Colton Unrwood, former 'Bachelor' star, says he's gay | CNN

Contents:

• CASSIE RANDOLPH BREAKS SILENCE AFTER EX COLTON UNRWOOD OUT AS GAY
• 'BACHELOR' ALUM CASSIE RANDOLPH ON HOW SHE 'FOUND OUT' ABOUT EX COLTON UNRWOOD COMG OUT AS GAY
• FORMER ‘BACHELOR’ STAR COLTON UNRWOOD: ‘I’M GAY’
• CASSIE RANDOLPH ADDRS EX COLTON UNRWOOD G OUT AS GAY
• CASSIE RANDOLPH DIDN'T KNOW EX COLTON UNRWOOD WAS GAY, SAYS SOURCE: 'SHE'S STILL PROCSG'
• SHOP 'GMA3' POWER HOUR ALS FOR LABOR DAY!OPEN MENUVIOSHOPCULTUREFAYWELLNSFOODLIVGSTYLETRAVELNEWSBOOK CLUBGMA3: WYNTKNEWSLETTERPRIVACY POLICYYOUR US STATE PRIVACY RIGHTSCHILDREN'S ONLE PRIVACY POLICYINTERT-BASED ADSTERMS OF USEDO NOT SELL MY INFOCONTACT USCOPYRIGHT © 2023 ABC NEWS INTER VENTUR. ALL RIGHTS RERVED.SEARCHCULTUREFORMER 'BACHELOR' STAR COLTON UNRWOOD OUT AS GAY13:36FORMER 'BACHELOR' COLTON UNRWOOD SPEAKS HIS TTH AND OUT AS BYCARSON BLACKWELR VIO BYJA ANRSON AND DANIELLE GEAPRIL 14, 2021, 7:33 AM•8 M READCOLTON UNRWOOD IS READY TO LIVE HIS TTH.THE FORMER "BACHELOR" STAR ME OUT AS GAY AN EXCLIVE TERVIEW WH ROB ROBERTS ON "GOOD MORNG AMERI" ON WEDNDAY."I'VE RAN OM MYSELF FOR A LONG TIME. I'VE HATED MYSELF FOR A LONG TIME," UNRWOOD TOLD ROBERTS A PRE-TAPED CHAT. "AND I'M GAY. AND I ME TO TERMS WH THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR AND HAVE BEEN PROCSG . AND THE NEXT STEP ALL OF THIS WAS SORT OF LETTG PEOPLE KNOW."MORE: COLTON UNRWOOD SETS 'EPLY PERSONAL' TERVIEW ON 'GMA' WH ROB ROBERTS"I'M STILL NERVO, BUT YEAH," HE NTUED. "IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY FOR SURE."ABC'S ROB ROBERTS WH COLTON UNRWOOD, THE LEAD OF THE 23RD SEASON OF "THE BACHELOR," DURG AN TERVIEW APRIL 2021.ABCUNRWOOD SAID HE FALLY GOT TO A PLACE WHERE HE ULD BE HONT WH HIMSELF AFTER 2020, THE YEAR THAT TURNED EVERYONE'S LIV UPSI DOWN, AND MA PEOPLE "LOOK AT THEMSELV THE MIRROR AND FIGURE OUT WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY'VE BEEN NNG OM OR WHAT THEY'VE BEEN PUTTG OFF THEIR LIV."WHEN ROBERTS, WHO IS ALSO OPENLY GAY, SAID SHE ULD "SEE THE JOY" AND "SEE THE RELIEF" UNRWOOD, HE SAID HE WAS "EMOTNAL , LIKE SUCH A GOOD, HAPPY, POSIVE WAY," AND IS "THE HAPPIT AND HEALTHIT" HE'S EVER BEEN.UNRWOOD SAID HE WENT THROUGH A "DARK AND BAD" TIME BEFORE FEELG LIKE HE ULD REVEAL THIS ABOUT HIMSELF AND HIS "WAKE UP LL" WAS FEELG LIKE HE "WOULD'VE RATHER DIED" THAN SAY HE'S GAY."THERE WAS A MOMENT L.A. THAT I WOKE UP AND I DIDN'T THK I WAS GONNA WAKE UP. I DIDN'T HAVE THE TENTNS OF WAKG UP. AND I DID," HE RELLED, NOTG THIS MOMENT -- AND OTHER "SUICIDAL THOUGHTS" -- LED HIM TO "TAKE BACK NTROL" OF HIS LIFE.WHEN ROBERTS ASKED ABOUT THE WOMEN OM HIS "BACHELOR" SEASON AND HOW THEY -- AMONG OTHERS -- MAY FEEL MISLED, UNRWOOD SAID HE "WOULD UNRSTAND WHY THEY THK THAT WAY.""I'VE THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT THIS TOO, OF, 'DO I REGRET BEG THE BACHELOR AND DO I REGRET HANDLG THE WAY THAT I DID?' I DO," HE SAID. "I DO THK I ULD'VE HANDLED BETTER, I'LL SAY THAT."UNRWOOD SAID HE "GENUELY" WISH HE HADN'T DRAGGED PEOPLE TO "MY OWN MS OF FIGURG OUT WHO I WAS." IN ADDN TO SAYG SORRY TO THOSE WOMEN, HE WOULD SAID THANK YOU BEE, ULTIMATELY, THEY AND THE ANCHISE HELPED HIM GET TO THIS PLACE.MORE: MATT JAM REFLECTS ON 'BACHELOR' SEASON, RACHAEL KIRKNNELL NTROVERSYWHEN HE WAS NAMED THE BACHELOR, UNRWOOD SAID HE REMEMBERED "PRAYG TO GOD" THE MORNG HE FOUND OUT AND "THANKG HIM FOR MAKG ME STRAIGHT,' THKG THIS WOULD LEAD TO HIM FALLY GETTG THE WIFE AND THEM HAVG KIDS.COLTON UNRWOOD AS "THE BACHELOR," FOR SEASON 23, 2019.CRAIG SJOD/ABCBUT UNRWOOD SAID HE HAD KNOWN THE TTH OF HIS SEXUALY SCE A YOUNG AGE, KNOWG HE "JT FELT DIFFERENT" OM THE AGE OF 6, WHEN HE ULDN'T PROCS . HE KNEW HE WAS "MORE EMOTNAL" THAN THE OTHER BOYS HIS CLASS. IT TOOK UNTIL HIGH SCHOOL FOR HIM TO REALIZE HE "WAS MORE ATTRACTED TO THE BOYS AND THE MEN" THAN HE WAS THE OPPOSE SEX.HAVG GROWN UP THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, HE REMEMBERED HE "LEARNED THE BIBLE THAT GAY IS A S" CATHOLIC GRA SCHOOL. AND DURG HIS TIME SPORTS, HE REMEMBERED PEOPLE G THE WORD "GAY" AS A TERM THAT HELD "A NNOTATN OF NEGATIVY.""I THK THERE'S A LOT OF THGS, WHEN I LOOK BACK, I'M LIKE, 'NO WONR I HELD ,'" HE SAID.UNRWOOD SAID HE HAS GROWN "CLOSER TO GOD" THIS REVELATN AND SAID HE KNOWS SOME PEOPLE WILL QUTN HOW THAT'S EVEN POSSIBLE FOR A GAY MAN TO SAY."I ED TO WAKE UP THE MORNG AND PRAY FOR HIM TO TAKE THE GAY AWAY. I ED TO PRAY FOR HIM TO CHANGE ME," HE SAID, ADDG THAT HIS RELATNSHIP WH GOD NOW ISN'T "NDNAL."UNRWOOD SAID HE'S HAD "A RANGE OF RPONS" TO HIS G OUT AND THE "UNRLYG, MOST MON ONE" HAS BEEN THEY WISH HE'D TOLD THEM SOONER, CLUDG HIS DAD."AND WHEN I HEAR THAT, I WISH I WOULD HAVE HAD FAH MY IENDS AND MY FAY A LTLE B MORE," HE SAID. "THE ONLY REASON I'M STG DOWN WH YOU TODAY IS BEE I HAVE THE LOVE AND THE SUPPORT OF MY IENDS AND MY FAY."MORE: KATIE THURSTON AND MICHELLE YOUNG EACH GIVEN THEIR OWN SEASONS OF 'THE BACHELORETTE'UNRWOOD SAID HE STILL HASN'T HAD AN "EMOTNAL NNECTN" WH SOMEONE OF THE SAME SEX, BUT HE IS LOOKG FORWARD TO FDG A PARTNER."I'VE NEVER ALLOWED MYSELF TO," HE NTUED. "AND IT'S NEVER BEEN SORT OF MY RDS TO LET MYSELF GET THERE, AND I WANT TO MORE THAN ANYTHG. I'M LOOKG FOR SOMEONE WHO N PH ME AND CHALLENGE ME ALL THE GREAT WAYS."WHEN ROBERTS ASKED IF HE HAD ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STGGLG TO E OUT, UNRWOOD SAID HE STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO AND IS STILL LEARNG."BUT IF I HAD TO GO BACK AND GIVE ANYBODY ADVICE, I MEAN, YOU'RE GONNA GET THROUGH IS WHAT I WOULD TELL MYSELF. KEEP FIGHTG FOR YOU. KEEP CHOOSG YOU EVERY MORNG. AND WHEN THE TIME'S READY OR WHEN THE TIME'S RIGHT AND YOU'RE READY, DO ON YOUR OWN TIME."ABC'S ROB ROBERTS WH COLTON UNRWOOD, THE LEAD OF THE 23RD SEASON OF "THE BACHELOR," DURG AN TERVIEW APRIL 2021.ABC13:36UNRWOOD, WHO GAVE HIS FAL ROSE TO CASSIE RANDOLPH 2019, SAYS HE “ME TO TERMS” WH HIS SEXUALY EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND IS THE “HAPPIT AND HEALTHIT” HE’S EVER BEEN.BACHELOR NATN WAS FIRST TRODUCED TO UNRWOOD WHEN HE WAS A NTTANT ON BEC KU'S SEASON OF "THE BACHELORETTE," THE 14TH SEASON, 2018. HE MA TO KU'S FAL FOUR.THE FORMER FOOTBALL STAR FOLLOWED THIS UP WH A BRIEF STT ON SEASON 4 OF "BACHELOR PARADISE," ON WHICH HE HAD A FLG WH TIA BOOTH.UNRWOOD WAS THEN THE LEAD OF SEASON 23 OF "THE BACHELOR" 2019, WH HIS VIRGY BEG A EQUENT TOPIC OF NVERSATN AND HIS FAMO FENCE-JUMPG MOMENT BEG ONE OF THE ANCHISE'S MOST DRAMATIC MOMENTS. HE GAVE HIS FAL ROSE TO NTTANT CASSIE RANDOLPH BUT ULTIMATELY CHOSE TO NOT PROPOSE TO HER, THOUGH THEY LATER TOLD "GMA" THEY HAD DISCSED AN ENGAGEMENT.MORE: CHRIS HARRISON WON'T HOST NEXT SEASON OF 'THE BACHELORETTE'THE TWO DATED AFTER THE SHOW WRAPPED UNTIL ANNOUNCG THEIR BREAKUP EARLY 2020. THEY LATER MA HEADL WHEN RANDOLPH WAS GRANTED A RTRAG ORR AGAST UNRWOOD, ACCG HIM OF STALKG AND HARASSG HER. IN A POLICE REPORT, SHE ACCED HIM OF PUTTG A TRACKG VICE ON HER R. UNRWOOD LATER RELEASED A STATEMENT EXPLAG THAT HE AND RANDOLPH HAD ROLVED THEIR ISSU PRIVATE. SHE LATER DISMISSED THE RTRAG ORR AND REQUTED THE POLICE VTIGATN BE DROPPED.IN HIS TERVIEW WH ROBERTS, UNRWOOD APOLOGIZED SPECIFILLY TO RANDOLPH FOR "ANY PA AND EMOTNAL STRS" HE ED HER AND SAID HE WISH HADN'T HAPPENED THE WAY DID."I WISH THAT I WOULD'VE BEEN URAGEO ENOUGH TO FIX MYSELF BEFORE I BROKE ANYBODY ELSE," HE SAID.HE SAID HE "LOVED EVERYTHG" ABOUT RANDOLPH, WHICH "ONLY MA HARR AND MORE NFG" FOR HIM AS HE WAS EXPERIENCG HIS OWN "TERNAL FIGHT."PRR TO HIS TIME ON REALY TV, UNRWOOD FAMOLY DATED OLYMPIC GYMNAST ALY RAISMAN. HE WROTE ABOUT THEIR RELATNSHIP -- AND MUCH MORE -- HIS 2020 BOOK, "THE FIRST TIME: FDG MYSELF AND LOOKG FOR LOVE ON REALY TV."THE DAYS, UNRWOOD IS JT "PROUD" OF HOW FAR HE HAS E."I'M STILL THE SAME COLTON EVERYBODY MET ON TV. I'M STILL THE SAME COLTON TO MY IENDS AND MY FAY, I JT HAPPEN TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WH PEOPLE NOW ALL OF ME," HE SAID. "AND I AM PROUD OF THAT, YOU KNOW? I AM PROUD TO BE GAY."IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEEDS HELP OR SUPPORT, NTACT THE TREVOR PROJECT'S TREVORLIFELE 24/7 AT 1-866-488-7386. COUNSELG IS ALSO AVAILABLE 24/7 VIA CHAT AT , OR BY TEXTG 678-678.RELATED TOPICSTHE BACHELORUP NEXT CULTURE—BURNA BOY'S NEW ALBUM 'I TOLD THEM…' REMDS WHY HE'S 'ST' ON TOP OF THE WORLD'SEPTEMBER 1, 2023TOM HOLLAND SHAR SWEET PHOTOS OF GIRLIEND ZENDAYA ON HER BIRTHDAY: SEE THE PICTUR SEPTEMBER 1, 2023MEG RYAN ON HER SON'S REACTN TO 'WHEN HARRY MET SALLY' KATZ'S DELI SCENE, NEW ROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2023JT TIMBERLAKE, TIMBALAND AND NELLY FURTADO RNE FOR NEW SGLE, 'KEEP GOG UP'SEPTEMBER 1, 2023UP NEXT CULTURE—BURNA BOY'S NEW ALBUM 'I TOLD THEM…' REMDS WHY HE'S 'ST' ON TOP OF THE WORLD'SEPTEMBER 1, 2023TOM HOLLAND SHAR SWEET PHOTOS OF GIRLIEND ZENDAYA ON HER BIRTHDAY: SEE THE PICTUR SEPTEMBER 1, 2023MEG RYAN ON HER SON'S REACTN TO 'WHEN HARRY MET SALLY' KATZ'S DELI SCENE, NEW ROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2023JT TIMBERLAKE, TIMBALAND AND NELLY FURTADO RNE FOR NEW SGLE, 'KEEP GOG UP'SEPTEMBER 1, 2023
• COLTON UNRWOOD COM OUT AS GAY & ADMS TO ‘SUICIDAL THOUGHTS’ BEFORE FDG HIMSELF
• COLTON UNRWOOD SAYS GROWG UP HE DIDN'T THK IT WAS POSSIBLE TO HAVE A FAY AS A GAY MAN

CASSIE RANDOLPH BREAKS SILENCE AFTER EX COLTON UNRWOOD OUT AS GAY

The former Bachelor nttant me out as gay April 2021 and has been attached to Brown sce last fall. Unrwood then me out as gay April 2021 an terview wh Rob Roberts on Good Morng Ameri, and went on to star on Netflix docu-seri Comg Out Colton, tracg Unrwood's own g out journey and teractns wh other notable gay public figur. He was the first lead of The Bachelor anchise to e out as gay.

'BACHELOR' ALUM CASSIE RANDOLPH ON HOW SHE 'FOUND OUT' ABOUT EX COLTON UNRWOOD COMG OUT AS GAY

Related ntent: Former Bachelor Colton Unrwood out as gayStars celebrate newly out Bachelor alum Colton Unrwood: 'You're ee now'Why Comg Out Colton is a major fumble Episo Reps Zach on the season fale of The Bachelor S27 E10 Rep The Bachelor fale rep: Zach go om 'eak-out mo' to pickg a fiancée By Kristen Baldw The Bachelor rep.

Former "Bachelor" uple Cassie Randolph and Colton Unrwood have been through many ups and downs but Unrwood's revelatn on Wednday that he is gay has been the most shockg twist of all their very public relatnship. The former Bachelor, 29, said that he me to terms wh the fact that he is gay earlier this year after a lifetime of nng away om the tth.

FORMER ‘BACHELOR’ STAR COLTON UNRWOOD: ‘I’M GAY’

The former NFL player was raised Christian and said the word "gay" always had a negative nnotatn for him. Colton Unrwood publicly g out as gay me as a surprise to his ex-girliend Cassie Randolph. But Randolph eventually revealed how she first disvered the news that Unrwood, 29, is gay after he me out April 2021.

RELATED VIDEO: Cassie Randolph Didn't Know Ex Colton Unrwood Was Gay, Says Source: 'She's Still Procsg'.

CASSIE RANDOLPH ADDRS EX COLTON UNRWOOD G OUT AS GAY

In an April 2021 Good Morng Ameri terview wh Rob Roberts, Colton Unrwood — known as the "virg Bachelor" durg his time on the ABC realy TV anchise, which 30 women peted for his affectns — revealed that he is gay.

Homophobic jok and slurs were enabled by his ach the locker room, he Comg Out Colton, that nservative upbrgg adds to the element of surprise: If an episo ends wh Unrwood havg jt told a loved one about his sexualy, the viewer has to watch the next episo to fd out how they react, knowg that might not be a favourable rponse. 'A certa amount of privilege'Much of Unrwood's stggle wh his sexualy stems om his background as a profsnal athlete and the fear of beg outed as gay among unwelg teammat and ach.

CASSIE RANDOLPH DIDN'T KNOW EX COLTON UNRWOOD WAS GAY, SAYS SOURCE: 'SHE'S STILL PROCSG'

Kenworthy, who is also openly gay, acted as a mentor durg the show. ""I have had sex and J still lov me": navigatg sex and moraly on The BacheloretteThe seri rporat the experienc of other profsnal athlet who are openly gay. "The way that he's kd of disverg gay culture feels like [he is a] straight spectator of queer culture, " Woods said.

The former Bachelor, who also peted on The Bachelorette and Bachelor Paradise, me out publicly as gay April 2021, about a year after gog through a msy spl wh Cassie Randolph.

April 14, 2021: Colton Unrwood publicly out as gay. About a year after endg his relatnship wh ex-girliend Randolph, Unrwood sat down for an terview wh Rob Roberts for Good Morng Ameri, where he me out as gay.

SHOP 'GMA3' POWER HOUR ALS FOR LABOR DAY!OPEN MENUVIOSHOPCULTUREFAYWELLNSFOODLIVGSTYLETRAVELNEWSBOOK CLUBGMA3: WYNTKNEWSLETTERPRIVACY POLICYYOUR US STATE PRIVACY RIGHTSCHILDREN'S ONLE PRIVACY POLICYINTERT-BASED ADSTERMS OF USEDO NOT SELL MY INFOCONTACT USCOPYRIGHT © 2023 ABC NEWS INTER VENTUR. ALL RIGHTS RERVED.SEARCHCULTUREFORMER 'BACHELOR' STAR COLTON UNRWOOD OUT AS GAY13:36FORMER 'BACHELOR' COLTON UNRWOOD SPEAKS HIS TTH AND OUT AS BYCARSON BLACKWELR VIO BYJA ANRSON AND DANIELLE GEAPRIL 14, 2021, 7:33 AM•8 M READCOLTON UNRWOOD IS READY TO LIVE HIS TTH.THE FORMER "BACHELOR" STAR ME OUT AS GAY AN EXCLIVE TERVIEW WH ROB ROBERTS ON "GOOD MORNG AMERI" ON WEDNDAY."I'VE RAN OM MYSELF FOR A LONG TIME. I'VE HATED MYSELF FOR A LONG TIME," UNRWOOD TOLD ROBERTS A PRE-TAPED CHAT. "AND I'M GAY. AND I ME TO TERMS WH THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR AND HAVE BEEN PROCSG . AND THE NEXT STEP ALL OF THIS WAS SORT OF LETTG PEOPLE KNOW."MORE: COLTON UNRWOOD SETS 'EPLY PERSONAL' TERVIEW ON 'GMA' WH ROB ROBERTS"I'M STILL NERVO, BUT YEAH," HE NTUED. "IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY FOR SURE."ABC'S ROB ROBERTS WH COLTON UNRWOOD, THE LEAD OF THE 23RD SEASON OF "THE BACHELOR," DURG AN TERVIEW APRIL 2021.ABCUNRWOOD SAID HE FALLY GOT TO A PLACE WHERE HE ULD BE HONT WH HIMSELF AFTER 2020, THE YEAR THAT TURNED EVERYONE'S LIV UPSI DOWN, AND MA PEOPLE "LOOK AT THEMSELV THE MIRROR AND FIGURE OUT WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY'VE BEEN NNG OM OR WHAT THEY'VE BEEN PUTTG OFF THEIR LIV."WHEN ROBERTS, WHO IS ALSO OPENLY GAY, SAID SHE ULD "SEE THE JOY" AND "SEE THE RELIEF" UNRWOOD, HE SAID HE WAS "EMOTNAL , LIKE SUCH A GOOD, HAPPY, POSIVE WAY," AND IS "THE HAPPIT AND HEALTHIT" HE'S EVER BEEN.UNRWOOD SAID HE WENT THROUGH A "DARK AND BAD" TIME BEFORE FEELG LIKE HE ULD REVEAL THIS ABOUT HIMSELF AND HIS "WAKE UP LL" WAS FEELG LIKE HE "WOULD'VE RATHER DIED" THAN SAY HE'S GAY."THERE WAS A MOMENT L.A. THAT I WOKE UP AND I DIDN'T THK I WAS GONNA WAKE UP. I DIDN'T HAVE THE TENTNS OF WAKG UP. AND I DID," HE RELLED, NOTG THIS MOMENT -- AND OTHER "SUICIDAL THOUGHTS" -- LED HIM TO "TAKE BACK NTROL" OF HIS LIFE.WHEN ROBERTS ASKED ABOUT THE WOMEN OM HIS "BACHELOR" SEASON AND HOW THEY -- AMONG OTHERS -- MAY FEEL MISLED, UNRWOOD SAID HE "WOULD UNRSTAND WHY THEY THK THAT WAY.""I'VE THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT THIS TOO, OF, 'DO I REGRET BEG THE BACHELOR AND DO I REGRET HANDLG THE WAY THAT I DID?' I DO," HE SAID. "I DO THK I ULD'VE HANDLED BETTER, I'LL SAY THAT."UNRWOOD SAID HE "GENUELY" WISH HE HADN'T DRAGGED PEOPLE TO "MY OWN MS OF FIGURG OUT WHO I WAS." IN ADDN TO SAYG SORRY TO THOSE WOMEN, HE WOULD SAID THANK YOU BEE, ULTIMATELY, THEY AND THE ANCHISE HELPED HIM GET TO THIS PLACE.MORE: MATT JAM REFLECTS ON 'BACHELOR' SEASON, RACHAEL KIRKNNELL NTROVERSYWHEN HE WAS NAMED THE BACHELOR, UNRWOOD SAID HE REMEMBERED "PRAYG TO GOD" THE MORNG HE FOUND OUT AND "THANKG HIM FOR MAKG ME STRAIGHT,' THKG THIS WOULD LEAD TO HIM FALLY GETTG THE WIFE AND THEM HAVG KIDS.COLTON UNRWOOD AS "THE BACHELOR," FOR SEASON 23, 2019.CRAIG SJOD/ABCBUT UNRWOOD SAID HE HAD KNOWN THE TTH OF HIS SEXUALY SCE A YOUNG AGE, KNOWG HE "JT FELT DIFFERENT" OM THE AGE OF 6, WHEN HE ULDN'T PROCS . HE KNEW HE WAS "MORE EMOTNAL" THAN THE OTHER BOYS HIS CLASS. IT TOOK UNTIL HIGH SCHOOL FOR HIM TO REALIZE HE "WAS MORE ATTRACTED TO THE BOYS AND THE MEN" THAN HE WAS THE OPPOSE SEX.HAVG GROWN UP THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, HE REMEMBERED HE "LEARNED THE BIBLE THAT GAY IS A S" CATHOLIC GRA SCHOOL. AND DURG HIS TIME SPORTS, HE REMEMBERED PEOPLE G THE WORD "GAY" AS A TERM THAT HELD "A NNOTATN OF NEGATIVY.""I THK THERE'S A LOT OF THGS, WHEN I LOOK BACK, I'M LIKE, 'NO WONR I HELD ,'" HE SAID.UNRWOOD SAID HE HAS GROWN "CLOSER TO GOD" THIS REVELATN AND SAID HE KNOWS SOME PEOPLE WILL QUTN HOW THAT'S EVEN POSSIBLE FOR A GAY MAN TO SAY."I ED TO WAKE UP THE MORNG AND PRAY FOR HIM TO TAKE THE GAY AWAY. I ED TO PRAY FOR HIM TO CHANGE ME," HE SAID, ADDG THAT HIS RELATNSHIP WH GOD NOW ISN'T "NDNAL."UNRWOOD SAID HE'S HAD "A RANGE OF RPONS" TO HIS G OUT AND THE "UNRLYG, MOST MON ONE" HAS BEEN THEY WISH HE'D TOLD THEM SOONER, CLUDG HIS DAD."AND WHEN I HEAR THAT, I WISH I WOULD HAVE HAD FAH MY IENDS AND MY FAY A LTLE B MORE," HE SAID. "THE ONLY REASON I'M STG DOWN WH YOU TODAY IS BEE I HAVE THE LOVE AND THE SUPPORT OF MY IENDS AND MY FAY."MORE: KATIE THURSTON AND MICHELLE YOUNG EACH GIVEN THEIR OWN SEASONS OF 'THE BACHELORETTE'UNRWOOD SAID HE STILL HASN'T HAD AN "EMOTNAL NNECTN" WH SOMEONE OF THE SAME SEX, BUT HE IS LOOKG FORWARD TO FDG A PARTNER."I'VE NEVER ALLOWED MYSELF TO," HE NTUED. "AND IT'S NEVER BEEN SORT OF MY RDS TO LET MYSELF GET THERE, AND I WANT TO MORE THAN ANYTHG. I'M LOOKG FOR SOMEONE WHO N PH ME AND CHALLENGE ME ALL THE GREAT WAYS."WHEN ROBERTS ASKED IF HE HAD ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STGGLG TO E OUT, UNRWOOD SAID HE STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO AND IS STILL LEARNG."BUT IF I HAD TO GO BACK AND GIVE ANYBODY ADVICE, I MEAN, YOU'RE GONNA GET THROUGH IS WHAT I WOULD TELL MYSELF. KEEP FIGHTG FOR YOU. KEEP CHOOSG YOU EVERY MORNG. AND WHEN THE TIME'S READY OR WHEN THE TIME'S RIGHT AND YOU'RE READY, DO ON YOUR OWN TIME."ABC'S ROB ROBERTS WH COLTON UNRWOOD, THE LEAD OF THE 23RD SEASON OF "THE BACHELOR," DURG AN TERVIEW APRIL 2021.ABC13:36UNRWOOD, WHO GAVE HIS FAL ROSE TO CASSIE RANDOLPH 2019, SAYS HE “ME TO TERMS” WH HIS SEXUALY EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND IS THE “HAPPIT AND HEALTHIT” HE’S EVER BEEN.BACHELOR NATN WAS FIRST TRODUCED TO UNRWOOD WHEN HE WAS A NTTANT ON BEC KU'S SEASON OF "THE BACHELORETTE," THE 14TH SEASON, 2018. HE MA TO KU'S FAL FOUR.THE FORMER FOOTBALL STAR FOLLOWED THIS UP WH A BRIEF STT ON SEASON 4 OF "BACHELOR PARADISE," ON WHICH HE HAD A FLG WH TIA BOOTH.UNRWOOD WAS THEN THE LEAD OF SEASON 23 OF "THE BACHELOR" 2019, WH HIS VIRGY BEG A EQUENT TOPIC OF NVERSATN AND HIS FAMO FENCE-JUMPG MOMENT BEG ONE OF THE ANCHISE'S MOST DRAMATIC MOMENTS. HE GAVE HIS FAL ROSE TO NTTANT CASSIE RANDOLPH BUT ULTIMATELY CHOSE TO NOT PROPOSE TO HER, THOUGH THEY LATER TOLD "GMA" THEY HAD DISCSED AN ENGAGEMENT.MORE: CHRIS HARRISON WON'T HOST NEXT SEASON OF 'THE BACHELORETTE'THE TWO DATED AFTER THE SHOW WRAPPED UNTIL ANNOUNCG THEIR BREAKUP EARLY 2020. THEY LATER MA HEADL WHEN RANDOLPH WAS GRANTED A RTRAG ORR AGAST UNRWOOD, ACCG HIM OF STALKG AND HARASSG HER. IN A POLICE REPORT, SHE ACCED HIM OF PUTTG A TRACKG VICE ON HER R. UNRWOOD LATER RELEASED A STATEMENT EXPLAG THAT HE AND RANDOLPH HAD ROLVED THEIR ISSU PRIVATE. SHE LATER DISMISSED THE RTRAG ORR AND REQUTED THE POLICE VTIGATN BE DROPPED.IN HIS TERVIEW WH ROBERTS, UNRWOOD APOLOGIZED SPECIFILLY TO RANDOLPH FOR "ANY PA AND EMOTNAL STRS" HE ED HER AND SAID HE WISH HADN'T HAPPENED THE WAY DID."I WISH THAT I WOULD'VE BEEN URAGEO ENOUGH TO FIX MYSELF BEFORE I BROKE ANYBODY ELSE," HE SAID.HE SAID HE "LOVED EVERYTHG" ABOUT RANDOLPH, WHICH "ONLY MA HARR AND MORE NFG" FOR HIM AS HE WAS EXPERIENCG HIS OWN "TERNAL FIGHT."PRR TO HIS TIME ON REALY TV, UNRWOOD FAMOLY DATED OLYMPIC GYMNAST ALY RAISMAN. HE WROTE ABOUT THEIR RELATNSHIP -- AND MUCH MORE -- HIS 2020 BOOK, "THE FIRST TIME: FDG MYSELF AND LOOKG FOR LOVE ON REALY TV."THE DAYS, UNRWOOD IS JT "PROUD" OF HOW FAR HE HAS E."I'M STILL THE SAME COLTON EVERYBODY MET ON TV. I'M STILL THE SAME COLTON TO MY IENDS AND MY FAY, I JT HAPPEN TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WH PEOPLE NOW ALL OF ME," HE SAID. "AND I AM PROUD OF THAT, YOU KNOW? I AM PROUD TO BE GAY."IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEEDS HELP OR SUPPORT, NTACT THE TREVOR PROJECT'S TREVORLIFELE 24/7 AT 1-866-488-7386. COUNSELG IS ALSO AVAILABLE 24/7 VIA CHAT AT , OR BY TEXTG 678-678.RELATED TOPICSTHE BACHELORUP NEXT CULTURE—BURNA BOY'S NEW ALBUM 'I TOLD THEM…' REMDS WHY HE'S 'ST' ON TOP OF THE WORLD'SEPTEMBER 1, 2023TOM HOLLAND SHAR SWEET PHOTOS OF GIRLIEND ZENDAYA ON HER BIRTHDAY: SEE THE PICTUR SEPTEMBER 1, 2023MEG RYAN ON HER SON'S REACTN TO 'WHEN HARRY MET SALLY' KATZ'S DELI SCENE, NEW ROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2023JT TIMBERLAKE, TIMBALAND AND NELLY FURTADO RNE FOR NEW SGLE, 'KEEP GOG UP'SEPTEMBER 1, 2023UP NEXT CULTURE—BURNA BOY'S NEW ALBUM 'I TOLD THEM…' REMDS WHY HE'S 'ST' ON TOP OF THE WORLD'SEPTEMBER 1, 2023TOM HOLLAND SHAR SWEET PHOTOS OF GIRLIEND ZENDAYA ON HER BIRTHDAY: SEE THE PICTUR SEPTEMBER 1, 2023MEG RYAN ON HER SON'S REACTN TO 'WHEN HARRY MET SALLY' KATZ'S DELI SCENE, NEW ROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2023JT TIMBERLAKE, TIMBALAND AND NELLY FURTADO RNE FOR NEW SGLE, 'KEEP GOG UP'SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

"I've hated myself for a long time, and I'm gay, " he explaed. Former 'Bachelor' star says he is gay.

Colton Unrwood told Rob Roberts on “Good Morng Ameri” that he is gay an terview that aired Wednday morng. I’m gay. (Sarah Morris / Getty Imag for Baby2Baby) Colton Unrwood won’t be “The Bachelor” much longer: Ls than a year after g out as gay, the former star of the ABC datg show is engaged to polil strategist Jordan C.

COLTON UNRWOOD COM OUT AS GAY & ADMS TO ‘SUICIDAL THOUGHTS’ BEFORE FDG HIMSELF

”The former NFL player, who said the Netflix doc that he ially “didn’t want to be gay, ” lled 2021 the “most transformative year” of his life.

Cassie Randolph spoke out after ex Colton Unrwood me out as gay. Cassie Randolph, the former girliend of “Bachelor” star Colton Unrwood, addrsed her ex g out as gay.

COLTON UNRWOOD SAYS GROWG UP HE DIDN'T THK IT WAS POSSIBLE TO HAVE A FAY AS A GAY MAN

Close to one month after publicly g out as a gay man, the Bachelor Natn member is sharg new tails about his experience the LGBTQ+ muny. "ABCAcrdg to Variety, Colton shared a story of visg a Los Angel spa 2020 that was known for terg to gay clientele.

In addn to his terview on Good Morng Ameri, the 29-year-old thor is the middle of filmg a Netflix realy show about his life as a now-openly gay man. "I had never seen a football player that had ma to the NFL that had been gay, growg up Catholic.

I've had hundreds of gay Christian men and women who are nfed their walk wh J say, ‘I felt closer to God when I me out.

He add, "My dad is proud to say that he is a nservative Republin, and he is also proud to say, I have a gay son.