Colton Underwood's ex-girlfriend Cassie Randolph had filed a restraining order against him for placing a tracking device in her car.
Former The Bachelor star, Colton Underwood, recently revealed during a conversation with Robin Roberts that he is gay. The former football player and reality star made this deeply personal confession on Good Morning America.
"I've ran from myself for a long time. I've hated myself for a long time," Underwood told Roberts in a pre-taped chat. "And I'm gay. And I came to terms with that earlier this year and have been processing it. And the next step in all of this was sort of letting people know," said the TV personality. "I'm still nervous, but yeah it's been a journey for sure," he added.
He added that 2020 gave him the opportunity to be honest with himself. The year made 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 added. The interviewer, Roberts, who is openly gay, said she could "see the joy" and "relief" in him. He added that he was "emotional in, like such a good, happy, positive way," and is "the happiest and healthiest" he's ever been.
He also said that there were moments when he had "suicidal thoughts" and that only led him to "take back control" of his life. "There was a moment in L.A. that I woke up and I didn't think I was gonna wake up. I didn't have the intentions of waking up. And I did," he said.
The 29-year-old reality TV star must have had a hard time denying this part of himself even though there have been rumours about his sexuality. He also revealed that he used to be in love with his ex-girlfriend Cassie Randolph, 25, winner of The Bachelor's season 23, before their relationship ended.
"I got into a place with my personal life that was dark, and bad, and I can list a bunch of different things, but they’d all be excuses,” the 29-year-old said, as per Us Weekly. "I’d like to say sorry for how things ended. I messed up. I made a lot of bad choices," he added.
His feelings for her made it even more confusing for him. "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 was because I obviously had an internal fight going on," he said. "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."
Their split wasn't a pleasant one as Randolph had to file a restraining order against him. She claimed that he had placed a tracking device on her car but he denied that. The order was later dropped.
According to the athlete's memoir, he has been struggling with his sexuality since high school, and he's finally come to accept it after going through hard phases in his life.
The executive producers of The Bachelor expressed their support for Underwood in a statement saying, "We are so inspired by Colton Underwood’s courage to embrace and pursue his authentic self. As firm believers in the power of love, we celebrate Colton’s journey in the LGBTQIA+ community every step of the way." The host of season 23 of which he was a star, Chris Harrison, also expressed his support.
I sat down with former #Bachelor star @colton for a deeply personal conversation. Like for so many...this past year was a time of deep reflection. You'll hear from #ColtonUnderwood in his own words exclusively coming up @GMA pic.twitter.com/KLh6OD58ww
— Robin Roberts (@RobinRoberts) April 14, 2021
Other Hollywood entertainers like Bravo's Andy Cohen and Schitt's Creek star and multi-Emmy winner Dan Levy also send their positive messages to him. "You're free now, @colton," said Cohen while Levy said, "'Coming out' can be a terrifying, uncomfortable, and traumatizing experience because we still live in a world where we are made to fear the consequences of living freely. Let that sink in. So happy for @colton Underwood. His courage will [undoubtedly] save lives today."
You’re free now, @colton A toaster is on its way. 🏳️🌈. Great interview @RobinRoberts https://t.co/9nQRP6XP7D
— Andy Cohen (@Andy) April 14, 2021
“Coming out” can be a terrifying, uncomfortable, and traumatizing experience because we still live in a world where we are made to fear the consequences of living freely. Let that sink in. So happy for @colton Underwood. His courage will undoubtably save lives today. ♥️ https://t.co/gAaYldPD9a
— dan levy (@danjlevy) April 14, 2021
References:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/bachelor-star-colton-underwood-gay-77057551
https://www.tvinsider.com/994931/colton-underwood-gay-gma-bachelor-reactions/
Cover image source: Getty Images | Photo by (L) Matt Winkelmeyer, (R) Jerod Harris
