Podbit · We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson
A blackmail email containing precise date-and-time details of a same-sex encounter landed in Colton's inbox while he was taking Xanax three times a day. The pills made it easier to look away — until his publicist called, asked point-blank if he was gay, and Colton said yes for the first time in his life.
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At 1:07:49 · chapter starts 1:06:56
The blackmail arrived as an email to Colton's publicist containing precise factual detail — dates, times, locations — of a same-sex encounter Colton believed had been photographed without his knowledge [1] — Colton Underwood "A blackmail email containing precise date-and-time details of a same-sex encounter landed in Colton's inbox while he was taking Xanax three…" 1:07:49 . He denied it at first, then let his team handle it. His publicist — himself a gay man — eventually called Colton in his grandmother's driveway in Illinois and asked one direct question: 'Are you gay?' Colton answered yes immediately, for the first time in his life. That single moment cracked everything open. The Netflix documentary came together with the same executive producers who had been present from the start. Colton's family came next: his mother over dinner the night before the cameras rolled, his brother second, and his father on camera — whose off-camera verdict was: 'Go be gay. Just don't become a Democrat.'
At his worst, Colton was taking Xanax at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, combined with alcohol and Lexapro, creating a dissociative state.
A blackmail email containing factual details of a same-sex encounter forced Colton to come out to his publicist and professional team before his own family.
Colton answered 'yes' immediately and out loud for the first time when his gay publicist called and asked point-blank if he was gay, while sitting in his grandmother's driveway in Illinois.
Colton told his mum the night before the Netflix cameras rolled, so she wouldn't be blindsided. His dad's reaction was flawless on camera — and off it he said: 'Go be gay. Just don't become a Democrat.' His whole family gave him love, and each positive response built the confidence to tell the next person.
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