Olympian Gus Kenworthy has posted a message of support to Colton Underwood… but not everyone appears to be feeling the same love.
Underwood, who shot to fame on The Bachelor and its spin-off shows, came out as gay on Wednesday morning via an interview with Good Morning America.
That same day, Variety broke the news that Underwood was already filming a documentary series for Netflix about accepting his sexuality. It’s understood the series will focus on his upbringing, his time as a professional football player, and coming to terms with his sexuality despite his conservative background.
Fellow athlete Gus Kenworthy is rumored to be “acting as a guide, of sorts” to Underwood on the show.
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Related: Freshly out Colton Underwood has already nabbed a new reality show
Yesterday, Underwood posted a series of photos to his Instagram. Before this, his entire gallery had been deleted, presumably indicating he wanted to make a fresh start.
In his first, new posting, Underwood, 29, said, “I have a lot to learn, but I have come a long way. to the people in my corner, I love you. Without you, I wouldn’t be here.”
View this post on Instagram
Among the photos was one of him and Kenworthy together.
Kenworthy was one of thousands to comment. He said, “Love you and proud of you. Everybody is on their own journey and some are more difficult than others. Yours has not been the easiest nor has it been the hardest and you are doing your best which is the best you can do. Honored to be your friend.”
Underwood’s posting has received thousands of likes and supportive comments.
However, for a celebrity coming-out story, Underwood has prompted a very mixed reaction this week. This seems to stem mainly from the fact Underwood found fame by seeking a wife on The Bachelor in 2019. He also went through a messy split with his former Bachelor contestant Cassie Randolph in May 2020.
In September, Randolph took out a restraining order against Underwood. The restraining order was lifted in November.
Underwood touched upon his relationship with Randolph during his GMA interview on Wednesday, saying, “I would like to say sorry for how things ended. I messed up. I made a lot of bad choices.”
This has led to criticism of Netflix appearing to have rewarded Underwood’s coming out with a documentary deal (although the streaming giant has yet to confirm any details about the show).
Yesterday we reported on Billy Eichner joking that Underwood would now be in line for a GLAAD award before he is.
Related: Billy Eichner reacts to Colton Underwood coming out as gay
Also yesterday, Attitude magazine posted an image to its Instagram announcing that Gus Kenworthy would be Underwood’s “gay guide” on his Netflix show.
View this post on Instagram
Among those to comment was gay performer Adam Lambert. The Queen singer and American Idol legend simply said, “No one is feeling this Netflix.”
The news also met short shrift from another athlete: British rugby player Keegan Hirst. The player, who came out as gay in 2015, said, “Monetising coming out. Oh dear. Not a good look.”
Although no one appears to begrudge Underwood living his truth, it looks like his forthcoming documentary continues to divide opinion.
novadude
So before it’s even released those deep thinkers Lambert and Hirst are certain that such a Netflix show couldn’t be a positive influence in some younger person’s life? Wow, talk about a lack of imagination!
Fortunately we have Eichner and Kenworthy to drown out their shallow cynicism.
Donston
Gus is a part of the Netflix show. So, he has a stake in Colton being supported and being relevant. While Billy seemed to have some regret towards his automatic support of him.
Cam
Donston and I routinely disagree on here. However on this we are in agreement.
He had been obviously gay on the Bachelor yet LGBTQ people who pointed it out were lambasted with the usual B.S., saying that we somehow can’t recognize it. The same excuses that were used for people like Clay Aiken, Ricky Martin, etc. were tossed around.
In interviews he denied being gay. To his credit he did not badmouth the community.
Now he’s claiming he is just coming out, yet obviously he was fine coming out ages ago to Netflix if it meant getting a show.
He was interviewed on the Stern Show a while ago and when Stern asked what he wanted to do career-wise he wasn’t specific but said something in the entertainment industry like hosting a show.
I’m all for people coming out and living their truth, but his coming out seems very cynically timed to publicize his TV show. And now of course the straight folks that watched the bachelor will put this guy, who stayed closeted until he was over 30 and is only out for a few months up on a pedestal as the expert on all things, queer. Just watch, shows like Good Morning America will invite him on to talk about trans issues, or issues of Queer people of color, etc. even though he has no experience or understanding of those issues. But hey, he’s blond and was on The Bachelor, so that makes him an expert right?
Forgive me for rolling my eyes a bit.
Donston
There’s a bunch of legit reasons to shade this dude. He could have cleaned some of it up with a more tactful “coming out” interview. Instead, he gave an overall “I made mistakes”, and he chose to use the opportunity simply to indulge self-pity and for self-promotion and to setup more gigs. But is it much different than a lot of these public figures who “gay bait” or who semi “come out” when they’re about to start an OnlyFans or about to promote some project?
Honestly, I just hope the media lets this dude fade (which they probably won’t any time soon).
lord.krath
I’m not concerned with Netflix or Colton “monitoring” the coming out experience. We have plenty of fiction that does this. Real stories are more impactful. While it sucks that literally thousands upon thousands of people won’t have their stories told, the reality is that our society looks to celebrity. Now, if Netflix and Colton included dialog with non celebrity folk, that would be more powerful. But we don’t even know if this is real OR what the format will be.
I’m disappointed that other celebrities aren’t more supportive of this.
woodroad34
IDK, but didn’t Keegan and Lambert both somehow cash in on them being gay with photo shoots and interviews? Wasn’t there also that guy, Dirk Shafer from Playgirl, who came out and did a documentary movie about it? Don’t people write books about coming out? What’s the difference here?
Cam
Lambert was outted. And Shaffer came out, then did something later after it was offered. HIm coming out wasn’t part of his career plan.
Hdtex
Stop making stupid, vapid people famous.
Catholicslutbox
All the white instagays are following him now and sliding into his DMs.
Jim
Gus,, I’ve always liked you, but why are you enabling this media whore?
Fahd
Although they are both physical specimens, the picture that I saw of a large bottle of Heilman’s mayonaisse next to a smaller bottle of Best food’s mayonaisse sums up my expectations for the show from a personalities’ perspective. Vapid and way too many calories for what you’re getting- and then there’s all this “monetizing coming out” baggage. I’m fairly sure the show will suck — at least it won’t be very deep or intellectual, but I’ll probably watch once (that torso) – I have Netflix, after all.
What ever happened to Reichen Lehmkuhl?
James26
Kenworthy is a disturbing figure, IMO. I remember when I first saw pics of him, which was when he came out. He looks super-cool, in excellent physical shape and is a very skilled snow boarder. A hell of a package. Then I saw video of him speaking and it’s like watching a woman in a man’s body. The disconnect b/t his normal appearance and his feminine behavior is so jarring, one immediately thinks “What went wrong in his brain?” It’s really like watching one of hose old kids cartoons where a mad scientist swaps the brains of a guy and a girl, putting a girl’s brain into a dude’s body. Kenworthy is that dude.
I wish Colton the best with this show, but he would probably be better of with a different “guide.”
Cam
What a surprise, the right wing troll account that always attacks LGBTQ people and defends bigots, doesn’t like an out of the closet guy.
jw8890
Maybe quit projecting. Nothing about gus says woman in a mans body.
Prinny
Hirst shoul keep his mouth shut considering he married a woman and fathered two children.
jkb
I’d rather support the women who’s time he wasted on the show. Attractive, well off, gay white men are pampered. He’ll be fine
rockland2u
one of the best things about Gus, is he doesn’t give two flips, what anyone thinks of him. still a great role model. if he is trying to help colton get thru some *&#+, more power to him, does colton have baggage hell yeah, but that doesn’t mean Gus shouldn’t try to help, or no one can even be associated with colton. if we cut off everyone with issues, of drugs, infidelity, entitlement, abuse, there would be no one left