Former Bachelor star Colton Underwood comes out in GMA interview

The man first advertised as “The Virgin Bachelor” has revealed he’s gay in a “deeply personal” Good Morning America interview.

Former US Bachelor star Colton Underwood has come out as gay on Good Morning America, telling presenter Robin Roberts he “hated himself for a long time”.

The former NFL player said he came to terms with his sexuality earlier this year and has been processing it, and is now ready to tell people.

“I’ve ran from myself for a long time,” he said. “I’ve hated myself for a long time. 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.”

He said he knew he was “different” at age six, and is now “the happiest and healthiest” he’s ever been.

Former US Bachelor Colton Underwood has come out on morning television.

Underwood said he found himself in a “dark and bad” place, implying he even attempted suicide.

“Overall the reason why now is because I got to a place where … I would’ve rather died than say I’m gay,” he continued.

“There was a moment in LA that I woke up, and I didn’t think I was going to wake up. I didn’t have the intentions of waking up. I think that for me was my wakeup call.”

Good Morning America | WEDNESDAY MORNING: Former Bachelor Colton Underwood in an exclusive, new and deeply personal interview with Robin Roberts. pic.twitter.com/BmeL41skic

— Good Morning America (@GMA) April 13, 2021

Underwood starred as the Bachelor in the 23rd season, which aired in 2019.

He was first introduced to audiences in Becca Kufrin’s season of The Bachelorette in 2018.

During his years in the spotlight, Underwood faced a lot of coverage in the tabloids — mainly because of legal matters between him and his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Randolph.

He apologised directly to her during the interview, saying he had been in love with her, which made figuring out his sexuality “more confusing”.

“I would like to say sorry for how things ended,” he said. “I messed up. I made a lot of bad choices.

“I loved everything about her … I wish that would’ve been courageous enough to fix myself before breaking anyone else.”

Colton Underwood sat down with GMA for a personal interview. Picture: Getty Images

Underwood also apologised to the women he appeared with on The Bachelor.

“Do I regret being The Bachelor? Do I regret handling it the way that I did? I do. I do think I could’ve handled it better,” he said. “I just wish I wouldn’t have dragged people into the mess of figuring out who I was.

“But I can sit here and say I’m sorry to all of those women, and I can also say thank you because without them and without The Bachelor franchise I don’t know if this would’ve come out.”

Underwood said he had thanked God for getting him on The Bachelor because it meant he was “straight”.

He has previously spoken out about his time on the show, and how his sexuality was used as a narrative.

Underwood was first advertised “The Virgin Bachelor” with his virginity used as a main storyline throughout the show.

After his finale aired, he told Variety that he did not feel exploited, but he felt his sexuality was “overplayed.”

He told Roberts: “It’s been a journey, for sure.”

Variety reports that Colton has already planned his next move, a return to reality TV that will see him team up with out gay athlete Gus Kenworthy to explore his new life as a gay man.

Former ‘Bachelor’ Colton Underwood is reportedly filming an unscripted reality series with Netflix after coming out as gay, @Variety reports.

The project will focus on Underwood living his life as an openly gay man. Gus Kenworthy will appear on the series as his “gay guide.” pic.twitter.com/yIBVj8fhbZ

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) April 14, 2021