Politics
Bachelor Colton Underwood’s exes Kirpa Sudick & Elyse Dehlbom praise him for being ‘authentic’ after he comes out as gay
THE Bachelor star Colton Underwood’s ex-girlfriends Kirpa Sudick and Elyse Dehlbom praised him for being “authentic” after he came out as gay.
Colton, 29, told Robin Roberts on Good Morning America on Wednesday that he “came to terms” with his sexuality earlier this year and has been “processing the next step.”
Colton Underwood came out as gay on Wednesday[/caption]
Former contestants have shared their support for Colton[/caption]
Read our Colton Underwood live blog for the very latest news and updates…
Colton’s former Bachelor contestants are rallying around the star by praising him for coming out.
Kirpa, who was eliminated during week seven, exclusively told The Sun: “I saw the news about Colton and I’m happy he’s able to live authentically now and not have to hide that part of himself. Wishing him all the best!”
Elyse Dehlbom, who was on The Bachelor up until week five, “applauded” Colton for “living his authentic self.”
She added: “I hope this allows for him to be a healthier happier individual.”
Ex Elyse Dehlbom ‘applauded’ Colton[/caption]
Angelique Sherman said she is ‘so happy’ he ‘figured out his truth’[/caption]
Angelique Sherman, who was eliminated during the second week of filming, told The Sun: “I wish Colton nothing but the best and I’m so happy for him figuring out his truth.
“He has my support just like many others in the gay community.”
Other Bachelor nation members have turned to social media to share their support.
Former host Chris Harrison captioned an Instagram photo of the two: “Very proud of you today @coltonunderwood.
Former host Chris Harrison also shared his support[/caption]
“Happy to see you stand up and openly live your truth. You have my love and support my friend.”
Demi Burnett, who also appeared on Colton’s season and came out on Bachelor in Paradise, tweeted: “Welcome to the community brother.”
Fans are also calling for a re-do of Colton’s season by having the first gay bachelor.
One fan wrote: “@Colton as the first gay bachelor?”
Fans are calling for Colton to be the first gay Bachelor[/caption]
A second one tweeted: “Yay! Do your thing ABC. We’re waiting for the first season with a gay #Bachelor.”
A third one commented: “First gay Bachelor season.”
Colton, who famously dated gymnast Aly Raisman, told Robin: “I came to terms with that earlier this year and have been processing it the next step, letting people know… I’m still nervous. It’s been a journey for sure.”
He said of having suicidal thoughts: “I got into a place, for me in my personal life, that was dark and I can list a bunch of different things and they would be excuses.
Colton admitted he suffered suicidal thoughts[/caption]
“I would have rather died than say I’m gay and that was my wake-up call.”
The former football player continued: “Even just suicidal thoughts…driving my car close to a cliff, if this goes over the cliff, it’s not that big of a deal…I don’t feel that anymore.”
Colton told Robin that he first discovered he was gay when he was just 6 years old but didn’t fully confirm it until high school.
Growing up in a religious household, he believed being gay was wrong and would try to “pray the gay away.”
Colton grew up in a religious household[/caption]
Colton apologized to his ex-girlfriend Cassie[/caption]
Also in the interview, Colton addressed his relationship with Cassie, who he chose on The Bachelor, and said: “I would like to say sorry for how things ended, I messed up I made a lot of bad choices.
“I loved everything about her, and it’s hard for me to articulate my emotions and going through that relationship with her because I obviously had an internal fight going on.
“I’m sorry for any pain and emotional stress I caused, I wish it wouldn’t have happened the way it did. I wish I would have been courageous enough to fix myself before I broke anyone else.”
He also apologized to the women who competed on his season[/caption]
He also apologized to the women who competed on his season.
Colton Underwood first spoke about his sexuality in his 2020 book, The First Time: Finding Myself and Looking for Love on Reality TV.
He wrote: “I thought, maybe I am gay. The captain of the football team should be having sex and drinking, right? But I wasn’t.
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“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.”
He continued: “Even while my season was airing, I battled the gay [rumors]. They’d say, ‘he’s gay, he’s hiding it.’ No. But I’ve been there, done that now.
“I finally found somebody I really just want to be with. I want my life to be with Cassie. I know who I am. And that’s really all that matters.”
Colton wrote that he ‘struggled’ with his sexuality in his memoir[/caption]
