Colton Underwood comes out to quite a few family members and friends on-camera in Coming Out Colton, but the most memorable conversation occurs with Colton's father, Scott. Early on in the series, he confesses that although his relationship with his dad has always been loving, he often felt like his State Farm Insurance agent dad was more of a coach than a father. Like Colton, Scott also played football at Illinois State University, and he coached both of his sons while they were growing up.
It seems evident that football and sports form the basis of their relationship. In fact, Colton even decides to come out to his father during a fishing trip. For his part, Scott wished the intimate moment hadn't played out in front of cameras, even though he has made peace with his son's decision to live his life in the public eye.
"I’m not saying I'm upset about it, but I would have preferred it had been done differently," Scott recently told The New York Times. "Am I going to say it's for fame? No. Did he come out on TV for money? Sure. But who in reality entertainment doesn't leverage their life and put it all out there for money?"
Despite his desire for the moment to have occurred in private, Scott is supportive of his son both onscreen and off. While Colton admits he's far more nervous about coming out to his dad than he is to his mom, Donna, his father responds positively. His main concern is Colton's happiness, as well as a fear that he somehow failed him because Colton didn't feel like he could share his sexuality with him sooner.
Throughout the series, Scott comes across as a caring father who isn't afraid to serve up tough love when necessary. In the wake of Colton's ex, Cassie Randolph, filing a restraining order against him in 2020, Scott opened his doors to his son to move in with him and his new wife, as well as his stepsons. Even though he didn't know the full extent of his son's emotional turmoil, including a suicide attempt, he gave him a safe place to land as he began to get back on his feet.
Colton's dad has long been his number one supporter. As far back as 2019 when Colton came to him to discuss his desire to fight for Cassie, Scott cautioned his son to guard his heart. "I'm always concerned for your heart and what could happen," Scott told his son in the 2019 Bachelor finale. "It doesn’t worry me, I just know how you are when you're in love. I've seen it. It was amazing. Seeing you hurt after that… hurt bad."
Despite his reservations about Colton coming out to him on camera, he's still his son's biggest champion. As shown in Coming Out Colton, he's by his eldest son's side after he comes out in a Good Morning America interview, and he's also there to offer to take some of the weight off of his son by sharing his news with anyone Colton doesn't want to tell himself. And while Scott may wish Colton had come out to him privately, the moment could end up helping other members of the LGBTQ+ community talk their family members.
There are understandably quite a few reservations about Coming Out Colton both within the LGBTQ+ community and outside of it thanks in large part to how Colton allegedly treated Cassie after their split. But seeing Scott being so loving and candid with his son is not only a highlight, it's a prime example of what parents should do when their children speak their truth.
Images: Netflix