I had hooked up with men,  he admitted.

The reality star insisted, however, that he never intended for his faux-virginity to become such a central focus of his story.

10 The former NFL player joined Bachelor Nation for Becca Kufrin's season of  The Bachelorette,  as seen above. Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

10 In 2019, he was chosen to be the lead and was dubbed the first  Virgin Bachelor  as he was secretly still struggling with his sexuality. Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

 My whole heart was like I'm not going to disclose to them that I'm a virgin no matter what,  he recalled.  I literally told them I was a virgin on night one of  The Bachelorette.' 

 I opened it up immediately, and I just gave them everything which they loved,  he continued.  So that's unfortunately how it sort of came to be, and then it became my entire storyline. 

The  Traitors  alum also shared that he accepted the role of the  Bachelor  because he was convinced it would  force  him down a traditional path that would be accepted by his faith and his family.

10 The  Traitors  alum said he accepted the role of the  Bachelor  because he was convinced it would  force  him to be  publicly straight.  Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

10 Following his season of  The Bachelor,  Underwood dated contestant Cassie Randolph (pictured here) from March 2019 to May 2020, before their extremely messy split. Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

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 What I was telling myself is,  this is going to force me [to be straight],'   he said.  I'm going to be so publicly straight that I will never be able to be gay again. 

Underwood previously admitted to hooking up with married men before his time on the dating show in an interview with Variety, but clarified at the time that he did not have sex with them.

 When I say  hookups,' not sex,  Underwood told the outlet.  I want to make that very clear that I did not have sex with a man, prior to that. 

10 In 2021, Underwood came out as gay. Two years later, he married Jordan C. Brown (seen above). Getty Images for Baby2Baby

10 The couple (pictured here in January) welcomed their first child via surrogate in 2024. Griffin Nagel/Peacock via Getty Images

Following his season of  The Bachelor,  Underwood dated contestant Cassie Randolph from March 2019 to May 2020. After their split, Randolph accused Underwood of stalking and harassing her.

Randolph was granted a temporary restraining order but later requested it be dismissed, with Underwood explaining at the time that they addressed her concerns and reached a  private agreement. 

Underwood ended up coming out as gay in April 2021 during an emotional, sit-down interview with Robin Roberts on  Good Morning America. 

He wed Jordan C. Brown in March 2023, and the couple welcomed their first child via surrogate the following year.