Former "Bachelor" star Colton Unrwood out as gay - CBS News

Contents:

• THE BACHELOR STAR COLTON UNRWOOD OUT AS GAY
• COLTON UNRWOOD, ‘BACHELOR’ STAR, COM OUT AS GAY
• FORMER "BACHELOR" STAR COLTON UNRWOOD OUT AS GAY
• 'BACHELOR' ALUM CASSIE RANDOLPH ON HOW SHE 'FOUND OUT' ABOUT EX COLTON UNRWOOD COMG OUT AS GAY
• ‘BACHELOR’ FANS MAND GAY SEASON AMID COLTON UNRWOOD’S G OUT
• 'BACHELOR' ALUM COLTON UNRWOOD OUT AS GAY: 'I'M THE HAPPIT AND HEALTHIT I'VE EVER BEEN'
• COLTON UNRWOOD, FIRST ‘BACHELOR’ STAR TO E OUT AS GAY, SAYS HE WAS BLACKMAILED
• ‘BACHELOR’ STAR COLTON UNRWOOD COM 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
• COLTON UNRWOOD, FORMER 'BACHELOR' STAR, OUT AS GAY
• COLTON UNRWOOD, THE FIRST GAY ‘BACHELOR,’ CONONTS HIS CONTROVERSIAL COMG OUT

THE BACHELOR STAR COLTON UNRWOOD OUT AS GAY

"And I'm gay. Ms Randolph then filed for a rtrag orr agast Mr Unrwood, accg him of stalkg her, but she later requted the police vtigatn be source, Getty ImagImage ptn, In The Bachelor, he chose nttant Cassie RandolphMr Unrwood said he cid to e out after the panmic h, addg that was a time which forced people to "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" said he had been aware of his sexualy for a long time, knowg he "jt felt different" om the age of Unrwood said he "learned the Bible that gay is a s" Catholic school. Durg his time playg football, he relled the term "gay" held "a nnotatn of negativy".

COLTON UNRWOOD, ‘BACHELOR’ STAR, COM OUT AS GAY

"I thk there's a lot of thgs, when I look back, I'm like, 'No wonr I held , '" he may also be terted : Media ptn, Kenh Felts has e out as gay at 90 years old...

FORMER "BACHELOR" STAR COLTON UNRWOOD OUT AS GAY

AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTThe 29-year-old former football player had wrten about qutng his sexualy a memoir, published Shotwell/Invisn, via Richard Shotwell, via Invisn, via Associated PrsColton Unrwood, a star of “The Bachelor” and a former football player, me out as gay an terview wh Rob Roberts that aired Wednday on “Good Morng Ameri. And I’m gay.

“I would have rather died than say, ‘I’m gay. “‘You know, Colt, we’d still love you and support you if you were gay, ’” he relled his mother tellg father was more nontatnal.

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

“He’d pulled up the history of recent Google search, which clud gay porn s and a variety of qutns: ‘Am I gay?

‘BACHELOR’ FANS MAND GAY SEASON AMID COLTON UNRWOOD’S G OUT

How do you know if you’re gay?

)In s 20 years, the anchise has never featured an all-gay st. Liftyle reported at the Unrwood beme the first openly gay man Bachelor Natn April C. The outlet reported that the rtrag orr was dropped that later, April 2021, Unrwood me out as gay durg an terview on "Good Morng Ameri.

"This mak him the first former lead to be part of the LGBTQ+ muny, and the first gay man volved wh the May 2023, Unrwood married polil strategist Jordan C.

'BACHELOR' ALUM COLTON UNRWOOD OUT AS GAY: 'I'M THE HAPPIT AND HEALTHIT I'VE EVER BEEN'

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. 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" star and NFL player Colton Unrwood has e out as gay.

The 29-year-old revealed he was gay publicly for the first time durg an terview wh "Good Morng Ameri" anchor Rob Roberts that aired on Wednday. I've hated myself for a long time, and I'm gay, " said Unrwood. "I would have rather died than say, 'I'm gay, ' and I thk that was sort of my wakp ll, " he said.

COLTON UNRWOOD, FIRST ‘BACHELOR’ STAR TO E OUT AS GAY, SAYS HE WAS BLACKMAILED

He is now one of the few openly gay former NFL his book, "The First Time: Fdg Myself and Lookg for Love on Realy TV, " Unrwood opened up about his virgy and how he had once qutned whether or not he was gay. However, Unrwood said he knew he was "different" sce he was six, and realized as a hman high school that he was gay.

‘BACHELOR’ STAR COLTON UNRWOOD COM OUT AS GAY

In the terview, Unrwood said that openg up about beg gay has led him to a better place life. 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'.

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

Could there be a gay season of “The Bachelor? “Ok let’s see a gay Bachelor season, ” wrote one Twter er rponse to the news. “So now, obvly, do a long overdue gay Bachelor season, ” posted another.

“Now give the season we serve wh a gay bachelor please, ” said @anahigu. I see a glimmer of hope for the gay Bachelor season that we all so sperately serve. To everyone sayg he should get another season and be the first gay bachelor- are you fettg how he treated Cassie??

But at least one supporter saw the news g — and suggted there’s already been a season of “Gay Bachelor. ” In a clip rurfaced Wednday, “Billy on the Street” host Billy Eichner suggted that Unrwood was the first gay Bachelor whout even knowg . And for me, I've ran om myself for a long time, I've hated myself for a long time, and I'm gay, " Unrwood TV star said was his down time spent durg the ronavis panmic that helped him procs his tth.

COLTON UNRWOOD, FORMER 'BACHELOR' STAR, OUT AS GAY

I got to a place where I'd rather die than thk I was gay, " he said. Colton Unrwood, the first star of “The Bachelor” anchise to e out, says he was blackmailed before he announced last month that he is gay. Variety, which has an exclive terview, says Unrwood “secretly vised a spa known for terg to gay clientele.

Unrwood nfirmed to Variety that he has a Netflix seri the works about his g-out journey, wh fellow gay athlete G Kenworthy actg as his ially praised for his cisn to e out, Unrwood, 29, has weathered his fair share of ntroversy, cludg allegatns of appearg as a nttant on “The Bachelorette, ” he was st “Bachelor Paradise” (both 2018), where he had a flg wh fellow nttant Tia Booth. He also received support, cludg om celebri such as Billy Eichner, who had prevly told him durg a gut appearance on “The Bachelor”: “Maybe you’re the first gay Bachelor, and we don’t even know. “I never want people to thk that I’m g out to change the narrative, or to bsh over and not take rponsibily for my actns, and now that I have this gay life that I don’t have to addrs my past as a straight man, ” Unrwood said.

The former Bachelor star, who led the 2019 season of the ABC realy datg anchise, said on Good Morng Ameri that he is gay. And, I’m gay, ” he said durg an exclive s-down wh Rob Roberts for ABC News’ GMA. After gettg to a place his life that he scribed as “dark” and “bad, ” he relled how at one pot he felt, “I would have rather died than said, ‘I’m gay, ’ and I thk that was my wake-up ll.

COLTON UNRWOOD, THE FIRST GAY ‘BACHELOR,’ CONONTS HIS CONTROVERSIAL COMG OUT

He relled how he thanked God after his announcement as star for “makg him straight, ” sharg, “I’ve known that I’ve been different sce the age of 6, and I uldn’t procs and I uldn’t put my fger on what was until [my hman year of high school] when I knew I was gay. ” Growg up the Catholic church, he said, “I learned the Bible that gay is a s” and he relled how, as an athlete, the word “gay” was ed a negative nnotatn. JUST IN: Former “Bachelor” star @Colton Unrwood speaks his tth and out to @robroberts: “I’m gay.