‘Bachelor’ Star Colton Underwood Questioned His Sexuality at Times in His Life
Ex-football player and former star of The Bachelor, Colton Underwood, is opening up in a new book, The First Time, about questioning his sexuality after years of being bullied.
“There are a lot of stories and experiences that will help people understand the choices I’ve made,” he said. “And I’m done hiding who I really am.”
He goes on to explain that the bullying started in grade school.
“I was called fatso, four eyes and four lips, because I used to lick my lips, so I would constantly have a red ring around them,” he said. “I was a little heavy, and that, combined with being socially awkward, led to a really hard time. I didn’t believe in myself. And I was super insecure.”
In high school, the bullying became even more personal as a rumor circulated that Colton was gay.
He added, “It was one of those things where you hear something so often, you start believing it. I thought, maybe I am gay. The captain of the football team should be having sex and drinking, right? But I wasn’t.”
He had even searched online “Am I gay?” as far back as grade school.
“I didn’t know who I was,” he said. “And I come from an athletic family, so it was always, ‘Move on, you’re good.’ So that threw me off. In high school, when I was struggling with my sexuality, I’m not going to talk to my parents about it. So I internalized it.”
Ultimately, the star found comfort in his first serious relationship, with Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman. When they broke up, he signed up for Becca Kufrin’s season of The Bachelorette on a whim.
Following a stint on Bachelor in Paradise, Colton became the Bachelor — and finally let go of the issues he’d had for so long.
Thanks for being so honest, Colton. A lot of guys dealing with these issues need to hear it right now.