{"id":2463149,"date":"2026-06-17T02:16:07","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T02:16:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2463149"},"modified":"2026-06-17T02:16:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T02:16:07","slug":"colton-underwood-says-he-hooked-up-with-married-men-before-being-labeled-the-virgin-bachelor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/colton-underwood-says-he-hooked-up-with-married-men-before-being-labeled-the-virgin-bachelor\/","title":{"rendered":"Colton Underwood Says He &#8216;Hooked Up&#8217; with Married Men Before Being Labeled the &#8216;Virgin Bachelor&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Colton Underwood explained why he only hooked up with married men before coming out<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The former <em>Bachelor<\/em> star revealed he kept friends from different parts of his life separate to avoid questions about his sexuality<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Underwood said he hated being labeled the \u201cVirgin Bachelor\u201d because he feared people would dig into his private life<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/colton-underwood\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Colton Underwood;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Colton Underwood&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Colton Underwood<\/a> is opening up about the lengths he went to protect his secret before <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tv\/bachelor-colton-underwood-comes-out-as-gay\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:coming out publicly;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;coming out publicly&quot;}\" class=\"link \">coming out publicly<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The former <em>Bachelor<\/em> star, 34, reflected on navigating his sexuality while living in fear that someone would expose him, during an appearance on the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=i2LqCUiM_Cw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:We Need to Talk;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;We Need to Talk&quot;}\" class=\"link \"><em>We Need to Talk<\/em><\/a> podcast, released Tuesday, June 16.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI was very careful, even when I was physically experimenting with guys and trying to, like, figure myself out,\u201d Underwood said. \u201cI was so careful on how I did everything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">That caution extended to who he chose to be involved with.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cTo protect myself, I would only hook up with married men,&#8221; he explained. &#8220;[Married] \u2018straight\u2019 men. So that was sort of my rule that I would never break. When I was in the closet, that would be the only time I would ever hook up with men was if they were married&#8230; because they had more to lose than I did.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><i>Colton Underwood on the &#8216;We Need To Talk&#8217; podcast<br \/>Credit: We Need To Talk\/YouTube<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cSo if they tried to, you know, ruin my career and my life for football, they had a whole family that they\u2019d be risking as well,\u201d Underwood continued. \u201cSo it\u2019s a messed up thing to think through, but like it was a form of self [preservation]\u2026 it was just like a way to protect myself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The former NFL player later entered Bachelor Nation on Becca Kufrin\u2019s season of <em>The Bachelorette<\/em> before becoming the lead of <em>The Bachelor<\/em> at age 26 in 2019.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cOh, I mean like looking back on it now, I wish I would have been a little bit more vulnerable about just talking about my struggle with my sexuality,\u201d Underwood said on the podcast. \u201cI think there could have been something just interesting in that conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI remember I always got asked why I was a virgin. So that was the storyline that they wanted to run with, and I hated it &#8217;cause I didn\u2019t want that pressure, and then I also didn\u2019t want people digging in because at that time I had hooked up with men,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Underwood also doubled down that he never intended for his virginity to become such a central focus of his story.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI went into it like, my whole heart was like I\u2019m not going to disclose to them that I\u2019m a virgin no matter what,\u201d he recalled. \u201cI literally told them I was a virgin on night one of <em>The Bachelorette<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI opened it up immediately, and I just gave them everything which they loved,\u201d he continued. \u201cSo that\u2019s unfortunately how it sort of came to be, and then it became my entire storyline.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The former football player explained that his religious upbringing and internal struggle with his sexuality both contributed to his decision to remain a virgin.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThere were so many reasons why I was a virgin. Like it was my faith. Obviously the one that I didn\u2019t tell publicly was my struggle with my sexuality,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Colton Underwood and Cassie Randolph on 'The Bachelor'Credit: ABC\/Rick Rowell\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/mXBuFvL8e88s_Vw.dAk77Q--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/3fcfb87bca2527a77068e85d2e6755c9\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><i>Colton Underwood and Cassie Randolph on &#8216;The Bachelor&#8217;<br \/>Credit: ABC\/Rick Rowell<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">He also admitted that for years, he had convinced himself that certain milestones would somehow change who he was.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201c&#8217;I think I need to try this &#8230; or maybe if I have sex with a girl I will become straight,&#8217; \u201d Underwood recalled telling himself. \u201cI just was so good at convincing myself that the next step I will become straight. I need to get engaged. I need to get married. I need to lose my virginity. All of these different things were sort of steps to becoming straight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">When he accepted the role of <em>The Bachelor<\/em>, Underwood said he viewed it as another attempt to &#8220;force&#8221; himself down that path.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWhat I was telling myself is, &#8216;this is going to force me [to be straight],&#8217; \u201d he said. &#8220;I\u2019m going to be so publicly straight that I will never be able to be gay again.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Underwood publicly came out as gay in 2021. He is now married to political strategist <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/who-is-jordan-brown-underwood-colton-underwood-husband-11889877\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Jordan C. Brown-Underwood;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Jordan C. Brown-Underwood&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Jordan C. Brown-Underwood<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">His latest comments expand on remarks he previously made in a 2021 interview with <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2021\/tv\/features\/colton-underwood-the-bachelor-netflix-1234970331\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Variety;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Variety&quot;}\" class=\"link \"><em>Variety<\/em><\/a>, when he revealed that he had \u201cexperiment[ed] with men\u201d before appearing on <em>The Bachelorette<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWhen I say \u2018hookups,\u2019 not sex,\u201d Underwood clarified. \u201cI want to make that very clear that I did not have sex with a man, prior to that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">At the time, Underwood said he often worried someone he had been involved with would come forward publicly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for <\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/people-news-daily-newsletter-sign-up-8692701\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:PEOPLE's free daily newsletter;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;PEOPLE'&quot;}\" class=\"link \"><strong>PEOPLE&#8217;s free daily newsletter<\/strong><\/a><strong> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI remember feeling so guilty, like, \u2018What the hell am I doing?\u2019 \u201d he told the outlet. \u201cIt was my first time letting myself even go there, so much so that I was like, \u2018I need <em>The Bachelorette<\/em> in my life, so I could be straight.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the original article on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/colton-underwood-hooked-up-married-men-coming-out-12000459\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:People;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;People&quot;}\" class=\"link \">People<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEED TO KNOW Colton Underwood explained why he only hooked up with married men before coming out The former Bachelor star revealed he kept friends from different parts of his life separate to avoid questions about his sexuality Underwood said he hated being labeled the \u201cVirgin Bachelor\u201d because he feared people would dig into his 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