Former 'Bachelor' star Colton Underwood came out as gay via a Good Morning America interview last week.
In nearly the same breath, Netflix announced it would be filming a reality series featuring Underwood and his experiences as an openly gay man, accompanied by Olympian Gus Kenworthy as Underwood's "gay guide."
But, based on some past behavior by Underwood toward former girlfriend Cassie Randolph, in which he reportedly put a tracking device on her car and sent her harassing text messages, people believe Underwood should not have a show at all.
When asked his thoughts on Underwood's coming out and Netflix series on The Ben & Ashley I. Almost Famous podcast, Lance Bass said backlash is to be expected.
"There's definitely gonna get a lot of backlash from the community at first… 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 monetizing the experience."
Bass had his own very high profile coming out experience in 2006, after an unknowing encounter with a reporter resulted in him being forced to come out on the cover of People Magazine 48 hours later.
But Bass did say eventually, the visibility of Underwood's show will be helpful to the LGBTQ+ community, as his own public coming out was.
"Every story that you see on television or in a film of a gay character, a different person can relate to that. We haven't had too many representations of a gay person on television that came from this world, this crazy sports world where you had to hide it."
Bass's parting words to Underwood? Rather than try to be a spokesperson for the gay community, "Sit back, listen and learn."
Petitions surrounding Underwood's show, trying to keep it off the air due to alleged past abusive behavior, continue to circulate.
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