely women. Here’s what others from Bachelor Nation had to say about Underwood’s announcement.

The Bachelor Colton Underwood smiles at the camera
Colton Underwood | Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

Colton Underwood was the lead of ‘The Bachelor’ in 2019

After he didn’t find love with Becca Kufrin on The Bachelorette, Underwood led his own season of The Bachelor. He famously jumped a fence on the show for Cassie Randolph, who he ended up choosing in the end. The pair dated until May 2020. Randolph filed a restraining order against Underwood following their split but dropped the charges.

Underwood appeared on Good Morning America on April 14. He came out as gay and spoke about his former relationship with Randolph.

“If I’m being very honest, I loved everything about her,” he said about their time together. “It’s hard for me to articulate exactly what my emotions were, and going through that relationship with her was, because I obviously had an internal fight going on.”

He then apologized to the former contestant for what he did.

“I would just say that I’m sorry from the bottom of my heart,” Underwood continued. “I’m sorry for any pain and emotional stress I caused. I wish it wouldn’t have happened the way it did. I wish that I would have been courageous enough to fix myself before I broke anybody else.”

Colton Underwood came out on ‘Good Morning America’ on April 14

Underwood opened up about being gay to Robin Roberts — who is also gay — on the ABC morning show. He started by empathizing with how 2020 was a hard year for many due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“This year’s been a lot for a lot of people,” he started. “It’s probably made a lot of people look at themselves in the mirror and figure out who they are and what they’ve been running from or what they’ve been putting off in their lives.”

He explained that for him, that meant coming to terms with his sexuality.

“For me, I’ve ran from myself for a long time,” Underwood said. “I hated myself for a long time. I’m gay and I came to terms with that earlier this year and have been processing it. The next step in all of this was letting people know. I’m still nervous, but yeah it’s been a journey for sure.”

The star concluded: “I’m emotional in such a good, happy, positive way. I’m the happiest and healthiest I’ve ever been in my life. That means the world to me.”

Here’s how Bachelor Nation supported the former lead

Related

‘The Bachelorette’: Reality Steve Gives First Impression Rose Spoiler for Katie Thurston’s Season

Nicole Lopez-Alvar, who competed for Underwood’s love on his season of The Bachelor, tweeted in support for the former lead. She said: “I’m so proud of you, @colton!”

Another person from his season, Onyeka Ehie, shared her thoughts on her Twitter account as well.

“Happy for @colton for speaking his truth,” she wrote. “We support you.”

She followed up her first tweet with another message, saying: “Just a reminder that homophobic comments will not be accepted or tolerated today or any day. You’ve been warned.”

Demi Burnett, who also was on Underwood’s season, tweeted as well. She was the first contestant on Bachelor in Paradise to date someone of the same gender in 2019.

“Welcome to the community brother,” Burnett expressed, along with rainbow and glitter emojis.

Best in Entertainment