Coming Out Colton
Coming Out Colton is a five-part Netflix reality docuseries released on December 3, 2021, that documents former NFL practice squad player and The Bachelor season 23 lead Colton Underwood's process of publicly acknowledging his homosexuality following years of denial rooted in his Christian upbringing and athletic career.[1][2] The series depicts Underwood confiding in family members, friends, and ex-coaches about his sexuality in the lead-up to his April 2021 on-air revelation during a Good Morning America interview, while grappling with the fallout from his prior engagement to contestant Cassie Randolph, whom he allegedly harassed post-breakup by hiring private investigators and installing a tracking device in her car—a matter settled out of court after Randolph filed a temporary restraining order.[1][3][4] Underwood, who went undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft and appeared briefly on practice squads for teams including the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles before pivoting to reality television, positioned the production as a path to self-acceptance, though it drew backlash for allegedly exploiting his coming-out narrative for commercial gain and for Underwood's self-comparisons to established LGBTQ rights figures amid his relative privilege as a white, affluent former athlete.[1][5][6] Critics highlighted the series' focus on Underwood's personal redemption over broader community insights, contributing to its middling reception with a 57% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, where reviewers noted its superficial treatment of internal conflict contrasted against real-world skepticism about the sincerity of his abrupt disclosure after claiming to seek a wife on national TV.[7][8]Overview
Premise and Background
"Coming Out Colton" is a six-episode American docuseries that follows former professional football player and reality television personality Colton Underwood as he navigates his process of coming out as gay, including reflections on his internal struggles, conversations with close friends and family, and efforts to integrate into the LGBTQ community.[1][9] The series portrays Underwood's self-discovery journey, addressing past relationships and the pressures of his public persona from appearances on "The Bachelorette" and "The Bachelor," where he pursued women while suppressing his same-sex attractions.[10][8] Underwood, born on January 31, 1992, in Indianapolis, Indiana, played as a tight end in the NFL for teams including the San Diego Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles before transitioning to reality television in 2016.[11] His tenure as the lead on season 23 of "The Bachelor" in 2019, which averaged 6.9 million viewers per episode, centered on his pursuit of contestant Cassie Randolph, ending in a breakup that led to legal disputes over alleged harassment, including tracking her location, which Underwood denied intent to harm in and settled out of court in November 2020.[11] Following these events, Underwood experienced severe mental health challenges, including suicidal ideation and a hospitalization for COVID-19 complications in 2020, which intensified his reckoning with his sexuality.[12] He publicly came out on April 14, 2021, during an exclusive interview on ABC's "Good Morning America," stating, "I’m gay... I’ve ran from myself so many times," and emphasizing a desire for authenticity after years of denial rooted in his conservative upbringing and athletic career.[12] The docuseries, filmed prior to Underwood's public announcement, captures intimate discussions with figures like his parents, former Bachelor Nation peers, and gay mentors, aiming to destigmatize coming out while confronting criticisms of his past behavior toward exes.[10][8] Produced by Netflix Studios under executive producer Jeff Jenkins, it premiered globally on December 3, 2021, as an unscripted follow-up to Underwood's high-profile revelation, though some observers noted its focus on personal absolution amid ongoing debates about the authenticity of celebrity coming-out narratives.[9][11]Format and Structure
"Coming Out Colton" is structured as a six-episode unscripted docuseries, with each episode lasting approximately 30 minutes. The format follows a thematic chapter-based approach, where individual episodes focus on Underwood's disclosure of his homosexuality to distinct groups integral to his life, including family, former football coaches and teammates, church associates, and close friends. This segmented narrative enables a focused examination of reactions and Underwood's evolving self-acceptance within each context.[5][13] The series employs a reality television style, incorporating confessional interviews, direct-to-camera monologues from Underwood, and fly-on-the-wall footage of personal conversations and emotional exchanges. Produced by Jeff Jenkins Productions—known for prior unscripted projects like "Keeping Up with the Kardashians"—the episodes prioritize raw, observational storytelling over scripted drama, capturing Underwood's post-coming-out journey after his April 2021 public announcement via YouTube video. No overarching plot arc binds the episodes; instead, they function as semi-independent vignettes building toward Underwood's broader integration into LGBTQ spaces.[10][14]Content Summary
Overall Synopsis
Coming Out Colton is a six-episode Netflix docuseries that documents reality television personality Colton Underwood's journey of self-discovery and coming out as gay, covering events from November 2020 through his public announcement on April 14, 2021.[11][15] Underwood, a former NFL tight end who appeared on The Bachelorette in 2017 and starred as the lead on The Bachelor in 2019, shares intimate conversations with his parents, brother, and close friends about his suppressed sexuality and past experiences in heterosexual relationships.[1][9] The series depicts Underwood engaging with LGBTQ mentors, including Olympic diver Gus Kenworthy and activist Nicole Maines, to explore community dynamics and personal identity, while reflecting on the pressures of fame and athletic masculinity that delayed his self-acceptance.[16][2] It also addresses Underwood's health struggles, including a hospitalization for COVID-19 in early 2021 that prompted introspection, and his efforts to reconcile with former associates amid prior controversies.[5][6] Premiering on December 3, 2021, the unscripted production, helmed by Jeff Jenkins Productions, emphasizes Underwood's transition to living openly, including dating within the gay community and planning for future vulnerability in public life.[11][17] The narrative arc focuses on familial support—such as his mother's emotional response—and Underwood's proactive steps toward authenticity, framed against his Bachelor Nation background.[7][9]Key Themes and Narrative Arc
The narrative arc of Coming Out Colton unfolds chronologically across six episodes, beginning in November 2020 as Colton Underwood grapples with his suppressed sexuality and prepares to disclose it privately before his public announcement on April 14, 2021, via Good Morning America. The series opens with Underwood confiding in his immediate family—mother Donna, brother Chris, and father Scott—capturing their affirming reactions and the emotional relief of familial acceptance, which contrasts with his prior experiences of hiding his identity during public relationships on shows like The Bachelor.[2] This foundational phase transitions into broader disclosures to friends, former football teammates, and faith-based contacts, emphasizing incremental steps toward openness amid fears of rejection.[10] As the arc progresses, Underwood explores LGBTQ+ spaces and self-education, visiting sites like the Stonewall Inn to contextualize queer history and engaging mentors such as Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy for guidance on gay dating norms, including discussions of PrEP and app-based hookups in Los Angeles. Episodes delve into relational experiments, including bonding with country radio host Cody Alan in Nashville and navigating party scenes that test his comfort levels. The midpoint features spiritual reconciliation, with Underwood attending services at the [Metropolitan Community Church](/page/Metropolitan_Community Church)—an affirming denomination—and reflecting on evangelical homophobia's role in his internalized shame, including past suicidal thoughts triggered by identity suppression.[1][13] The latter episodes build toward integration and redemption, addressing Underwood's pre-coming-out behaviors like obsessive contact with ex-partners (framed by him as stemming from unaddressed trauma), while projecting optimism about authentic public life, including potential advocacy. This culminates in a forward trajectory of community building and personal growth, though the series concludes without resolving all tensions, such as ongoing scrutiny from his Bachelor past.[6][5] Central themes revolve around authenticity versus performance, particularly for a reality TV figure whose fame amplified his closet's pressures, leading to a portrayed catharsis in shedding heteronormative facades. The intersection of sexuality and conservative Christianity emerges prominently, with Underwood confronting doctrinal views that equated gay identity with sin, yet discovering affirming interpretations that allow faith retention without celibacy mandates. Mental health ramifications of prolonged denial—encompassing isolation, depression, and self-harm ideation—are recurrent, positioned as causal drivers for his disclosure rather than mere aftermath.[15][18] Exploration of queer neophyte challenges underscores themes of cultural acclimation, as Underwood, raised in a straight-laced Midwestern environment with minimal gay exposure, learns community etiquette, historical resilience against persecution, and the spectrum of gay experiences from monogamy to fluidity. Redemption narratives tie into accountability for prior actions, with Underwood attributing relational harms to identity denial, though this self-framing draws external skepticism for eliding agency. Overall, the series posits coming out as a multifaceted liberation process, blending personal vulnerability with privileged access to support networks unavailable to less visible individuals.[19][16]Episodes Breakdown
The docuseries comprises six episodes, all released on Netflix on December 3, 2021.[1] It chronicles former NFL player and The Bachelor contestant Colton Underwood's process of coming out as gay, beginning in late 2020, through private disclosures to family and associates, reflections on his past, and his public announcement on April 14, 2021.[20] Episode 1: FamilyUnderwood initiates his coming-out journey by confiding in his mother, Donna, about his sexuality, followed by plans to discuss it with other relatives. Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy, a friend, provides guidance on navigating the process. The episode emphasizes Underwood's emotional vulnerability during these family interactions.[20] Episode 2: Football
Underwood prepares to disclose his sexuality to his high school football coach while consulting with openly gay former NFL players Michael Sam, David Kopay, and Esera Tuaolo, who recount their experiences facing homophobia in professional sports. The segment explores how Underwood attributes internalized shame from his football background to delaying his self-acceptance.[20] Episode 3: Friends
Traveling to Nashville, Underwood connects with country radio host Cody Alan, an openly gay figure in a conservative industry, but experiences anxiety amid social pressures at a gathering of LGBTQ+ individuals. This episode highlights Underwood's initial discomfort in queer social settings post-coming out.[20] Episode 4: Church
Underwood examines his Catholic faith's conflict with his sexuality, confiding in faith-oriented friends and engaging with the affirming Metropolitan Community Church. He grapples with doctrinal rejection from traditional religious circles while seeking reconciliation with spirituality.[20] Episode 5: The Public
Culminating private discussions, Underwood opts for a televised revelation of his sexuality. Accompanied by his father and Kenworthy, he tours the Stonewall Inn in New York City, site of the 1969 riots pivotal to gay rights history, underscoring his entry into broader LGBTQ+ visibility.[20] Episode 6: The Past & The Future
Facing online backlash over prior relationships and actions, particularly from his Bachelor tenure, Underwood seeks counsel from mentors to address regrets and foster personal growth. The finale focuses on accountability and forward momentum amid public scrutiny.[20]