Cassie Randolph, the ex-girlfriend of The Bachelor star Colton Underwood, has revealed her anger and frustration at learning he’d come out of the closet.
Underwood chose Randolph as the “winner” of Season 23 of The Bachelor back in 2018. They remained a couple until May 2020 when the pair had a very public break-up. Randolph accused Underwood of stalking and harassment and went so far as to take out a restraining order against him. Underwood came out as gay in an April 2021 interview with Good Morning America host Robin Roberts.
Now Randolph complains that she was taken off guard in Underwood’s big announcement. Speaking to the podcast Off The Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe, she recalls the horror of learning Underwood had come out.
“I found out the same way that everyone else did,” Randolph said. “I was actually in Mexico on vacation with friends, which was great to be away, but yeah, I found out through Snapchat on GMA. It was horrible. It was just a shocking kind of thing.”
Related: Colton Underwood’s boyfriend throws him a lavish 30th birthday party
“It’s really hard for me to talk about it at all or even know the right thing to say when addressing it,” she added. “I feel like so much pressure when asked about it. I would love to be able to be open and candid about things, but I’m just not there yet, and I’m sure I will one day like want to speak on it because there’s just a lot there.”
In his coming-out interview, Underwood did issue an apology to Randolph for his behavior. “I would like to say sorry for how things ended,” he said. “I messed up. I made a lot of bad choices.”
We have to raise an eyebrow at Randolph’s anger. In fairness, “bad choices” feels a bit light for behavior that includes stalking. That said, we’re not exactly sure what Randolph would have preferred in terms of Underwood coming out to her. Though her restraining order against him did expire, we’re guessing the two weren’t exactly on friendly speaking terms. And is having an ex come out really that horrible?
In any case, both Underwood and Randolph have moved on with their lives. Randolph is now dating musician Brighton Reinhardt. Underwood, meanwhile, got engaged to boyfriend Jordan Brown in February.
We have a feeling double dates for Underwood, Randolph, and their two beaus are probably still out of the question.
stan2015
He used her. She is very entitled to her feelings. I think ABC she sue him for fraud!
CatholicXXX
Horrified? No.
Furious? Yes.
She is free to feel what she wants and we are free to judge her for her attention seeking “feelings.”
DarkZephyr
She has a right to be pissed about the stalking, but being “horrified” that he’s gay is beyond ridiculous. Unless she was hoping they would eventually get back together, what’s it to her?
It seems we’ve entered an age where gay men judge other gay men for any time they ever spend in the closet, which I think is absolutely disgusting.
chops
I listened to the interview, she never said she was mad or furious. She just answered the question of if she knew. She said know she found out on gma Snapchat with everyone else. Horrifying is having to be hounded by the media to comment on your STALKER who put tracking device on her car.
MarcyMayer
stan2015:
I agree with you.
Colton Underwood used her, the other contestants, and the program as functionaries in his quest for fame.
How a man goes from being a self-avowed strict fundamentalist Christian and conservative Republican to where he’s marrying a left-wing male Democrat operative is beyond me.
He certainly was lying to lots of people: his family, friends, and the viewers of that program.
I must confess, I don’t watch Reality TV. I think most of it is crass, crude, and low rent.
DarkZephyr
“He certainly was lying to lots of people: his family, friends, and the viewers of that program.”
He was in the closet. Have you never been in the closet? I’m not saying he did anything good or wholesome and truthful. But to write him off now as an eternal villain never to be forgiven and always to be vilified for the rest of his life is f**king loony as hell. I mean its completely batsh**.
I am very disturbed by how the LGBT community is now turning against their own for spending time in the closet…its completely bonkers to me.
He was in the closet, he did some very stupid things, he has apologized and he’s trying to straighten out his life. Why can’t we try to support that? This young man is not the only LGBT person we’re treating this way either. If I had been attacked and vilified by my OWN people when I came out at 19 for having “Lied to everyone” prior….I don’t know what I would have done, but it would have been devastating.
EZinHTown
I agree she is definitely entitled to her feelings. “Used” her? Perhaps unintentionally but then that wouldn’t really fall under “used”.
ABC should sue him? That’s funny! How were they harmed? They still made a shitload of money and probably gained viewers after he came out. And wouldn’t that open up a huge Pandora’s Box if people were allowed to sue others because of past relationships during a time when someone didn’t accept themselves yet. ?
prime32
It appears Queerty is more outraged by the fact she used the words horrible than Colton actually stalking this woman to the point that a restraining order had to be taken out. We get he is a semi-attractive white “straight” looking man so the is publication will defend him regardless.
CatholicXXX
Queerty looked past all that because he’s white and mostly attractive.
MarcyMayer
Queerty certainly isn’t woke. It loves featuring white-gay-famous-handsome-wealthy men on this site to the near exclusion of anyone else.
white-queer-african
I certainty would not chase him away if he came a knocking on my door. LOL.
So all you precious princesses clutching your pearls in horror. GTF off your high horses and admit that you would love to jump in the sack with him.
miller2900
WQA…your comments were the first that sounded like reality! None of these so called “Reality TV” shows are based in reality to begin with. Sounds like a lot of commentators need to “get off their high horse” because none of us would know the reality of the situation to begin with. Anyone making comments as if they knew anything should drink some of their own advice medicine.
Donston
Yes, miller2900, it’s incredibly dumb to take reality TV seriously. And most people who indulge it are looking for money, fame, clout and an ego boost first and foremost. But Colton has already admitted to stalking and tracking. He’s already admitted that he knew he had no interests in chicks before he signed up to do the show. While it’s apparent that he’s using the coming out narrative and his wedding to try to get more clout and back on TV. And he didn’t even have enough sense to try and get someone to tell Cassie about his “coming out” interview considering they were engaged less than a year earlier and he knew she would be bombarded with questions and media attention. We may not know everything. But there’s a lot there we do know. He continues to show just how self-focused and narcissistic he is.
Let’s try not to make everything about who you want to hook up with. It’s shallow as hell and has nothing to do with this topic. When people lean on that they obviously have nothing else to lean on.
chops
Umm is this journalism? I listened to this interview on the Off The Vine podcast with Kaitlyn bristowe and she never said this. She never said that she was angry or mad. Quit trying to create a false narrative. She was asked if she knew and she merely stated she didn’t know but found out along with the rest of the world. Then was hounded by constant media to comment on her STALKER- which was horrifying. Disappointed in your fake story.
Donston
It doesn’t appear like she was “horrified” or “furious” but mostly embarrassed that she had to learn through a television interview when they were engaged less than a year before. It’d be nice if you guys don’t try to create narratives that aren’t there. We are still talking about real people.
I sympathize with folks contending with homophobia, internalized phobias, hetero pressures, religious guilt, mental health struggles, fluidity, contradictions, not understanding your sexuality, not understanding your place in the gender, sexual, affection, romantic attachment, emotional investment, relationship comfort, commitment spectrum. However, Colton wasn’t in his teens or early 20s. He was very much grown and, through his own admissions, he knew his dimensions and knew that he didn’t want her. He consciously used The Bachelor and her for clout, money, to appear hetero/like he really wanted a chick, to subdue his gay resentments. Then he stalked her and bugged her car when she no longer wanted anything to do with him. Now, he’s desperately trying to use his “coming out” and his engagement/wedding for more money and clout. Doesn’t mean he should hated forever. But she does have a right to be at least a tad upset. Though hopefully, she’s successfully moved on.
Prax07
I don’t get why he was stalking her, she’s got all the wrong parts, so what was the stalking over?
Deek62
How is “stalking” and “stalker” defined? What did Colton do to brand him a “stalker”?
MarcyMayer
I believe this gal got a retraining order because he was following her around, skulking around her home, spying on her, and showing up wherever she was after she broke things off with him.
This is why I still believe that his homosexuality is a ruse. Why would he be stalking this gal if all along he was gay and wasn’t interested in her??? He claims it was to cover up the fact he’s gay. That explanation doesn’t cut it.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he pulls an “Ann Heche,” whereby he divorces this guy he is marrying within a few years and discovers that he is really “bi” all along and then falls in love with some blonde bimbo. But, until then, he’ll make plenty of money playing a professional homosexual or in coarser terms: “gay for pay.”
Donston
MarcyMayer, I was sympathizing with you. But don’t be like another trans person who used to post here and kept saying basic, misandrist and borderline homophobic stuff. I highly doubt Colton is “gay4pay”. He was known to hook up with dudes before and after he did The Bachelor. And he was petrified to do things with chicks when he was on The Bachelor. While anyone who heard him speak and saw his facial expressions before he was even “out” could tell was likely in the queer spectrum.
I never want to tell anyone what their sexuality is. Because “sexuality” is a very individual thing (with rates and elements of arousal, attraction, desire, enjoyment, passion, fetish, paraphiliac, comfort, general sex drive). And yes, some people experience fluidity or questioning or contradictions. And yes, what a lot of people present publicly is often driven by stuff like sociology, religion, ego, mental health struggles, narrative, money. And yes, the gender, sexual, affection, romantic attachment, emotional investment, relationship contentment, commitment spectrum is wide and varied. All of this stuff needs to be understood and respected.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this marriage is over quickly or if it doesn’t actually happen. And I wouldn’t be surprised if he settles down with a chick one day. Colton is clearly a very manipulative, possibly narcissistic person. As far as the stalking, he may have been desperate to hold on to hetero-normalcy and what people saw as a “dream ‘straight’ couple”, or maybe he was worried that she might expose him, or maybe he’s just one of those people obsessed with control and narrative. There’s a lot of things to talk about when it comes to the Colton Underwood saga. But let’s not get basic or borderline homophobic.
DarkZephyr
Colton Underwood likes “daddy types” (his own admission) and low and behold, he found himself a “daddy type”. I don’t think this is a ruse, I think this is what he actually wants. I won’t die of shock if they do divorce a year after they’re married, but I don’t expect it to be because he’s only pretending to be gay or just marrying this guy for show or whatever. I think it will be because our current culture treats all marriages as disposable now and we are at a point where 41%, maybe even 50% of marriages end in divorce. Marriage was ONCE supposed to be sacred and permanent. Now its treated as permanent and sacred as a cracker jack tattoo.
MarcyMayer
Does anyone notice a pattern here???
Queerty has a habit of idolizing men who are “straight” acting and appearing, who have deep voices and lack effeminacy.
So much for diversity and inclusion.
I was an effeminate gay man before I transitioned, so I now know how it feels the be shunned by the straight world and the gay world.
Donston
I mean, Colton isn’t that “straight acting”. He’s not super-fem. But his queerness wasn’t difficult to detect even before he came out. But yes, this site definitely has a hard-on for white, muscular, “masculine presenting” dudes. While they just started to calm down a bit with the “straight”/non-homo fantasy, worship, uplifting. Ultimately, just do you and find your ego mostly within yourself and in your personal relationships. Social media and this idea of “community” is mostly a mirage. Looking to these sensationalistic and money focused places to give you a sense of belonging or soothe your ego is always gonna be a mistake.
MarcyMayer
Donston:
“…this idea of “community” is mostly a mirage.”
I agree. This I learned long ago the hard way. Rejection hurts, especially when it’s done by people who have also been rejected.
Donston
Many people feel rejected by the “rejected” at different stages in their life. That’s why you gotta do your own thing and build your own sociology, self-respect and ego. A log of trans people, including my best friend, does it. It’s actually much healthier to go about things the latter way. However, yes, if you’re a non-famous/non-rich person then you often need to be white, conventionally good-looking, fit and (if you’re male-presenting) “masculine” in order for the mainstream “gays”/“queers” to uplift and support you. While there’s a lot of phony people who say and do things primarily out of ego and sociology and politics. But this really isn’t the place or the article to get into that.
Cam
@MarcyMayer, (Or SamB, openminded, Caddy4J, etc..)
This account was already exposed as a right wing troll account. If you’re going to try to pretend you’re LGBTQ, specifically trans, you may want to invent a new screename that we haven’t seen defend anti-trans attacks for the last few weeks.
But at least you’re tried this exact same thng with the screename “openminded” and you tried it with the screename “SamB” before people mocked you so much you gave up.
powersthatbe
Who?
Dwight
She said it was horrible and Queerty thinks it’s newsworthy.
If I’d been harassed by someone and was trying to get over it or if I were on vacation and the media was all over me for a reaction I’d think it was horrible too.
johncp56
I feel for her but it is the same if he liked other women, jilted hurts,, but keep the gay out of this
Joshua333
I’d be horrified too if the guy stalking me turned out to be stalking me for fun and not because he was creepily in love with me. Stalking someone for fun is more disturbing.
Donston
I doubt it was merely “for fun”. It likely had more to do with paranoia, narcissism, control, not wanting to give up looking like the “perfect reality TV couple”.
Colton gives off “basic gay” energy, always has. But some of the extreme stuff he’s done (stalking, bugging cars, going on a reality show supposedly looking for hetero love when he admits that he knew he had no interests in women, putting out a whole book where the main theme was “I’m not ‘gay”, quickly getting engaged to a dude he supposedly met less than a half a year ago, continuously trying to use “coming out” and this new relationship for clout and money), it all does hint that he’s more calculated and messed up than a typical religious, closeted queer. None of this stuff is “normal” closet case, struggling to understand yourself, struggling to find yourself or accept your sexuality, preferences, love, commitment leanings. Ultimately, though, even though Colton comes off looking much worse, they are both clout chasers.
ciasteczek
“I would love to be able to be open and candid about things, but I’m just not there yet”
Meaning: wait for my tell all, i want those dollars
RKP
I hope she feels the same way about making the decision to go on a reality dating show
Cam
Two issues here.
He was a good looking guy who was a football star in school yet claimed he was a virgin. Huge red flag that he’s gay. These “Devout Christians” or “Devout Mormons” are still guys and they still try to get women into bed if they’re straight. It is a great excuse for the closet cases though. That should have been a giveaway for her.
Secondly, they were broken up, so not really his job to go to his ex girlfriend to tell her he was going to announce he’s gay. Also, if I remember, he announced it because he was about to be outted, so it was probably a rush job. I’m not his biggest fan, but she was willfully blind to his closeted status and was not dating him when he announced so seems like a non-issue.
Donston
He claims he was being blackmailed. It’s impossible to know if that was true or not.
cuteguy
What did she expect? She was looking for “love” on the bachelor. It’s a reality show ppl, and these two losers just want to extend their 15 minutes.
hotdogla
They sat “How you found them, is how you lose them” Mr. Reinhardt. It does seem like he used her…
Doug
Cassie is beginning to sound more and more like a Karen.
BigJohnSF
She should give him credit for never sexually harassing her.
toddlicious
I knew this tool was gay from the moment he got out of the limo in his first hetero attempt in the bachelorette… you can’t tell me she didn’t “know” something was up……
tjack47
I don’t watch The Bachelor, but I’ve seen him elsewhere. I don’t care about his past relationships. I like him in the present. Moving right along.
Saps48
He said on his Netlix show that the reason he clung to her for so long was that he knew it was going to be his last straight relationship, and that if it failed, he was going to finally embrace his homosexuality. I don’t think that’s an uncommon plan for those still struggling with their own sexuality, and he has admitted over and over again that he is sorry he took it so far.
Huron132
Alot of glass houses on here. Watch out for cracked glass! Colton is like everyone else who is human. He was raised to believe a specific life. But, he was different. Just like so so many gay men he lived in the closet. This is due to the fact that we as humans are conditioned to live only one way. This chic is looking for another 15 mins of fame. Just stop projecting all of this negativity and let Colton live his way. We are all living our ways. Noisey people get their noses bent because they put it in someplace that it shouldn’t. Jeesh people just live your life. It should be yourost important thing to do.
winemaker
Actually she should be grateful she found out Colton’s gay and the sooner the better, like before they got married and complicated their lives. That being said, why is she still obsessing over this when she should act like an adult and let it go and wish him happiness. Obviously she’s looking to be relevant and has nothing going on in her life. Too many gay men marry women and end up frustrated and waste their lives living a lie. This isn’t to say Colton’s not partially to blame as many of us get married thinking it’ll change us when in all reality it’ll lead to an unfulfilling life. We all should wish Colton happiness as it looks like he’s found someone he clicks with. How many of us are alone or don’t have someone to share our lives with and are just envious?