Los Angeles, California - Colton Underwood has shared why he decided to publicly come out as gay. The Bachelor star revealed that he was blackmailed last year by someone who threatened to expose him.

In March, Underwood shocked fans when he announced that he was gay.

On Wednesday, the football player further elaborated that he was sent threatening photos from an anonymous person last year, which led him to address his sexual orientation.

"I'll just say it. I, at one point, during my rock bottom and spiral, was getting blackmailed. Nobody knows I was blackmailed," Colton told Variety in an interview. The former athlete explained that the unknown person snapped photos of the reality star secretly visiting a spa in Los Angeles known for catering to gay clientele.

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Following this, he received an email from the blackmailer and though he didn't see the images, it was enough to rattle him, leading him to forward the message to his publicist.

"I knew that out of anybody in my world, my publicist wasn't going to ruin me," he added.

Underwood was the lead for the 23rd season of the popular series. Previously he was in a relationship with Cassie Randolph, who he met on the dating show.

The two ended their relationship in May 2020, but Randolph filed a restraining order against Underwood after she alleged he stalked her outside her Los Angeles apartment.

Underwood also apologized for his behavior towards Randolph, who claimed to have not known her ex-boyfriend was gay. "If there was anything I could do to take more ownership, I would. But also, out of respect to her, I don't want to get into the details," Underwood explained.

Colton Underwood also dated Pretty Little Liars star, Lucy Hale, and gymnast, Aly Raisman.