Colton Underwood discusses past relationships in comments reported by multiple outlets. He says he was “careful” while exploring his sexuality, including physically experimenting with men as he tried to figure himself out. Underwood also states that before his appearance on The Bachelor, he had only “hook[ed] up” with married men. Separately, he addresses how he became known as the “Virgin Bachelor” during the show, and he describes the label’s impact on him. NDTV and the New York Post both report that Underwood frames his earlier experiences as part of personal exploration leading up to his reality TV role, while also focusing on the public branding and effects of the “Virgin Bachelor” nickname. The reporting centers on his own explanations and recollections rather than new external evidence or additional details about specific individuals.