April 15, 2021 • 37 mins
Lance Bass joins Ben & Ashley for a candid conversation about Colton Underwood and his recent announcement that he’s gay.
Lance shares his story of coming out and how Colton’s journey could help the next generation.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Benn and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast
with i R Radio. Hello everyone, welcome to the Almost
Famous Podcast Coulton Special Edition. This is one of those like,
how many emergency podcasts have we done weeks? That's ridiculous,
I mean, oh even this year, or like in general,
people not wait to give their news like on a
(00:22):
Sunday night, so that Monday we can just roll right
into it. All right, So let's talk about it. Um.
Colton came out as gay on Good Morning America yesterday
in a interview with Robin Roberts, and I mean, I
think both of us are really happy that he's able
to live his true self, Like he's able to just
(00:45):
come to, you know, the realization of who he really
is and live a free, happy life. It's it's obviously
been something that's really bogged down on his heart for
a while. Yeah it is. I mean, it's it's good
to see him have the moment, right, But at the
same time, for as happy as we are that Colton
gets to uh now be his his most true self,
(01:09):
there is still the situation with Cassie that kind of
has came up in the headlines as this has been announced.
So today We're gonna bring on one of our favorite people.
We've traveled to Las Vegas with him. Uh, Lance Bass
is going to be on the podcast today. We're gonna
talk through all of this stuff. Um, not only uh
the announcement where Colton Underwood has came out as gay,
(01:30):
but also, uh, what it means for the situation with Cassie.
How does Colton move forward? Uh this there's a rumored
show on Netflix that is being filmed right now. Um,
there's a lot going on. We're gonna break it down
here and just talk about what we know and who
could do it better than Lance Bass, who was, honestly
in a very similar situation. You know, he was thought
(01:50):
he was a guy that all these girls wanted, who
had so much attention on him being a big boy
bander versus being the bachelor. I think that it's quite similar.
They both came out around at the certain the same age.
They both grew up in conservative Christian households, So there's
a lot of similarities that I want to get into.
We're gonna take a break when we come back. We're
(02:11):
gonna do some Colton Underwood very special headlines, uh, and
then bring Lance Bass onto the Almost Famous podcast. The
executive producers of The Bachelor franchise have issued the following
(02:33):
statement regarding Colton Underwood's The Bachelor Season twenty three interview
on Good Morning America This Morning, Ashley, What's a Statement.
Their statement reads, we are so inspired by Colton Underwood's
courage to embrace and pursue his authentic self. As firm
believers in the power of love, we celebrate Colton's journey
in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender queer intersect in asexual
(02:58):
plus community every step of the way. Bachelor Nation rallies
around Colton Underwood after he comes out as gay. So
proud of you. That's going to us weekly, so Blake says.
I texted him. I'm sure I'll hear from him in
the next couple of days, so I can let him
know what I think and how proud I am of him.
I can't imagine. It's impossible for me to imagine what
(03:20):
he went through. I'm proud of him for being true
to who he is. I hope that he's able to
give a lot of other people courage to do the same.
Proud of my guy at Colton Underwood and Hannah Godwin
also said, I support Colton for having the courage to
be finally able to live his authentic his life authentically.
Nobody should have to hide from who they really are.
(03:43):
I always wish Colton the very best and hoping that
he has found peace. Hannah, of course, was his second
third runner up, and Taitia was in that group as well,
and Tatia says through her rep that she's very happy
that Colton is now able to live of his life
openly without fear of sharing who he is. For a
(04:05):
Bachelors Star, Colton Underwood comes out as gay. This according
to Good Morning America. Yes, okay, so here are some
of the quotes from the interview. He said, I ran
from myself for a long time. I hated myself for
a long time. I am gay, and I came to
terms with that earlier this year, and I've been processing it.
(04:25):
And the next step in all of this is sort
of letting people know. I'm still nervous. But it's been
a journey for sure. Um. He also says Robin Roberts,
who was also openly gay, so that she saw the
joy and saw the relief in Colton before and after
the interview. She said that he was like all tense
and of course very nervous before the interview. UM, but
(04:45):
then afterwards he just it just seemed like a you know,
a weight was lifted. He said that he's going through,
you know, a very emotional time, but in a very good, happy,
positive way. He says it's the happiest and healthiest he's
ever been. Um. And there was there was a time
where he said it was a wake up call. He
said he would have rather died than said that he
was gay. He said that there was a moment when
(05:07):
he was living in l A when he woke up
and he didn't think he was going to wake up
because he didn't have the intentions of waking up. Um,
And he did and that was a moment where he
he knew he had to take back control of his life. Well,
there is obviously the celebration I think for for most people.
I'm not gonna say everybody. I'm sure there's some people
(05:29):
out there not feeling this way. UM. On Colton Underwood's announcement,
there's a celebration, there's some peace. Um, there's a lot
of courage that it took for Colton to do this. Uh,
this is starting a whole new journey that you know,
we all hope UM lifts a burden from him. However,
the as many people have stated, and we've got a
(05:50):
lot of messages, there's a lot of headlines, a lot
of opinions about this. We have to talk about it.
You still have the Cassie Randolf situation still looming right
there's you know, there was the restraining order placed on
Coulton by Cassie that was then dropped UM over a
series of a few months. Uh. And now you know
Colton has came back into the public, I guess because
(06:13):
he kind of you know, went away for a bit
with this announcement. And so this headline reads cold would
publicly apologizes that Cassie Randolph after coming out as gay.
The quote is, I made a lot of bad choices.
This according to US Weekly, he said, I got into
a place with my personal life that was dark and bad.
And I can list a bunch of things, but they'd
(06:34):
all be excuses. I'd like to say, I'm sorry for
how things ended. I messed up. I made about a
lot of bad choices. I loved everything about her, and
it's hard for me to articulate exactly what my emotions
were going through that relationship with her, because obviously I
had an internal fight going on, he says. I I
would just say that I'm sorry from the bottom of
(06:55):
my heart. I'm sorry for any pain and emotional stress
that I caused. I wish it that it wouldn't have
happened the way it did. I wish that I had
been courageous enough to fix myself before I broke anyone else.
It's interesting how much has happened with Colton since his
memoir came out a year ago. At that point, he
was still with Cassie. There was no restraining order and
(07:15):
no harassment charges. He hadn't come out as gay, um,
and he talks about you know, so I'm just wondering
is he going to come out with a whole fresh
book Because it's funny because because the book was called
The First Time Finding Myself and Looking for Love on
Reality TV, and and now he's kind of admitting that
he hadn't found himself at that point. When the book
(07:37):
came out. I know that there was rumors that he
was going to add chapters to it, but it really
makes me wonder if he's just going to like completely
write another book. Well, yeah, you know, hey, Colton for
everything that people are celebrated by, Colon always has loved
to take advantage of the opportunity, like, I don't think
anybody's gonna say that's not true. And so uh if
(08:00):
if there's a book written, not a surprise, maybe it's needed.
Maybe it can be a good next step step for him. Um,
you know that it gets really difficult now. I think
when it comes to the situation with Cassie UM after
the restraining order was dropped, we haven't heard a lot
about it from either of them, So there's not since
(08:21):
we've talked about it before. You know, we've talked about
it um in a few episodes in the past. We
don't have a lot of new news and updates on it.
There's not a lot of new information. Neither of them
have really spoken their opinion. The only thing we have
is Colton is now announcement because this is the first
time he kind of came back to public apologizing the
Cassie for the pain that he caused. Now, no Cassie
(08:44):
is saying, well, she's not saying it. Somebody is saying
it for her that she's still processing this announcement. She
was not made aware that this was going to be
coming out, and so I think over the next few weeks,
this will be something that we cover, We have to
talk about it, we'll have to see, you know what
her responses. Give her time in the space to process,
(09:08):
give her the space that she will need the process. Um.
You know, but we we can't just act like this
didn't happen a few months ago, right, that it did.
But it also I mean, and this is my opinion,
and please tell me if anybody out there disagrees, But
we can still celebrate the fact that that Colton had
the courage to come out, um and and tell the
(09:29):
world that he's gay. I think we can still I
think we can still feel good about that at the
same time, um, not being okay with what happened a
few months ago. Exactly, we can feel multiple things at
once because personally, like I struggled with that I did
yesterday as this came out, UM, as I watched the interview.
As you know, as you see somebody that you know
(09:50):
sit on national television and announce something that you know
he had been holding on for a while, you knew
that wasn't easy for him to do. UM, So you know,
I personally had the emotion where I was like, I'm
really happy for this moment, but I'm still not okay
with what happened the past exactly. How do you balance
and navigate that tension? And I personally don't know yet
(10:11):
how I can badly, but this isn't about me, you know,
I'm just sitting here as a fan or a viewer like,
this isn't about me at all. We just have to continue.
I feel like we just continue to feel a little
bit conflicted in this while like we wait for Cassie
to say something. Now that she needs to even say something,
it's really like that's on her life anymore. She really
doesn't have to doesn't want to. True, Yeah, but there
(10:33):
is a tension there. However, for the sake of this podcast,
we're going to cover this story that's a massive em
Bachelor Nation. It's the first Bachelor who has now came
out as gay. This is a story that we have
to talk about that. So we're here today and that's
what we're gonna bring on. Somebody who can really help
navigate this with us is Lane's Bass, and I think
honestly can speak a lot of wisdom and truth into
this new season of life that Colton is walking into.
(10:56):
All right, let's get lands in. WELLO, guys, Hey, how
are you the ass man? It's good to talk to
you again. It's been a bit. It was Las Vegas
when I was last able to hang out with you,
and I think Ashley is probably last able to hang
out with you. Oh no, no, Lance and I have
spilled him many times since intimate relationship. That's fantastic, very proud. Well, Uh, Lance,
(11:23):
you're obviously here. Uh. Based on the announcement that Colton
Underwood made yesterday, Um, there is uh and I'm gonna
walk through this with you. I really hope that you
can help navigate this and share a lot of wisdom
because you've been through this season. But this there's these
moments in in reality television, uh that just like are
(11:45):
are in a sense like sacred or they transcend the
reality television world. This is one of those yesterday. No
matter you know what you think of of Colton, you
you've got to celebrate this moment for him, right because
you know how big of a step this was. Well,
you know, I do feel like the official gay guide
to people coming out. Um, it's uh, you know, in
this business you meet tons of people that are still
(12:07):
in the closet. There's several major actors and musicians out
there that still have not been able to come out
publicly because they fear many things. Uh. They fear what
their family is going to think, they you know, their friends. Um,
It's just everyone's coming out is their own story, right Uh.
And I'm just glad that Colton could tell his story,
(12:30):
you know, I can. I can really relate to his
experience because in a way, you know, I was kind
of like in a batch nation type situation where my
fans were women and they all thought I was straight,
and I that's how I made my money off of women,
right and and seeing about love uh and using you
know that market. So uh, you know, me coming out,
(12:53):
it was it was scary because I'm like, well, crap,
now everyone's you know, going to see me as a liar,
you know, and why did I do this to them?
So you start, I don't know, you start telling yourself
all these just the worst case possible scenarios of everything. Um,
you know, even my family. You know, I'm from Mississippi,
So I was like, crap, Like, what's what's my family
going to think? How is how is my little small
(13:14):
town I'm gonna treat my family when I come out. Um. So,
you know, there's there's a lot of a lot of
things going through your mind before you're able to publicly,
you know, admit that yes, I am gay. Um. And
on the flip side of that also is you know,
this gay community is very uh you know, diverse. Um,
(13:34):
but we can also be very fickle. You know. It's uh,
You're he's definitely gonna get a lot of backlash from
the community at first, not not the majority, but there
is a small percentage of the community that's just gonna
not like the fact that he came out this way
that he's using. Uh, this is you know, monetizing the experience. UM. So,
(13:54):
I mean, you're you're gonna get that, and they don't
think that he deserves this attention. Uh. And one of
those reasons is and this is what I experienced when
I came out. Um, you don't know when you when
you first come out, most people they have no clue
about the LGBT community. They don't know what the issues are.
They have no idea because they've been so separated from
(14:16):
that on purpose. UM. So when someone comes out as
a public figure. So many people immediately go to like,
screw that, it's too late that you know, It's like
they don't they don't like to support it because they
don't feel like you you know what you're talking about yet.
But I don't think Colton is kind of leading that
charge of trying to be the spokesperson for the LGBT community. Uh.
(14:38):
I see him really, you know, taking the responsibility of
you know, learning about the community, sharing his story with
this documentary, and a lot of people like, great, this
is all for the money's doing a documentary. Well, yeah,
that's that could be. But I mean, for me, seeing
a documentary like that is only going to help the
community because people will know every every story that you
(15:01):
see on television or or in a film of a
gay you know character, everyone, you know, a different person
can relate to that. And we haven't had too many
representations of you know, a gay personal and television that
came from this world. You know of this you know,
crazy sports world. We had to hide it. And I mean,
I'm just assuming that one of the reasons that he
(15:24):
couldn't come out was because of his family and you know,
his dad he calls coach, so I mean, I've I've
seen that, you know, over and over and over again.
I've heard you know that story, and so many people
can relate to that of you know, keeping it such
a sinker for so long because of your dad. You know,
it's it's it's I think the number one reason people
stay in the closets because their parents. Yeah, yesterday it
(15:45):
was said that his dad actually was there for the
Good Morning America interview and stood beside him, which I
think is a special moment. I just want to touch
on something you said earlier. There's so much you just
covered that I'd love to dig into because quite honestly, uh,
I don't know a lot about the community, um and
I would love to, you know, to learn more. And
it feels like this year, I don't know, it has
(16:07):
just been a year of learning about so many things
that I have been ignorant to or just not focused on.
And so I'm really glad that we could take this moment.
But you made a comment right at the beginning, you
said you feel like you're the gay guide in these situations.
Is that something that bothers you personally? Is that something
that you necessary like And I say this and I'm
gonna say something here and you could come off. Colton
(16:29):
made an announcement on national television yesterday. One of the
first things I thought was, is he ready for this step?
Like he might not. He is gonna be a face
now for this community. You are as you self admitted,
like the gay guide in these situations? Is that a
burden that feels really heavy? Is that something you enjoy?
Are you? Is he ready for? Like? Can you walk
(16:51):
me through that? I mean, I don't find it a
burden at all, you know. I I wish I would
have had someone to be able to talk to when
I first came out or right where I, you know,
came out. Um, it would have helped explain a lot
of things to me. It would have helped me say
the right things the right way, um, because everyone is
going to be judging you so much, you know, in
(17:12):
this moment, right when you, you know, come out. I
remember when i've and in my situation, and I don't
know if this was his situation too, but um, you
know I was out it like I I didn't have
a choice, Like I had to come out or they
were going to write the story. So I was kind
of like really just pushed out of the closet. Um,
So I didn't really have the time to find gay
allies and and you know, you know, get to know
(17:35):
the community before I came out. And so you know,
you'd show up at HRC events, which I've done before,
you know, as a quote unquote street guy. But this time,
you know, I go on stage and I make a speech,
and you know, two tables get up, flip me off
and leave. You know. So it's just like, holy crap,
that was my that was my introduction to the gay
community that event, Like, well, this is going to be
(17:57):
a very long road. What HRC just Human Rights Campaign. Yeah,
it's a really great organization. Um. But you know, but
I understand where they're coming from. I I get it. Um,
it's not the way I would would do it and
try to educate people. Um. But you know, there's a
lot of hard feelings for especially the older gay community
(18:21):
because of what they had to go through. I mean,
the older generation of gays. They I mean they went
through some they I mean, you know, majority of their
friends died from the AIDS pandemic, and and they just
saw a lot of death and and all the fighting
they had to do just to get equal rights. I
mean it was. It's a lot harder than it is today.
(18:41):
And I think a lot of a lot of that
generation looks at us young guns and especially even could
the young young ones, um that they don't they don't
understand where the community came from, and that they're not
willing to understand it. But you know, but you have
to give him a chance. Like he just came out,
Let's see what he does with it. Were se when
you came out and you were forced out? Um? What
(19:04):
took you so long? Um? Many reasons. I mean the
number one was in Sync. Uh. You know, as long
as I was in the group, I didn't want to
even talk about it, mention it, uh, you know, act
on it, because you know, it was so ingrained in
me that if anyone found out it was gay, in
(19:25):
sync would be overdone. And now I've got, you know,
my four best friends, you know, careers in my hands
that I just completely just trashed. Um. So I mean
that that was the number one. I just didn't want
to hurt you know, my my group. Um uh. And
then you know the other the the next you know, Um,
(19:47):
the problem I had was being where I'm from in Mississippi,
you know, your you grow up. You know, I grew
up in the church, going to church three times a week,
and you know, you're taught that gay people are going
to hell and they're and their pedophiles, and it's just
you have such a bad feeling about gay people, um,
you know, and when that's instilled in you at such
a young age, you you think that's the truth. I mean,
(20:11):
why wouldn't it be the truth? You're You're the adults
were telling you this, your preachers telling you this, so
they're not lying to me, you know. Um. So growing
up in an environment like that really does keep you
in the closet because you just you don't know what
hate you're going you're going to receive. When you did
come out, like, did you even feel any of the
(20:32):
hate that you expected to receive? It was way less
than I thought. I mean, of course I saw, you know,
the biggots go after me. Uh. And I mean even today,
I mean, gosh, I'll go on social media and I
you know, I still get called fat like every day
of my life, so that's just part of it. But
I also got called fat when I was in in
sync the whole time too, So it's something that I've
(20:53):
been used to of just everyone assuming I'm gay, right, Um,
But I was very surprised because when I came out,
it was it was a different time. It really was.
It was, yeah, and you know, being gay was still
just a crazy hard thing to be and especially in entertainment,
like no one, no one could be gay and on radio,
(21:15):
you know, no one could have their own show or
on film you know when you're gay. Um, so yeah,
I mean, it's it was. It was a crazy time.
And I thought that, wow, everyone is going to hate me.
Everyone's gonna hate and sink, everyone's gonna make fun of
me and be like, of course the boy bands gay.
Oh let's tell me something we didn't know, like just
really just take the negative with it. But I mean,
(21:37):
I would say, was so positive. And it was the
first time I saw, you know, in my lifetime. It
was the first time I saw such a crazy positive
reaction to someone coming out because we all saw what
happened to Ellen and other people like her. Um, and
you know, watching the story of someone like Ellen keeps
people in the closet even more. They're like, crap, So
(21:58):
you told you that's what happens become out, what what.
I'm just interested because you know Colton obviously mentioned it.
You know, he grew up uh in a Catholic comb Um.
You know, the church played a big role and uh
and I will go to detail. I was able to
talk to him a little bit about this yesterday. UM.
(22:19):
This is something that hurts my soul in the deepest ways.
UM that he would feel, you know, that he couldn't
be his truest, most authentic self because of um the church.
Where does your faith lie today? Um? And have you
found that community within you know, the faith world that
(22:42):
does support you. Yeah. You know, my my faith you know,
evolves a lot um, you know, in my life. Now,
I'm I wouldn't say that. I mean, I I don't
believe in organized religion. To me, I think, I mean
I used to, but in recent years I've realized that
organized religion is has just been used for hate and
(23:04):
it's basically organized hate. And I just think that's horrible.
And you saw that in the last four years, you know,
when we had you know, Trump in office, and you
know a lot of the evangelical Christians were in control
of this country for four years, and we saw the
hatred come out in the last four years. Um, And
it's just you know, I think that's horrible. You know,
(23:27):
when I grew up in church, it was all about
you know, giving back to others and loving people. And
it was really I grew up, you know, just the
teachings of Jesus Christ, which to me today Jesus Christ
has the best message. I mean, it's the same thing
with Buddha. Also, you know Jesus didn't you know, Jesus
one a Christian, he was Jewish, but his message was
(23:49):
exactly what I like to to, you know, model my
morals after, um. Because everything that has been written about
what he has said or done and has been all
about love and acceptance and exactly what how I believe
in the world. Um. And then to see my same
(24:09):
churches that taught me that use those words to turn
them into hating me. Um, I just saw the evilness
of it. I saw the corruption. And so no, I don't.
I don't believe in organized religion as much as as
I did. I mean, I'm sure there's some great churches
out there. There's some great churches in l a that
(24:29):
are very accepted of gay people. And I have lots
of gay Christian friends Um, but I can never be
a part of that anymore, just because it's it's just
gotten too corrupt. Thanks for sharing them. Colton talked about
like praying to God that he wouldn't be gay, and
like praying that he He said when he got the
(24:51):
bachelor role that he thanked God for making him straight
and allowing him to find his wife and have kids.
Did you go through a phase like this? Everyone I know? Did?
I mean since I probably was eight years old. I
prayed every night that I would wake up straight every
(25:12):
single night for years, which really messes with a little
kid's mind. I mean, no little kids should have to,
you know, go through that. Um, so your whole life,
you're fooling yourself into thinking, no, I you know, I
just if I don't act on it's fine. I'll be
able to marry a girl, We'll have a family. So
I totally can relate to why Colton felt great. You
(25:34):
know this was God gave me this gift to being
a bachelor. This means you know that I can be straight,
you know, um, and how I'll be able to beat
a girl and have family. And as long as it
don't act on this you know, gay feelings, Um, it's
fine because that's what the church teaches also, is you know,
it's fine being gay. I mean being gay is acceptable. Great,
(25:55):
you just can't act on it because everyone since just
don't act on it and ask for forgiveness. Did you
ever feel like that within sync, You're like, oh, I
was given all these girls to choose from. Yes, it
was God's little joke to put me in a group
with female audience. I mean it kept me safe, that's
sure for sure. But um, but yeah, I mean it's
(26:18):
it was funny that that was that was the path
that my life went. But I mean it was there
was a reason that had happened, and hopefully, you know,
I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing on this
planet because of it. You dated women to like Danielle Fischel.
It was like kind of you know, it was like
a fling, right, you took her to prom and stuff.
But Danielle we dated for like two years. Oh my goodness. Yeah,
(26:43):
she was my longtime girlfriend. Now. I remember being so
jealous of her. I was like, not only is she depended,
but she's dating lands I know. And then my thing,
it was like, look, if I can't, if I can't
you know, be attracted to Danielle or you know, fall
in love with her that the way because I thought
I was in love, but I was also a teenager,
so I felt you know, I thought that's what love was.
(27:05):
But of course once I felt true love, like, oh,
that's that's what that feeling is. But I knew if
I couldn't find that true love with Danielle, there's no
way I could find it with any other girls. She
was just the perfect, perfect person. Well, Lens, I know
you're you're really busy and and we really appreciate you
(27:26):
coming on. We just have I mean, I personally have
a few more questions for you. UM One is something
you touched on um as you kind of started this out,
you know there is in the last day, it's been
a mix of emotions for a lot of the fans
of The Bachelor, and this isn't about them, but it
is the things that Colton is hearing. Right. You have
(27:47):
a few months ago, you have a restraining order placed
on him by Cassie uh following their breakup. And then
the news got dropped yesterday and I believe TMZ was
the ones to release it, saying that there is a
Netflix documentary currently being filmed that will come out soon
about this journey for Colton, and the response you know,
is mixed for him. You know, you have the celebration
(28:09):
of him having the courage to come out, and then
you have the following of the people saying, hey, Colton,
we support that, but you're monetizing this. This feels weird
to us. What if you could speak into that, maybe
trying to understand his perspective, maybe assuming a few things.
(28:30):
Is it wrong to be doing a documentary? Does it
feel um like he is monetizing a situation that is
very personal? And then how do you walk through the
criticism while at the same time celebrating the fact that
you're starting this whole new journey in life. Yeah, well,
then of course he's monetizing you know, the situation. But
I don't. I don't think Coulton, you know, came up
(28:52):
with this plan, was like, all right, let's call Netflix
and see if you know I'm gonna come out. You know,
him coming out was his only you know thing that's
on his mind right now. But when people come to you,
your manager or whatever and they say, look, you know,
we know you're coming out. We would love to document
this because it would help everyone and to be for
(29:13):
the greater good. Like I was saying before, you know,
to see just any kind of representation of a gay
person on television is good. Um. I think the community,
you know, looks at this as you know, an opportunistic
grab of money. Um. But you know they're you know,
they're gonna they're gonna think that because also the community
is upset with great like another you know, um, straight adjacent,
(29:39):
buff white guy. Uh, you know, we're gonna we're gonna
watch his coming out story. What about like, you know,
the black community, or anyone of color, or any or
feminine or you know, all the other flavors of the rainbow. Um,
I think they're like, well, that doesn't really represent you know,
our our real community. You know, it's it's a pretty
thing to look at, but it's not you know, the
(30:00):
reality of the community leads uh you Okay, So when
you came out, had you had a relationship with a
man before, because Colton admitted yesterday that he has yet
to have an emotional relationship with a man. Yeah, uh yeah,
we'll see how that story progressive might just be a
(30:23):
little too embarrassed to admit it. Right now. Um, but no,
I uh I when I came out, I was on
boyfriend number three, so I had already been out to
my friends obviously in three relationships. UM, so my core
people knew. I just didn't think people cared, um until
years later, you know, when the magazine started calling sand Look,
(30:46):
we know you're gay. We're writing the story with or
without you. What do you want to do? So then
that's when I decided, Okay, well then I need to publicly,
I guess announced that I'm gay. Man, that's gotta be.
It's gonna be a whirlwind. Um. If Colton listens to this,
who knows if you will or not. Um, but if
anybody out there is is listening to this in a
(31:06):
similar situation, um, as as you were in and as
Colton has just turned into, what would your advice be
as you navigate this journey? Yeah, UM, listen. That's all
you need to do right now is just listen to
the community, Listen to everyone around you. You know, educate yourself, um,
(31:28):
and then you know you'll naturally find where you belong
in this in this community. But the best thing to
do right now is you know, sit back, listen and learn.
Well Lance, Thank you so much for joining us. You're
the greatest. You know how I feel about you. Well,
I love you, guys. Thanks a lot. I know hey,
(31:51):
you know what I know. You self admitted it. You're
the gay guide in these situations and you've been a
good guide for us. Thanks for coming on, Thanks for
giving up your time. Have a great lunch today, enjoy
it and we hope to see you soon. Al Right,
Guncle Lance is here to deliver guys. All right, well, Ashley,
(32:13):
you know we're walking into your obviously friends with Lands.
I've been able to be around Lands. Um. This is
this is a shocking turn of events in Bachelor Nation.
This is a big story for a lot of reasons.
This is the first time that a bachelor has came out,
um as gay. And now I think, as Lances said,
(32:37):
my job is somebody that is self admittedly very ignorant
in these situations. I have not um been able to
be surrounded in my life by a lot of people
who have came out. And it's I think maybe it
is that we all need to listen, that we all
need to learn, that we all need to uh through
all these stages of the last year. Is just continue
(32:57):
to stay open to what is going on around us,
what are people saying and where are people hurting. We
have a few more headlines that I think we could
dive into a little bit um when we come back
with The Almost Famous Podcast. We'll finish with headlines on
this very special episode of The Almost Famous Podcast. A
(33:26):
few more headlines to cover that we want to speak about.
Ashley brought it up to Lance Uh during our time
with Lance Bass, and we do appreciate him coming on,
but Uh to clarify and dig in a bit to
what actually was talking about. The headline reads this, Colton
Underwood never allowed himself to have an emotional connection with
a man. I want that more than anything. This according
(33:48):
to US Weekly m He says he hasn't found a
spark with a male partner yet he's never allowed himself to.
He said, it's never been sort of in my cards
to let myself get there, and I want more than
anything to get there. He says that he's looking for
somebody who can push him and challenge him in all
great ways. He says he's ran from himself for a
(34:09):
long time. He said he hated himself for a long time,
and this is where he is now. In addition to that,
we talked about this upcoming Netflix series that will be
coming out pretty soon. This is confirmed. Now there is
a Netflix series that is being filmed. Um. This was
confirmed by TMZ and the headline reads this Cold Underwood
(34:31):
reality TV star again Netflix series about coming out this
again according to TMZ. So the cameras have apparently been
following him throughout this week. Netflix has declined to comment
on the project though, so it's not confirmed. And this
is according to Variety. This is like the ultimate source
for entertainment news. Um. They say from what the rumors
(34:55):
are is that the Olympian gust Kenworthy will appear in
the series, acting as a guide of sorts for for
Coldness he goes through this journey. No word on when
the series will launch, and again no real official announcement
of it either. But it's very very much rumored. So
I guess I miss book. It's not fully confirmed, but
(35:18):
it's very much rumored. It's probably the best way to
say it. Yes, very like strongly rumored to the point
where like there's no way it's not happening. Okay, fair enough, Well, Ashley, Oh,
I just got a text from Lance. He said, I
think it's finally time for the gay Bachelor spinoff and
I'll take the host role. Didn't he didn't Lance host
(35:42):
a show that was attempting to do like a gay Bachelor.
He did. It was on a cable network. I feel
like it was like TBS or something. But it's interesting
that that comes up now because you remember the headline
the other day. Rob Mills was saying that they're having
some deal with Hulu and they're looking for more Bachelor spinoffs.
This could be the time. Interesting, it's interesting. Well, Uh,
(36:07):
hey Ashley, Uh, we jumped on here today to cover
this story. Uh, to cover the announcement yesterday. UM. Glad
we could give up the time. Really thankful for Lane's
bass to help jump on here and be um our
GIY guide as he uh told told us it is
an episode. We'll we'll continue to talk about this story.
(36:28):
I'm sure this is not going away. We'll continue to
cover everything surrounding this story in the next couple of
weeks and months. Um. But this was in a podcast.
UH pretty focused on Colton Underwoods announcement yesterday on Good
Morning America with Robin Roberts as he officially announces that
(36:48):
he is gay, and he is starting this new chapter
of his life with that I've been Been, I've Been, Ashley.
Why did that sound weird? But it's fine? Followed the
Benn and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast on iHeart Radio
or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
This is the Benn and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast
with i R Radio. Hello everyone, welcome to the Almost
Famous Podcast Coulton Special Edition. This is one of those like,
how many emergency podcasts have we done weeks? That's ridiculous,
I mean, oh even this year, or like in general,
people not wait to give their news like on a
(00:22):
Sunday night, so that Monday we can just roll right
into it. All right, So let's talk about it. Um.
Colton came out as gay on Good Morning America yesterday
in a interview with Robin Roberts, and I mean, I
think both of us are really happy that he's able
to live his true self, Like he's able to just
(00:45):
come to, you know, the realization of who he really
is and live a free, happy life. It's it's obviously
been something that's really bogged down on his heart for
a while. Yeah it is. I mean, it's it's good
to see him have the moment, right, But at the
same time, for as happy as we are that Colton
gets to uh now be his his most true self,
(01:09):
there is still the situation with Cassie that kind of
has came up in the headlines as this has been announced.
So today We're gonna bring on one of our favorite people.
We've traveled to Las Vegas with him. Uh, Lance Bass
is going to be on the podcast today. We're gonna
talk through all of this stuff. Um, not only uh
the announcement where Colton Underwood has came out as gay,
(01:30):
but also, uh, what it means for the situation with Cassie.
How does Colton move forward? Uh this there's a rumored
show on Netflix that is being filmed right now. Um,
there's a lot going on. We're gonna break it down
here and just talk about what we know and who
could do it better than Lance Bass, who was, honestly
in a very similar situation. You know, he was thought
(01:50):
he was a guy that all these girls wanted, who
had so much attention on him being a big boy
bander versus being the bachelor. I think that it's quite similar.
They both came out around at the certain the same age.
They both grew up in conservative Christian households, So there's
a lot of similarities that I want to get into.
We're gonna take a break when we come back. We're
(02:11):
gonna do some Colton Underwood very special headlines, uh, and
then bring Lance Bass onto the Almost Famous podcast. The
executive producers of The Bachelor franchise have issued the following
(02:33):
statement regarding Colton Underwood's The Bachelor Season twenty three interview
on Good Morning America This Morning, Ashley, What's a Statement.
Their statement reads, we are so inspired by Colton Underwood's
courage to embrace and pursue his authentic self. As firm
believers in the power of love, we celebrate Colton's journey
in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender queer intersect in asexual
(02:58):
plus community every step of the way. Bachelor Nation rallies
around Colton Underwood after he comes out as gay. So
proud of you. That's going to us weekly, so Blake says.
I texted him. I'm sure I'll hear from him in
the next couple of days, so I can let him
know what I think and how proud I am of him.
I can't imagine. It's impossible for me to imagine what
(03:20):
he went through. I'm proud of him for being true
to who he is. I hope that he's able to
give a lot of other people courage to do the same.
Proud of my guy at Colton Underwood and Hannah Godwin
also said, I support Colton for having the courage to
be finally able to live his authentic his life authentically.
Nobody should have to hide from who they really are.
(03:43):
I always wish Colton the very best and hoping that
he has found peace. Hannah, of course, was his second
third runner up, and Taitia was in that group as well,
and Tatia says through her rep that she's very happy
that Colton is now able to live of his life
openly without fear of sharing who he is. For a
(04:05):
Bachelors Star, Colton Underwood comes out as gay. This according
to Good Morning America. Yes, okay, so here are some
of the quotes from the interview. He said, I ran
from myself for a long time. I hated myself for
a long time. I am gay, and I came to
terms with that earlier this year, and I've been processing it.
(04:25):
And the next step in all of this is sort
of letting people know. I'm still nervous. But it's been
a journey for sure. Um. He also says Robin Roberts,
who was also openly gay, so that she saw the
joy and saw the relief in Colton before and after
the interview. She said that he was like all tense
and of course very nervous before the interview. UM, but
(04:45):
then afterwards he just it just seemed like a you know,
a weight was lifted. He said that he's going through,
you know, a very emotional time, but in a very good, happy,
positive way. He says it's the happiest and healthiest he's
ever been. Um. And there was there was a time
where he said it was a wake up call. He
said he would have rather died than said that he
was gay. He said that there was a moment when
(05:07):
he was living in l A when he woke up
and he didn't think he was going to wake up
because he didn't have the intentions of waking up. Um,
And he did and that was a moment where he
he knew he had to take back control of his life. Well,
there is obviously the celebration I think for for most people.
I'm not gonna say everybody. I'm sure there's some people
(05:29):
out there not feeling this way. UM. On Colton Underwood's announcement,
there's a celebration, there's some peace. Um, there's a lot
of courage that it took for Colton to do this. Uh,
this is starting a whole new journey that you know,
we all hope UM lifts a burden from him. However,
the as many people have stated, and we've got a
(05:50):
lot of messages, there's a lot of headlines, a lot
of opinions about this. We have to talk about it.
You still have the Cassie Randolf situation still looming right
there's you know, there was the restraining order placed on
Coulton by Cassie that was then dropped UM over a
series of a few months. Uh. And now you know
Colton has came back into the public, I guess because
(06:13):
he kind of you know, went away for a bit
with this announcement. And so this headline reads cold would
publicly apologizes that Cassie Randolph after coming out as gay.
The quote is, I made a lot of bad choices.
This according to US Weekly, he said, I got into
a place with my personal life that was dark and bad.
And I can list a bunch of things, but they'd
(06:34):
all be excuses. I'd like to say, I'm sorry for
how things ended. I messed up. I made about a
lot of bad choices. I loved everything about her, and
it's hard for me to articulate exactly what my emotions
were going through that relationship with her, because obviously I
had an internal fight going on, he says. I I
would just say that I'm sorry from the bottom of
(06:55):
my heart. I'm sorry for any pain and emotional stress
that I caused. I wish it that it wouldn't have
happened the way it did. I wish that I had
been courageous enough to fix myself before I broke anyone else.
It's interesting how much has happened with Colton since his
memoir came out a year ago. At that point, he
was still with Cassie. There was no restraining order and
(07:15):
no harassment charges. He hadn't come out as gay, um,
and he talks about you know, so I'm just wondering
is he going to come out with a whole fresh
book Because it's funny because because the book was called
The First Time Finding Myself and Looking for Love on
Reality TV, and and now he's kind of admitting that
he hadn't found himself at that point. When the book
(07:37):
came out. I know that there was rumors that he
was going to add chapters to it, but it really
makes me wonder if he's just going to like completely
write another book. Well, yeah, you know, hey, Colton for
everything that people are celebrated by, Colon always has loved
to take advantage of the opportunity, like, I don't think
anybody's gonna say that's not true. And so uh if
(08:00):
if there's a book written, not a surprise, maybe it's needed.
Maybe it can be a good next step step for him. Um,
you know that it gets really difficult now. I think
when it comes to the situation with Cassie UM after
the restraining order was dropped, we haven't heard a lot
about it from either of them, So there's not since
(08:21):
we've talked about it before. You know, we've talked about
it um in a few episodes in the past. We
don't have a lot of new news and updates on it.
There's not a lot of new information. Neither of them
have really spoken their opinion. The only thing we have
is Colton is now announcement because this is the first
time he kind of came back to public apologizing the
Cassie for the pain that he caused. Now, no Cassie
(08:44):
is saying, well, she's not saying it. Somebody is saying
it for her that she's still processing this announcement. She
was not made aware that this was going to be
coming out, and so I think over the next few weeks,
this will be something that we cover, We have to
talk about it, we'll have to see, you know what
her responses. Give her time in the space to process,
(09:08):
give her the space that she will need the process. Um.
You know, but we we can't just act like this
didn't happen a few months ago, right, that it did.
But it also I mean, and this is my opinion,
and please tell me if anybody out there disagrees, But
we can still celebrate the fact that that Colton had
the courage to come out, um and and tell the
(09:29):
world that he's gay. I think we can still I
think we can still feel good about that at the
same time, um, not being okay with what happened a
few months ago. Exactly, we can feel multiple things at
once because personally, like I struggled with that I did
yesterday as this came out, UM, as I watched the interview.
As you know, as you see somebody that you know
(09:50):
sit on national television and announce something that you know
he had been holding on for a while, you knew
that wasn't easy for him to do. UM, So you know,
I personally had the emotion where I was like, I'm
really happy for this moment, but I'm still not okay
with what happened the past exactly. How do you balance
and navigate that tension? And I personally don't know yet
(10:11):
how I can badly, but this isn't about me, you know,
I'm just sitting here as a fan or a viewer like,
this isn't about me at all. We just have to continue.
I feel like we just continue to feel a little
bit conflicted in this while like we wait for Cassie
to say something. Now that she needs to even say something,
it's really like that's on her life anymore. She really
doesn't have to doesn't want to. True, Yeah, but there
(10:33):
is a tension there. However, for the sake of this podcast,
we're going to cover this story that's a massive em
Bachelor Nation. It's the first Bachelor who has now came
out as gay. This is a story that we have
to talk about that. So we're here today and that's
what we're gonna bring on. Somebody who can really help
navigate this with us is Lane's Bass, and I think
honestly can speak a lot of wisdom and truth into
this new season of life that Colton is walking into.
(10:56):
All right, let's get lands in. WELLO, guys, Hey, how
are you the ass man? It's good to talk to
you again. It's been a bit. It was Las Vegas
when I was last able to hang out with you,
and I think Ashley is probably last able to hang
out with you. Oh no, no, Lance and I have
spilled him many times since intimate relationship. That's fantastic, very proud. Well, Uh, Lance,
(11:23):
you're obviously here. Uh. Based on the announcement that Colton
Underwood made yesterday, Um, there is uh and I'm gonna
walk through this with you. I really hope that you
can help navigate this and share a lot of wisdom
because you've been through this season. But this there's these
moments in in reality television, uh that just like are
(11:45):
are in a sense like sacred or they transcend the
reality television world. This is one of those yesterday. No
matter you know what you think of of Colton, you
you've got to celebrate this moment for him, right because
you know how big of a step this was. Well,
you know, I do feel like the official gay guide
to people coming out. Um, it's uh, you know, in
this business you meet tons of people that are still
(12:07):
in the closet. There's several major actors and musicians out
there that still have not been able to come out
publicly because they fear many things. Uh. They fear what
their family is going to think, they you know, their friends. Um,
It's just everyone's coming out is their own story, right Uh.
And I'm just glad that Colton could tell his story,
(12:30):
you know, I can. I can really relate to his
experience because in a way, you know, I was kind
of like in a batch nation type situation where my
fans were women and they all thought I was straight,
and I that's how I made my money off of women,
right and and seeing about love uh and using you
know that market. So uh, you know, me coming out,
(12:53):
it was it was scary because I'm like, well, crap,
now everyone's you know, going to see me as a liar,
you know, and why did I do this to them?
So you start, I don't know, you start telling yourself
all these just the worst case possible scenarios of everything. Um,
you know, even my family. You know, I'm from Mississippi,
So I was like, crap, Like, what's what's my family
going to think? How is how is my little small
(13:14):
town I'm gonna treat my family when I come out. Um. So,
you know, there's there's a lot of a lot of
things going through your mind before you're able to publicly,
you know, admit that yes, I am gay. Um. And
on the flip side of that also is you know,
this gay community is very uh you know, diverse. Um,
(13:34):
but we can also be very fickle. You know. It's uh,
You're he's definitely gonna get a lot of backlash from
the community at first, not not the majority, but there
is a small percentage of the community that's just gonna
not like the fact that he came out this way
that he's using. Uh, this is you know, monetizing the experience. UM. So,
(13:54):
I mean, you're you're gonna get that, and they don't
think that he deserves this attention. Uh. And one of
those reasons is and this is what I experienced when
I came out. Um, you don't know when you when
you first come out, most people they have no clue
about the LGBT community. They don't know what the issues are.
They have no idea because they've been so separated from
(14:16):
that on purpose. UM. So when someone comes out as
a public figure. So many people immediately go to like,
screw that, it's too late that you know, It's like
they don't they don't like to support it because they
don't feel like you you know what you're talking about yet.
But I don't think Colton is kind of leading that
charge of trying to be the spokesperson for the LGBT community. Uh.
(14:38):
I see him really, you know, taking the responsibility of
you know, learning about the community, sharing his story with
this documentary, and a lot of people like, great, this
is all for the money's doing a documentary. Well, yeah,
that's that could be. But I mean, for me, seeing
a documentary like that is only going to help the
community because people will know every every story that you
(15:01):
see on television or or in a film of a
gay you know character, everyone, you know, a different person
can relate to that. And we haven't had too many
representations of you know, a gay personal and television that
came from this world. You know of this you know,
crazy sports world. We had to hide it. And I mean,
I'm just assuming that one of the reasons that he
(15:24):
couldn't come out was because of his family and you know,
his dad he calls coach, so I mean, I've I've
seen that, you know, over and over and over again.
I've heard you know that story, and so many people
can relate to that of you know, keeping it such
a sinker for so long because of your dad. You know,
it's it's it's I think the number one reason people
stay in the closets because their parents. Yeah, yesterday it
(15:45):
was said that his dad actually was there for the
Good Morning America interview and stood beside him, which I
think is a special moment. I just want to touch
on something you said earlier. There's so much you just
covered that I'd love to dig into because quite honestly, uh,
I don't know a lot about the community, um and
I would love to, you know, to learn more. And
it feels like this year, I don't know, it has
(16:07):
just been a year of learning about so many things
that I have been ignorant to or just not focused on.
And so I'm really glad that we could take this moment.
But you made a comment right at the beginning, you
said you feel like you're the gay guide in these situations.
Is that something that bothers you personally? Is that something
that you necessary like And I say this and I'm
gonna say something here and you could come off. Colton
(16:29):
made an announcement on national television yesterday. One of the
first things I thought was, is he ready for this step?
Like he might not. He is gonna be a face
now for this community. You are as you self admitted,
like the gay guide in these situations? Is that a
burden that feels really heavy? Is that something you enjoy?
Are you? Is he ready for? Like? Can you walk
(16:51):
me through that? I mean, I don't find it a
burden at all, you know. I I wish I would
have had someone to be able to talk to when
I first came out or right where I, you know,
came out. Um, it would have helped explain a lot
of things to me. It would have helped me say
the right things the right way, um, because everyone is
going to be judging you so much, you know, in
(17:12):
this moment, right when you, you know, come out. I
remember when i've and in my situation, and I don't
know if this was his situation too, but um, you
know I was out it like I I didn't have
a choice, Like I had to come out or they
were going to write the story. So I was kind
of like really just pushed out of the closet. Um,
So I didn't really have the time to find gay
allies and and you know, you know, get to know
(17:35):
the community before I came out. And so you know,
you'd show up at HRC events, which I've done before,
you know, as a quote unquote street guy. But this time,
you know, I go on stage and I make a speech,
and you know, two tables get up, flip me off
and leave. You know. So it's just like, holy crap,
that was my that was my introduction to the gay
community that event, Like, well, this is going to be
(17:57):
a very long road. What HRC just Human Rights Campaign. Yeah,
it's a really great organization. Um. But you know, but
I understand where they're coming from. I I get it. Um,
it's not the way I would would do it and
try to educate people. Um. But you know, there's a
lot of hard feelings for especially the older gay community
(18:21):
because of what they had to go through. I mean,
the older generation of gays. They I mean they went
through some they I mean, you know, majority of their
friends died from the AIDS pandemic, and and they just
saw a lot of death and and all the fighting
they had to do just to get equal rights. I
mean it was. It's a lot harder than it is today.
(18:41):
And I think a lot of a lot of that
generation looks at us young guns and especially even could
the young young ones, um that they don't they don't
understand where the community came from, and that they're not
willing to understand it. But you know, but you have
to give him a chance. Like he just came out,
Let's see what he does with it. Were se when
you came out and you were forced out? Um? What
(19:04):
took you so long? Um? Many reasons. I mean the
number one was in Sync. Uh. You know, as long
as I was in the group, I didn't want to
even talk about it, mention it, uh, you know, act
on it, because you know, it was so ingrained in
me that if anyone found out it was gay, in
(19:25):
sync would be overdone. And now I've got, you know,
my four best friends, you know, careers in my hands
that I just completely just trashed. Um. So I mean
that that was the number one. I just didn't want
to hurt you know, my my group. Um uh. And
then you know the other the the next you know, Um,
(19:47):
the problem I had was being where I'm from in Mississippi,
you know, your you grow up. You know, I grew
up in the church, going to church three times a week,
and you know, you're taught that gay people are going
to hell and they're and their pedophiles, and it's just
you have such a bad feeling about gay people, um,
you know, and when that's instilled in you at such
a young age, you you think that's the truth. I mean,
(20:11):
why wouldn't it be the truth? You're You're the adults
were telling you this, your preachers telling you this, so
they're not lying to me, you know. Um. So growing
up in an environment like that really does keep you
in the closet because you just you don't know what
hate you're going you're going to receive. When you did
come out, like, did you even feel any of the
(20:32):
hate that you expected to receive? It was way less
than I thought. I mean, of course I saw, you know,
the biggots go after me. Uh. And I mean even today,
I mean, gosh, I'll go on social media and I
you know, I still get called fat like every day
of my life, so that's just part of it. But
I also got called fat when I was in in
sync the whole time too, So it's something that I've
(20:53):
been used to of just everyone assuming I'm gay, right, Um,
But I was very surprised because when I came out,
it was it was a different time. It really was.
It was, yeah, and you know, being gay was still
just a crazy hard thing to be and especially in entertainment,
like no one, no one could be gay and on radio,
(21:15):
you know, no one could have their own show or
on film you know when you're gay. Um, so yeah,
I mean, it's it was. It was a crazy time.
And I thought that, wow, everyone is going to hate me.
Everyone's gonna hate and sink, everyone's gonna make fun of
me and be like, of course the boy bands gay.
Oh let's tell me something we didn't know, like just
really just take the negative with it. But I mean,
(21:37):
I would say, was so positive. And it was the
first time I saw, you know, in my lifetime. It
was the first time I saw such a crazy positive
reaction to someone coming out because we all saw what
happened to Ellen and other people like her. Um, and
you know, watching the story of someone like Ellen keeps
people in the closet even more. They're like, crap, So
(21:58):
you told you that's what happens become out, what what.
I'm just interested because you know Colton obviously mentioned it.
You know, he grew up uh in a Catholic comb Um.
You know, the church played a big role and uh
and I will go to detail. I was able to
talk to him a little bit about this yesterday. UM.
(22:19):
This is something that hurts my soul in the deepest ways.
UM that he would feel, you know, that he couldn't
be his truest, most authentic self because of um the church.
Where does your faith lie today? Um? And have you
found that community within you know, the faith world that
(22:42):
does support you. Yeah. You know, my my faith you know,
evolves a lot um, you know, in my life. Now,
I'm I wouldn't say that. I mean, I I don't
believe in organized religion. To me, I think, I mean
I used to, but in recent years I've realized that
organized religion is has just been used for hate and
(23:04):
it's basically organized hate. And I just think that's horrible.
And you saw that in the last four years, you know,
when we had you know, Trump in office, and you
know a lot of the evangelical Christians were in control
of this country for four years, and we saw the
hatred come out in the last four years. Um, And
it's just you know, I think that's horrible. You know,
(23:27):
when I grew up in church, it was all about
you know, giving back to others and loving people. And
it was really I grew up, you know, just the
teachings of Jesus Christ, which to me today Jesus Christ
has the best message. I mean, it's the same thing
with Buddha. Also, you know Jesus didn't you know, Jesus
one a Christian, he was Jewish, but his message was
(23:49):
exactly what I like to to, you know, model my
morals after, um. Because everything that has been written about
what he has said or done and has been all
about love and acceptance and exactly what how I believe
in the world. Um. And then to see my same
(24:09):
churches that taught me that use those words to turn
them into hating me. Um, I just saw the evilness
of it. I saw the corruption. And so no, I don't.
I don't believe in organized religion as much as as
I did. I mean, I'm sure there's some great churches
out there. There's some great churches in l a that
(24:29):
are very accepted of gay people. And I have lots
of gay Christian friends Um, but I can never be
a part of that anymore, just because it's it's just
gotten too corrupt. Thanks for sharing them. Colton talked about
like praying to God that he wouldn't be gay, and
like praying that he He said when he got the
(24:51):
bachelor role that he thanked God for making him straight
and allowing him to find his wife and have kids.
Did you go through a phase like this? Everyone I know? Did?
I mean since I probably was eight years old. I
prayed every night that I would wake up straight every
(25:12):
single night for years, which really messes with a little
kid's mind. I mean, no little kids should have to,
you know, go through that. Um, so your whole life,
you're fooling yourself into thinking, no, I you know, I
just if I don't act on it's fine. I'll be
able to marry a girl, We'll have a family. So
I totally can relate to why Colton felt great. You
(25:34):
know this was God gave me this gift to being
a bachelor. This means you know that I can be straight,
you know, um, and how I'll be able to beat
a girl and have family. And as long as it
don't act on this you know, gay feelings, Um, it's
fine because that's what the church teaches also, is you know,
it's fine being gay. I mean being gay is acceptable. Great,
(25:55):
you just can't act on it because everyone since just
don't act on it and ask for forgiveness. Did you
ever feel like that within sync, You're like, oh, I
was given all these girls to choose from. Yes, it
was God's little joke to put me in a group
with female audience. I mean it kept me safe, that's
sure for sure. But um, but yeah, I mean it's
(26:18):
it was funny that that was that was the path
that my life went. But I mean it was there
was a reason that had happened, and hopefully, you know,
I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing on this
planet because of it. You dated women to like Danielle Fischel.
It was like kind of you know, it was like
a fling, right, you took her to prom and stuff.
But Danielle we dated for like two years. Oh my goodness. Yeah,
(26:43):
she was my longtime girlfriend. Now. I remember being so
jealous of her. I was like, not only is she depended,
but she's dating lands I know. And then my thing,
it was like, look, if I can't, if I can't
you know, be attracted to Danielle or you know, fall
in love with her that the way because I thought
I was in love, but I was also a teenager,
so I felt you know, I thought that's what love was.
(27:05):
But of course once I felt true love, like, oh,
that's that's what that feeling is. But I knew if
I couldn't find that true love with Danielle, there's no
way I could find it with any other girls. She
was just the perfect, perfect person. Well, Lens, I know
you're you're really busy and and we really appreciate you
(27:26):
coming on. We just have I mean, I personally have
a few more questions for you. UM One is something
you touched on um as you kind of started this out,
you know there is in the last day, it's been
a mix of emotions for a lot of the fans
of The Bachelor, and this isn't about them, but it
is the things that Colton is hearing. Right. You have
(27:47):
a few months ago, you have a restraining order placed
on him by Cassie uh following their breakup. And then
the news got dropped yesterday and I believe TMZ was
the ones to release it, saying that there is a
Netflix documentary currently being filmed that will come out soon
about this journey for Colton, and the response you know,
is mixed for him. You know, you have the celebration
(28:09):
of him having the courage to come out, and then
you have the following of the people saying, hey, Colton,
we support that, but you're monetizing this. This feels weird
to us. What if you could speak into that, maybe
trying to understand his perspective, maybe assuming a few things.
(28:30):
Is it wrong to be doing a documentary? Does it
feel um like he is monetizing a situation that is
very personal? And then how do you walk through the
criticism while at the same time celebrating the fact that
you're starting this whole new journey in life. Yeah, well,
then of course he's monetizing you know, the situation. But
I don't. I don't think Coulton, you know, came up
(28:52):
with this plan, was like, all right, let's call Netflix
and see if you know I'm gonna come out. You know,
him coming out was his only you know thing that's
on his mind right now. But when people come to you,
your manager or whatever and they say, look, you know,
we know you're coming out. We would love to document
this because it would help everyone and to be for
(29:13):
the greater good. Like I was saying before, you know,
to see just any kind of representation of a gay
person on television is good. Um. I think the community,
you know, looks at this as you know, an opportunistic
grab of money. Um. But you know they're you know,
they're gonna they're gonna think that because also the community
is upset with great like another you know, um, straight adjacent,
(29:39):
buff white guy. Uh, you know, we're gonna we're gonna
watch his coming out story. What about like, you know,
the black community, or anyone of color, or any or
feminine or you know, all the other flavors of the rainbow. Um,
I think they're like, well, that doesn't really represent you know,
our our real community. You know, it's it's a pretty
thing to look at, but it's not you know, the
(30:00):
reality of the community leads uh you Okay, So when
you came out, had you had a relationship with a
man before, because Colton admitted yesterday that he has yet
to have an emotional relationship with a man. Yeah, uh yeah,
we'll see how that story progressive might just be a
(30:23):
little too embarrassed to admit it. Right now. Um, but no,
I uh I when I came out, I was on
boyfriend number three, so I had already been out to
my friends obviously in three relationships. UM, so my core
people knew. I just didn't think people cared, um until
years later, you know, when the magazine started calling sand Look,
(30:46):
we know you're gay. We're writing the story with or
without you. What do you want to do? So then
that's when I decided, Okay, well then I need to publicly,
I guess announced that I'm gay. Man, that's gotta be.
It's gonna be a whirlwind. Um. If Colton listens to this,
who knows if you will or not. Um, but if
anybody out there is is listening to this in a
(31:06):
similar situation, um, as as you were in and as
Colton has just turned into, what would your advice be
as you navigate this journey? Yeah, UM, listen. That's all
you need to do right now is just listen to
the community, Listen to everyone around you. You know, educate yourself, um,
(31:28):
and then you know you'll naturally find where you belong
in this in this community. But the best thing to
do right now is you know, sit back, listen and learn.
Well Lance, Thank you so much for joining us. You're
the greatest. You know how I feel about you. Well,
I love you, guys. Thanks a lot. I know hey,
(31:51):
you know what I know. You self admitted it. You're
the gay guide in these situations and you've been a
good guide for us. Thanks for coming on, Thanks for
giving up your time. Have a great lunch today, enjoy
it and we hope to see you soon. Al Right,
Guncle Lance is here to deliver guys. All right, well, Ashley,
(32:13):
you know we're walking into your obviously friends with Lands.
I've been able to be around Lands. Um. This is
this is a shocking turn of events in Bachelor Nation.
This is a big story for a lot of reasons.
This is the first time that a bachelor has came out,
um as gay. And now I think, as Lances said,
(32:37):
my job is somebody that is self admittedly very ignorant
in these situations. I have not um been able to
be surrounded in my life by a lot of people
who have came out. And it's I think maybe it
is that we all need to listen, that we all
need to learn, that we all need to uh through
all these stages of the last year. Is just continue
(32:57):
to stay open to what is going on around us,
what are people saying and where are people hurting. We
have a few more headlines that I think we could
dive into a little bit um when we come back
with The Almost Famous Podcast. We'll finish with headlines on
this very special episode of The Almost Famous Podcast. A
(33:26):
few more headlines to cover that we want to speak about.
Ashley brought it up to Lance Uh during our time
with Lance Bass, and we do appreciate him coming on,
but Uh to clarify and dig in a bit to
what actually was talking about. The headline reads this, Colton
Underwood never allowed himself to have an emotional connection with
a man. I want that more than anything. This according
(33:48):
to US Weekly m He says he hasn't found a
spark with a male partner yet he's never allowed himself to.
He said, it's never been sort of in my cards
to let myself get there, and I want more than
anything to get there. He says that he's looking for
somebody who can push him and challenge him in all
great ways. He says he's ran from himself for a
(34:09):
long time. He said he hated himself for a long time,
and this is where he is now. In addition to that,
we talked about this upcoming Netflix series that will be
coming out pretty soon. This is confirmed. Now there is
a Netflix series that is being filmed. Um. This was
confirmed by TMZ and the headline reads this Cold Underwood
(34:31):
reality TV star again Netflix series about coming out this
again according to TMZ. So the cameras have apparently been
following him throughout this week. Netflix has declined to comment
on the project though, so it's not confirmed. And this
is according to Variety. This is like the ultimate source
for entertainment news. Um. They say from what the rumors
(34:55):
are is that the Olympian gust Kenworthy will appear in
the series, acting as a guide of sorts for for
Coldness he goes through this journey. No word on when
the series will launch, and again no real official announcement
of it either. But it's very very much rumored. So
I guess I miss book. It's not fully confirmed, but
(35:18):
it's very much rumored. It's probably the best way to
say it. Yes, very like strongly rumored to the point
where like there's no way it's not happening. Okay, fair enough, Well, Ashley, Oh,
I just got a text from Lance. He said, I
think it's finally time for the gay Bachelor spinoff and
I'll take the host role. Didn't he didn't Lance host
(35:42):
a show that was attempting to do like a gay Bachelor.
He did. It was on a cable network. I feel
like it was like TBS or something. But it's interesting
that that comes up now because you remember the headline
the other day. Rob Mills was saying that they're having
some deal with Hulu and they're looking for more Bachelor spinoffs.
This could be the time. Interesting, it's interesting. Well, Uh,
(36:07):
hey Ashley, Uh, we jumped on here today to cover
this story. Uh, to cover the announcement yesterday. UM. Glad
we could give up the time. Really thankful for Lane's
bass to help jump on here and be um our
GIY guide as he uh told told us it is
an episode. We'll we'll continue to talk about this story.
(36:28):
I'm sure this is not going away. We'll continue to
cover everything surrounding this story in the next couple of
weeks and months. Um. But this was in a podcast.
UH pretty focused on Colton Underwoods announcement yesterday on Good
Morning America with Robin Roberts as he officially announces that
(36:48):
he is gay, and he is starting this new chapter
of his life with that I've been Been, I've Been, Ashley.
Why did that sound weird? But it's fine? Followed the
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Ashley Iaconetti
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