Full Breakdown
Colton Underwood’s Secret Hookups: From “Virgin Bachelor” to Public Coming Out
6/19/2026, 2:22:53 AM
The Revealed Strategy
“Bachelor” lead Colton Underwood disclosed on the *We Need to Talk* podcast that he limited his sexual encounters to married straight men. He described the rule as a way to protect himself, reasoning the men “had more to lose than I did.” He emphasized that these “hookups” did not involve sex.
Background: Faith, Virginity, and Reality TV
Underwood, a former NFL practice-squad player for the San Diego Chargers (2014), Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders (released 2016), entered *The Bachelorette* (Becca Kufrin, 2018) and became the lead of *The Bachelor* (2019). Producers highlighted his virginity, a narrative Underwood said conflicted with his religious upbringing and concealed struggle with his sexuality.
Timeline of Public Disclosures and Personal Milestones
- 2014-2016 – NFL practice-squad stints; released 2016.
- 2018 – Contestant on *The Bachelorette* (Becca Kufrin).
- 2019 – Starred as “Virgin Bachelor” on *The Bachelor* (ABC).
- April 2021 – Came out as gay on *Good Morning America* with Robin Roberts.
- March 2023 – Married Jordan C. Brown-Underwood.
- Sept 26 2024 – Son Bishop born via surrogate.
Data & Statistics
- NFL practice-squad tenure: 2014-2016
- Bachelor lead year: 2019
- Public coming-out: April 2021
- Marriage to Jordan C. Brown-Underwood: March 2023
- Son Bishop born via surrogate: September 26 2024
Why It Matters: Visibility, Self-Preservation, and Reality-TV Ethics
Underwood’s disclosure highlights the pressures faced by closeted athletes and reality-TV personalities, illustrating how personal faith and career ambitions can drive self-preservation tactics. The “Virgin Bachelor” storyline sparked debate over producers’ exploitation of personal identity for ratings, while his later coming out contributes to LGBTQ representation in television.
Official Statements & Responses
Underwood said his rule to only engage with married men was a “form of self-preservation,” noting the men “had more to lose.” He clarified the encounters were “hookups, not sex.” In his 2021 interview, he affirmed his gay identity and later called his marriage a “new chapter.”
Criticism & Opposition
Underwood expressed discontent with the producers’ emphasis on his virginity, stating, “I hated it because I didn’t want that pressure.” He argued the storyline forced him to conceal his sexuality further, turning a personal struggle into a ratings-driven plot. No external critics were cited in the sources.
Verbatim Quotes
- “To protect myself, I would only hook up with married straight men,” — Colton Underwood, *We Need to Talk* podcast
- “they had more to lose than I did.” — Colton Underwood, *We Need to Talk* podcast
- “I’m going to be so publicly straight that I will never be able to be gay again.” — Colton Underwood, *We Need to Talk* podcast
- “I want to make that very clear that I did not have sex with a man, prior to that.” — Colton Underwood, *We Need to Talk* podcast
