The Bachelor. He came out as gay in 2021, at the age of 29.Underwood chatted to the YouTube channel StyleLikeU. He took part in its ‘What’s Underneath Masculinity’ series.Subscribe to our daily newsletter for a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.Before his reality TV show fame, Underwood was signed in 2014 as a free agent for the San Diego Chargers and then for the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad.
He then joined the Oakland Raiders’ practice squad in 2015 but was released later that year.He recalled experiencing locker room homophobia during his time as a player.“I’ve got called a f*ggot.
I got called gay. I got called queer. If I wasn’t dating somebody at the time, it was definitely even more. It’s like, when you’re a successful football player, you’re supposed to be dating the cheer captain.“You’re supposed to be dating a hot woman, and you’re supposed to have her on your arm after games, and if you don’t have that, it gives people permission to ask why.
And, it just made me that more motivated, and made me work that much harder to blend in.“Homophobia is very real in locker rooms,” Underwood continued. “The locker room culture is so confusing for a straight man.