Bachelor: Colton's Netflix Show May Be Boycotted By Some Bachelor Fans
Colton Underwood will be getting a new Netflix show after coming out as gay on Good Morning America, and fans of The Bachelor are considering boycotting it. While he was brave for speaking his truth, his recent actions toward his ex should not be rewarded.
Following his breakup with Cassie nearly a year ago, Colton deleted all the photos from his Instagram and stayed out of the public eye. While it was assumed this was only done out of not only heartbreak but also shame for the restraining order placed against him, it's now evident it ran deeper than that. Colton struggled with his sexuality since he was a young child, wanting to believe that he was straight so he could fit in at church, on the football field and everywhere else he went. When he was chosen to be The Bachelor, he believed it was a sign from God that he should have been picked.
Fans on Reddit and elsewhere believe this is an attempt from Colton to remain in the spotlight after having to remove himself from the public eye following his stalking of his ex. While some comments take the criticism too far — it is not right for someone to question whether he is "faking" coming out — it is valid for commenters to be critical of the timing of it all. His sit-down with Good Morning America was followed by an announcement that he would be filming a Netflix show.
The backlash underscores the complicated nature of Colton's story. He was brave for coming out and his decision will ultimately inspire at least someone who watched him on GMA speaking his truth. However, the decision to provide someone who stalked another woman a public platform is wrong, despite the positive message. There are plenty of men who struggle with coming out, who, like Colton, contemplate suicide, and could share their story with Good Morning America or on a Netflix series. Colton's cache from being The Bachelor shouldn't shield him from accountability.
Colton acknowledges mistakes he made. He doesn't deserve nasty comments, especially ones that are homophobic. But his ex also doesn't deserve to be back in the spotlight involuntarily when Colton caused her real harm. Colton's comeback story comes at the expense of the woman he hurt, and that's not fair to her or other survivors of stalking and any other form of harassment or abuse. Colton should be able to share his story and to be open about the demons he's faced. That's what social media is for. But when ABC and Netflix participate in normalizing abuse, be it physical or emotional, by platforming people like Colton, they contribute to a culture of willful ignorance.