Earlier this morning, in an exclusive interview with Good Morning America's Robin Roberts, former Bachelor Colton Underwood came out as gay:
JUST IN: Former “Bachelor” star @Colton Underwood speaks his truth and comes out to @robinroberts: “I’m gay. And I came to terms with that earlier this year and have been processing it… I’m the happiest and healthiest I’ve ever been in my life.” https://t.co/PoYJUAPBpA
"I've ran from myself for a long time, I've hated myself for a long time, and I'm gay," Colton stated in the interview.
While a LOT of people are proud of Colton for coming out and living his truth...
Happy for @colton for speaking his truth. We support you ❤️
Onyeka was a contestant on Colton's season, in case you were unaware.
...a LOT of people are also bringing up the fact that he has a history of abuse, and his coming out doesn't negate that:
Colton coming out doesn’t erase the fact that he stalked and terrorized his previous girlfriend #TheBachelor
So because I live to break down niche celebrity scandals, here's a brief timeline of Colton's recent past:
After Colton appeared in Becca K.'s season of The Bachelorette, where he was the third runner up, and had a quick stint on Bachelor in Paradise, it was announced that he would be the next Bachelor.
To say his season was tumultuous would be an understatement and a half. However, after multiple self-eliminations from many of his suitors, Colton decided that Cassie Randolph was the one for him:
Things then got complicated when Cassie expressed doubt about their relationship and the idea of getting engaged at the end of the season, which resulted in the now-infamous Fence Jump™:
But it ended up working out (????), since the two remained together — albeit, not engaged — at the end of the season:
The two dated for nearly two years but announced their breakup in two separate (and since-deleted) Instagram posts.
In August 2020 — three months after their breakup — Cassie was granted a restraining order against Colton.
Cassie alleged that Colton sent her "unsettling" text messages, showed up at her house and her parents' house without an invitation, and put a tracking device in her car.
After that, Colton went media silent until this morning, when he announced his coming out and also issued a public apology to Cassie:
I loved everything about her and it’s hard for me to articulate exactly what my emotions were in going through that relationship with her ... because I obviously had an internal fight going on. I would just say that I’m sorry from the bottom of my heart. I’m sorry for any pain and emotional stress I caused. I wish that it wouldn’t have happened the way that it did. I wish that I had been courageous enough to fix myself before I broke anybody else.
And then news of Colton's new reality show broke. The show is going to follow him coming to terms with his sexuality, led by "gay guide" Olympian Gus Kenworthy.
Here's how Bach Nation has reacted to this whirlwind morning:
Colton coming out and then announcing a Netflix special in what seems to be an attempt to bury the fact that he stalked and harassed his ex-girlfriend, going as far to put a tracker on her car, is just *chef’s kiss* we love that. Good job, @netflix. https://t.co/uABYpkflPS
I feel for Cassie, happy for Colton
First, I'm glad to see Colton more at peace and happy he can live more as his true authentic self. I'll always be in support of that. That doesn't excuse the abusive, manipulative, and literally illegal stalking behavior he displayed in his past relationship.
colton, the devout christian bachelor star who went on to stalk and harass his ex girlfriend, has come out as gay i hope people can look at situations like this with nuance, empathy, and realize that trauma can complicate — but not justify — a person’s shitty behavior