On Wednesday, former Bachelor education star Colton Underwood came out as gay in an exclusive interview with Good morning America
In a conversation with Robin Roberts, Underwood explained that it had taken him years to accept that he is gay, going so far as to appear on one of the most heteronormative shows on television while struggling with his sexuality.
‘I’ve run away from myself for a long time. I’ve hated myself for a long time, ”Underwood said.
Underwood’s years of turmoil and strife were evident on his face during the interview, in which he was visibly emotional and nervous. He explains that his childhood growing up as part of the Catholic Church made him feel that being gay was a sin, and that anti-gay insults he heard during his sports career (he played football at Illinois State University and briefly in the NFL) the shame he felt. He discussed deeply personal issues, referring to suicidal thoughts and self-hatred.
Underwood, 29, said when he was chosen as a Bachelor in 2018, he thanked God for “ making me fair, ” and said he saw his selection as a sign he could have the direct relationship he thought he needed . He repeatedly discussed his virginity during his season, thus calling him the “ virgin bachelor. ” Underwood handily embraced that label and wrote a brutally titled autobiography, The first time, which was released in March 2020. All of this led to fame for Underwood, but eventually he realized that he’d been running from his true self all along.
The interview instantly became a media sensation, and Underwood received a warm hug from thousands of people online. Chris Harrison, a longtime host of the franchise (currently on hiatus), returned from a self-imposed Instagram exile to show just how proud he was of Underwood. Andy Cohen And Levy, JoJo Siwa and several other gay celebrities congratulated Underwood online. A video from his season with comedian Billy Eichner, who had said Underwood on the show that he might just be the “first gay bachelor” went viral.
It soon became clear that Underwood’s star is only going to keep rising. Several media outlets reported on Wednesday that Netflix is filming a series without a script with Underwood about his new life as a gay man, with several prominent gay celebrities, including Olympian Gus Kenworthy. According to TMZ, there has even been talk of bringing Underwood back as the bachelor, this time with a group of male suitors.
I am genuinely happy for Underwood and the fact that he can live his life in a real and free way. I have no doubt he’s had a hard time, and I’m glad he’s in a better place. However, I am troubled by the extent to which the media and Underwood himself completely sweep a huge problem under the carpet: Underwood’s alleged stalking and harassment of his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Randolph, which Underwood has neither publicly confirmed nor denied. Since the allegations first emerged last fall, Underwood has been able to successfully write his own story of the events through the press, a strategy that has left his reputation virtually intact. Randolph hasn’t had the same kind of success in shaping the story of what happened.
Last September, Randolph, the winner of Underwood’s Bachelor education season, filed a temporary restraining order against him, saying he stalked and harassed her following their May breakup. According to court records, Randolph said Underwood had sent disturbing text messages to her, her friends and her family; called her repeatedly; and placed a tracking device on her vehicle to see her whereabouts.
According to Randolph, Underwood also started sneaking up on her apartment and her parents’ home in Huntington Beach, California after they broke up, bothering her about male friends visiting her, and texting her like, “I’m going to take you responsible. to keep.” The incidents culminated in Underwood sending Randolph allegedly threatening messages from an anonymous number and then saying he had also been attacked. According to court records, Randolph found the tracker on her car and filed the restraining order and police report. The court granted the temporary restraining order but did not rule on the charges.
Many fans of the show, especially many women who had experienced intimate partner violence, were appalled and outraged by the news. Underwood has never publicly commented on the restraining order, but tabloids gave Underwood plenty of opportunities to defend itself. Us Weekly reported that Underwood was “completely blinded” by her allegations, with a source painting him as a victim.
Colton was absolutely in love with Cassie. Obviously she didn’t feel the same about him, which of course upset him. It was really hard for him, ”the source told Us Weekly. She literally broke up with him as soon as he was healthy enough to move [from COVID-19]The source also told the magazine that Randolph was “very nervous about losing her fan base” after the split and that Randolph had seen her ex “shortly after” the breakup with Underwood. Randolph did not respond to the Us Weekly report.
After news of Underwood’s restraining order and tabloid defense broke, her Instagram comments were inundated with hatred. People accused Randolph of “playing” Underwood, being “manipulative” and “ruining Colton’s life.”
Underwood was able to control the story of the split. In November, People reported that Randolph dropped the restraining order after the former couple was able to settle the matter privately. Randolph didn’t speak in public, but Underwood did.
Today, Cassie asked the court to reject the temporary restraining order against me. We were able to negotiate a private agreement together to address some of Cassie’s concerns, ”he told the magazine. “I don’t believe Cassie did anything wrong in filing the restraining order and I also believe she acted in good faith. I appreciate everyone’s respect for privacy on this matter. ‘
Meanwhile, Randolph remained largely silent, and a source told Us Weekly that she just wanted the audience to end back and forth.
Cassie just wants to move forward in life with things she does, like settle down in her new place. She definitely doesn’t want to talk about her past anymore, ”the insider told Us Weekly. “It is exhausting for her to deal with his ‘version’ of things, so she has chosen not to comment or give in to any more comments.”
Still, Underwood continued to spotlight the relationship. In January, he released a new chapter of his memoir, promising new details about his divorce from Randolph. He insists again that Randolph blinded him from the breakup, writing that she “had trouble finding the right words and reasons that made sense. Nobody did – at least not for me. “
Considering all that has happened, it is inscrutable that, amid all the coverage of Underwood’s coming out, no one is asking Underwood to be fully accountable for the allegations against him and reflect on how Randolph has been defamed online by are defenders.
On GMA, Roberts spoke – briefly – the temporary restraining order in a voiceover, but only asked Underwood if he had anything to say to Randolph.
“I would like to say sorry for how things turn out. I messed up,” he said. “I’ve made a lot of bad choices.”
But his apology feels hollow. After all, there is a big difference between making a “bad choice” and supposedly harassing and stalking someone. While Roberts, and those who took part in the glowing coverage of Underwood’s interview, didn’t want to ask Underwood to face the allegations head-on, there’s one group that hasn’t forgotten: the fans. Several took to social media to point out that Underwood never really admitted his alleged actions, or took any real responsibility for the survival of a story that led to online harassment of Randolph by his supporters.
Many criticized the opportunities presented to him, saying it seemed clear that Underwood was trying to rehabilitate his image.
Colton who comes out and then announces a Netflix special in what appears to be an attempt to bury the fact that he stalked and harassed his ex-girlfriend, going so far as to put a tracker on her car, is just * the chef’s kiss * we love that. Well done @netflix, ”one woman wrote on Twitter.
That is the problem. Underwood has full rights to speak his truth, and even to take advantage of his newfound status as the first gay leader of the United States in his career. Bachelor education franchise.
But doing this without acknowledging the real hurt and pain he has caused both Randolph and the fans feel wrong. It’s okay to stay out in the open and share your truth after making big mistakes, but this feels more like sweeping up serious allegations than reconciliation.
As for Randolph, she remains silent about Underwood on social media. She had not been notified in advance that it would be his turn GMA tell us everything, ”an insider told Us Weekly. “To be fair, she hasn’t really had time to navigate how she feels about it.” ●