Colton Underwood Reveals He Hooked Up With Married Men Before Bachelor Fame

In a candid June 12 interview on the We Need To Talk podcast, former NFL defensive end and The Bachelor lead Colton Underwood disclosed that, while still closeted, he had only hooked up with married straight men. Underwood said the choice was a calculated move to safeguard himself. He argued that married men carried more at stake if their orientation were revealed, making the encounters less risky for him.

Underwood explained that the strategy was a form of self‑preservation. “To protect myself, I would only hook up with married men. [Married] ‘straight’ men,” he said, adding that he had a strict rule he never broke. He also noted that he feared being outed as gay, and that the potential impact on a married man’s family made the encounters comparatively safer for him.

Page Six reported the comments on June 17, noting Underwood’s emphasis on a rule and his fear of exposure. The outlet quoted him as saying the encounters were “less risky” because the men’s families would suffer more if their orientation were revealed. The article also highlighted that Underwood had kept the practice hidden from the public and the reality‑TV audience until this interview.

Underwood’s television debut came in 2018 on The Bachelorette, where he was a contestant on the 14th season. In 2019, producers selected him as the lead for the 23rd season of The Bachelor, branding him the franchise’s first ‘Virgin Bachelor.’ He has said the virginity narrative was imposed by producers and not something he wanted to be associated with, yet it became a central storyline of his season.

In 2021, Underwood clarified in a Variety interview that he had not had sex with the men he had hooked up with. That same year, he announced his sexual orientation on Good Morning America, becoming the first Bachelor lead to come out publicly. The announcement was a milestone for LGBTQ representation in reality‑TV dating shows.

Underwood married political strategist Jordan C. Brown in March 2023 and welcomed a child via surrogate in 2024. Prior to his marriage, he had a relationship with The Bachelor contestant Cassie Randolph from March 2019 to May 2020. Randolph publicly accused Underwood of stalking and harassment in September 2020, leading to a temporary restraining order that was later dismissed after a private agreement was reached.

Underwood has said he accepted the lead role to force himself to appear straight publicly, a tactic he believed would shield him from backlash. He also expressed that the virginity storyline was not his choice and that he did not intend it to dominate his narrative. The decision, according to him, was a protective measure rather than a strategic career move.

The revelations arrive as Underwood remains in the public eye, with recent podcast appearances and ongoing coverage of his family life. His comments add a new dimension to discussions about the pressures reality‑TV personalities face when navigating personal identity under intense media scrutiny. Industry observers note that the disclosures may influence how producers handle similar narratives in future seasons.

The disclosure also sparks debate about the treatment of LGBTQ contestants on dating shows. Producers have historically crafted narratives around contestants’ personal lives, but Underwood’s experience suggests that hidden aspects of identity can shape on‑screen dynamics and audience reception. Analysts say the conversation may prompt tighter guidelines on how contestants are portrayed, especially regarding sensitive personal information.

The story is still developing, and no additional statements have been issued by Underwood or his representatives beyond those already reported. As the narrative unfolds, industry stakeholders will likely monitor subsequent releases for further clarification or confirmation of the circumstances described.