Colton Underwood Responds to Troll Expressing ‘Sympathy’ for His Son
Colton Underwood is responding to an online critic who expressed feeling “bad” for the reality star’s son, Bishop, seemingly due to having gay parents.
On Tuesday, May 26, Underwood, 34, shared a photo on Instagram, showcasing himself and husband Jordan C. Brown taking a selfie with their 20-month-old son, Bishop. The post included a screenshot of an Instagram comment that stated, “I feel bad for that kid.”
In a follow-up slide, Underwood addressed the commenter, saying, “I’m genuinely curious about what you meant by this. If you ‘feel bad’ for Bishop, I’d like to know why. He’s loved, supported, celebrated, happy, and surrounded by people who care for him every single day.”
He continued, “What children need protection from isn’t a loving family; it’s ‘adults’ who make vague, loaded comments to express disapproval without the courage to say it outright. Words like yours, ambiguous enough to deny yet pointed enough to hurt, are precisely how kids learn to feel ashamed of who they are. That’s what truly deserves pity.”
Underwood wrapped up his statement by emphasizing that he and his family are doing “great” and expressing gratitude to the troll for the “reminder that this work still matters.”
In his caption, the Traitors alum noted, “Comments like this appear often in [his memoir] Dear Bishop. Some days they don’t bother me. Other days, they can ruin my day. Most days, they remind me why sharing my life publicly is meaningful … because somewhere out there is a kid or an adult who might find comfort or familiarity in my story. That’s what motivates me to live openly.”
Underwood, who participated in The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise in 2018 and led The Bachelor in 2019, publicly came out as gay in 2021.
“I’ve been running from myself for a long time. I’ve hated myself for a long time,” he shared on Good Morning America back then. “And I’m gay. I came to terms with that earlier this year and have been processing it. The next step was letting people know.”
Underwood expressed, “I’m the happiest and healthiest I’ve ever been. That means everything to me.”
Later that year, Underwood began dating Brown, 43. The couple married in May 2023 and welcomed Bishop via surrogate in September 2024.
Earlier this year, Underwood defended himself against a Traitors season 4 fan who wished he would become “straight again.”
“We, the gays, don’t want him. BYE!” the commenter added.
Underwood replied, “What a strange and hateful thing to say. I’m happily married and living my best life … I barely survived being in the closet. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Be kind today. It’s just a game and a TV show. ❤️.”
