It turns out some people actually watched Coming Out Colton, the new reality series documenting former Bachelor Colton Underwood’s coming out experience, through to completion. And many were less than inspired by the show’s final moments.
Underwood, who has previously said he hopes the show can help those who “didn’t understand” his decision to come out, closes out the 6-part series by reflecting on his journey and mentioning the many LGBTQ activists whose efforts and sacrifice have led to greater acceptance.
“There’s been people before me who have helped me be able to sit in the chair right now and talk with you on a national platform,” he says.
“There’s going to be people after me that will continue to push and change people’s hearts and change people’s minds.”
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A montage then runs through historical moments, from Stonewall to political marches to the Pulse nightclub tragedy, and highlights key figures like Harvey Milk and Marsha P. Johnson.
But what was surely intended as a respectful acknowledgment rubbed many viewers the wrong way, and folks were left wondering how it makes any sense that Underwood’s story relates to these landmark figures and events.
Here’s how some reacted:
It's going to take me months to process that the end of the Colton Underwood docuseries ends with him saying his story is only the most recent one to be told… before breaking into a montage featuring Marsha P Johnson, Harvey Milk, and Matthew Shepard.
— Justin Kirkland (@justinkirkland4) December 2, 2021
Colton Underwood threw the first brick at Stonewall
— Please Please… Don't Quiz Me! (@PleaseDontQuiz) November 29, 2021
So I’m missing how Colton Underwood is connected to the legacy of Stonewall, Harvey Milk and Marsha P. Johnson.
— James Kicklighter (@jameskick) December 5, 2021
No words. Absolutely psychotic
— Ryan Aguirr-sleigh ? (@aguirreryan) December 5, 2021
— cory (@ItsCoryB) December 5, 2021
— It’s a Wonderful Tye ?? (@TyeGrr87) December 5, 2021
Leo
We are all connected to these events.
DarkZephyr
People are such a**holes. Good grief. lol
stan2015
Listen I understand the fear of “Coming out”. However I came out in 1997. It was made “easier for me” because of “Ellen Degeneres”. Now going on a national dating show “Was his choice”. His behavior on that show was questionable. Now we have to ask ourselves “How he behaved has does the effect me”? Well it doesn’t. Truth is it only effective him and his family!
SDR94103
Marsha P. Johnson = BS
SDR94103
how dare you equate Marsha P. Johnson with Harvey Milk.
Cam
@SDR94103
Anybody coming out, loudly and proud during a time or in a situation where it is dangerous has my respect.
ShiningSex
Colton is annoying. So over him. He did this coming out as promotion not because he felt he needed to. YAWN!
GentlemanCaller
I have to call bullshit click-bait on this article as well as the fauxtrage described. It sounds like he was acknowledging the heroes of LGBT history, not claiming to be their equal. Some people are hair-triggered to be shocked and appalled and outraged, and those people need to find something more constructive to do with their time. He may be annoying, but his coming out was a bfd to him, and he’s not wrong that each person who comes to terms with who they are and tells the world is standing on the shoulders of the pioneers who went before. Basically, folks, stop it. And Queerty, you really need to stop doing this crap: stirring up anger and division in our community just to pump up your viewage and sell ad space for more dollars is not a good look for you.
man5996853
Standing on their shoulders? He was standing on their effing necks.
And, while I agree that some people are “hair-triggered” by very small things, your flippant response to what was clearly an attempt to elevate him to a status he does not and may never deserve suggests to me that you might need a little WD40 on your own trigger. He’s not special and he surely isn’t a hero.
Deacon
PREACH!!!!!! Let the choir say AMEN!!!! You said the damn thing…..
Tombear
I knew Masha P Johnson. She wasn’t a good person, she would steal anything of value you had. She was a trans hooker who worked and lived in the Village and did the bars on Christopher Street.
Hank31
Homeless, mentally unstable, intermittently violent, and literally psychotic. He would hallucinate during psychotic breaks. According to the Village Voice, he was banned from all of the Greenwich Village bars due to violent outbursts. The Voice also interviewed a friend of Johnson, who allowed him to stay in his apartment, which Johnson robbed.
Johnson had stretches of time in which he would be a kind person, but clearly this was a troubled man (and yes, he did “identify” as a man), who is not a role model for anyone. The one indisputably good thing he did was to honestly acknowledge in an interview that he did not “start” Stonewall or “throw the first brick,” but instead showed up well after it was underway.
Deacon
Tombear…You mad she wouldn’t trick with you, you must have been tricking with her and got mad cause all the johns wanted her and not you. What ever she did to survive is no reason to speak of in a negative way, and it doesn’t take away what she did for the community.
Cam
The way @hank31 came in immediately to support this post is what usually happens when the right wing troll account has a new name and posts.
Ronbo
My apologies to all who have been insulted by me. I am Cam, Cam is me. We have multiple personality disorder. Cam is the personality who thinks that by lying and insulting, we can stop other people from having opinions. Again, my apologies.
Paris in Santiago
Queerty does not like if you have a different viewpoint on Colton. I’ve had many comments deleted by Queerty on the issue of Colton.
Ronbo
When the author/editors here doesn’t like a view or comment, they “moderate” it to never be seen again.
I’ve repeatedly asked why they don’t print any or all of JK Rowling’s “anti-trans” comments. /crickets/
Extremists of all kinds demand 100% agreement; the world can’t have shades of grey or even slightly different views.
Cam
@Ronbo
This screename has already been exposed on other threads as just another of the right wing troll account’s screenames. The fact you seem so defensive of Colton really isn’t a good look for him.
Ronbo
@Cam (who is me)
Cam is my alter-ego. Unfortunately I’ve had this problem of multiple personalities all my life. Mom kept it from us. When we were growing up, Cam’s personality also thought he was a chicken. We were a big family – a big poor family. Mom said that she would have told him; but, we needed the eggs.
Hank31
If he hadn’t mentioned that prior activism made it possible for him to come out, he would be dragged for making it all about him and failing to acknowledge the work of others. If he does acknowledge that he is the beneficiary of prior activism, he is dragged for equating himself with those prior activists or for taking credit for their work. No matter what he does, someone on Twitter will drag him. The moral is: Stop caring what people say on Twitter.
deann
Your are totally right. Haters be reaching out to find any excuse to hate on him. Like come on, he is telling the story of his coming out . I remember when he first came out everybody instantly hated him and were saying stuff like he should go back in the closet that nobody want him. I cannot imagine coming out to somebody and that was their response.
And also people give him shit for having a show about his coming out and monitizing it but there are other celebrities who did wrote books about their coming out or has written their memoir which includes their coming out and there are some reality tv shows where one or more contestants came out but stangely Colton is the only one among all to receive backlash.( and remember that he got the backlash way before his netflix show was announced so stop pretenting that what’s bothering you.)
Deacon
You hate the fact that Colton is a good looking man that wouldn’t give you the time of day is that it, and FYI you’re not the only one that can read I’ve read many articles that state the opposite that Marsha Johnson was part of the group that fought back against the police that started the Stonewall Riot. I guess if a white guy says she didn’t then what he says must be true, or were you there yourself and have proof she didn’t do anything.
Hank31
@Deacon Yes, I’m sure you have read many “articles” which have repeated this myth. Those “articles” likely consist of tweets, blog posts, opinion pieces, and other writings which mention this “fact” off-hand, and which are not fact-checked. This is how the internet promotes and sustains falsehoods, conspiracy theories, and myths — through endless repetition.
Johnson himself made clear that he was uptown in NYC at the time the riot began and he did not get downtown until 2 am, well after the riot was underway. You can read his statement or listen to his interview with gay documentarian and historian Eric Marcus here:
www[dot]back2stonewall.com/2021/06/stonewall-listen-to-marsha-p-johnson-talk-about-the-stonewall-riots-in-her-own-words-rare-audio[dot].html
Although Johnson showed up late, he did participate in the riot. Historian David Carter cites an eyewitness who saw Johnson drop a cinder block through a a car window (which is not a particularly noble act, since the car presumably belonged to a local resident and was not connected with the police raid). So Johnson does get credit for being there and participating — along with perhaps 1000 other people who had already, or eventually would, take part. But he did not start it, lead it or “throw the first brick.” Once again, the moral of the story is: do not listen to what people say on Twitter.
whatnutz
Marsha P. Johnson lived on the streets and piers not far from where I lived.
She was often a nuisance, usually when drunk or high, but in other cases could brighten your day with her smile and her pearls of wisdom, not to mention her glorious wardrobe. She was well liked and considered fun by most neighborhood people. Different time=different neighborhood now. I cannot think of her as a gay hero, aside from the fact that she lived her life
and out and proud. No small feat then. Colton is entitled to his opinion, and in reality, we all stand on the backs of the gays who expanded our horizons.
kaal
Everyone has their own path to their true selves -some longer than others. Maybe give the guy a break.
Joshooeerr
A psychotically self-important media whore.
contos
You don’t have to be a nasty person. It’s your choice.
Alex_S
“Viewers”? Seems it’s only dude “Ryan Aguirr-sleigh” who’s complaining. And probably only because he’d like to have his own show on Netflix.
Joshua333
So is every LGBTQ+ person getting their own Netflix show after this or just this… boring person
Tombear
I’m thinking Colton is a big ol bottom boy!
Deacon
Wow bottom shaming, if he is more power to him I know many brotha’s that would love to slide him some D.
contos
I’m not to the end of the docuseries yet, so I can’t really comment on that. What I can comment on is the nastiness of this article and the bitchiness of this website, and several of its commenters who have little respect for the coming out process and how painful it can be for some people to navigate. Have some compassion.
Deacon
I agree with you…..
Deacon
Yes I watched Colton’s docuseries and actually liked it, that’s because unlike many in the alphabet community I as a SGL man of color watched it without judgement. Funny how it was the alphabet community to be the first ones to want to cancel him by bringing up the restraining order placed against him by the chick from that rose giving show. In the docuseries he owned up to what he did and took responsibility for his actions. The people criticizing him need to get a life, like you all haven’t done some sh*t that you’re not proud of. If he had never stalked her and never had the restraining order placed against him you’d be on his dick like white on rice, like how the community was on Michael Sam’s dick when he came out. You make it sound like the show was going to be all about him partying when it was a great expose on his journey of him accepting he is. You all need to stop talking out the sides of your necks and get a life and get off the mans back because it sure as hell not like the alphabet communities sh#t don’t stink.
Joey
Didn’t really follow his story until he came out. I knew he made mistakes. He knows he did too and he addressed them on the show rather well. He had some terrific discussions with a wide array of people and he knew and knows he has a lot to learn but he is no longer afraid to ask for answers or help. I thought the six episodes laid it out very well. It wasn’t a fluffy light weight puff piece. It got pretty deep while being thoroughly entertaining. Give the guy a break.
Karlis
It is so sad to watch this criticism from two perspectives. First of all, if you don’t like Colton, you didn’t have to watch his series. But above all, I am 61. I was seven when Stonewall happened, but to me it has always been a formative experience in my life as a gay man. Carping on Colton Underwood for pointing to the great historical heroes of the LGBTQ+ world assumes that he has no agency to his own life history, and that is just dismaying.
Jack
Whoever writes this crap, please listen up to two things. First, spreading hate within our community is sooooo 2008. Just like effing blogs. (Bloop!). Second, you are so transparently in love with Colton Underwood and Meghan McCain it’s almost shocking. Use them both for your next m’bate fantasies so you can finally move on. The show was sweet.
Tombear
I love Colton. Why are you guys so mean to him?
Tombear
Calling Colton a bottom boy is not an insult. Some of my best friends are bottoms!
Thomas
Another Queerty article born from 6 tweets by Very Online and Angry People.
Remember, kids – Twitter is not real life.