Bachelor Colton Underwood ‘came out as gay to network weeks ago & personally chose Robin Roberts for tell-all interview’
BACHELOR Colton Underwood came out as gay to execs at the network “weeks ago” and chose Robin Roberts to conduct his tell-all interview, The Sun can reveal.
Earlier this morning, the ABC star sat down for an emotional chat on Good Morning America where he opened up for the first time about struggling with his sexuality.
Read our Colton Underwood live blog for the very latest news and updates...
Sources close to production tell The Sun that Colton, 29, came out to execs at the network “a few weeks ago” to address how to best-handle the matter publicly.
"Colton approached people he now considers friends who he felt comfortable sharing this with but didn’t have a game plan of how he’d come out publicly.
“After many discussions, it was decided Robin Roberts would be the person to best handle this so the arrangements were made.
“Everyone involved on the show has been very supportive of Colton and they are happy he’s in a healthier place,” the insider said.
Robin, 60, has been with her longtime partner, Amber Laign, since 2005.
The informant claimed that the news anchor and her GMA co-host, Michael Strahan, were Colton’s “first choices” to handle the personal matter.
“He has a good relationship with both of them from over the years and has always been a fan of Michael’s with their football connection.
“But ultimately everyone, it was mutual, felt Robin would be the best person to conduct the interview and both Colton and ABC are very happy with the way it turned out,” the source explained.
On Wednesday morning, Colton revealed to the world he was gay and he further apologized to his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Randolph, and all the women who had competed during his 2019 season.
The NFL star told Robin: "I ran from myself for a long time and hated myself for a long time and I'm gay.
"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 further claimed that he was the happiest and healthiest he's ever been, despite dealing with suicidal ideations for some time.
"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," he said.
"I would have rather died than say I'm gay and that was my wake-up call.”
He 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.”
Fans will remember Colton participated in Becca Kufrin's season in 2018 before he was eliminated.
Later that Summer, he then competed in Bachelor In Paradise, where he was also eliminated.
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Producers gave him his own Bachelor season, where he went home with Cassie after famously jumping the wall for her but the pair did not leave engaged.
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Less than two years later, they split in a messy break-up which resulted in the California girl filing - and later dropping - a restraining order against him.
Cassie has not yet publicly commented on her ex coming out - or their legal matters.