“Bachelor” Colton Underwood Comes Out –”I’ve Ran From Myself for a Long Time… I’m Gay.”

Colton Underwood told Robin Roberts today on “Good Morning America,

“This year’s been a lot for a lot of people and it’s probably made a lot of people look at themselves in the year and figure out who they are.

“I’ve ran from myself for a long time, I’ve hated myself for a long time.

I’m gay.

I came to terms with that earlier this year, and the next step in all of this was sort of letting people know. I’m the happiest and healthiest I’ve ever been in my life. That means the world to me.”

The former star of The Bachelor said that he wishes he had accepted his truth sooner.

Underwood, who realized he was “different” at age 6, said he’s now “the happiest and healthiest” he’s ever been, but admitted to finding himself in a “dark and bad” place before realizing his truth.

“Overall the reason why now is because I got to a place where … I would’ve rather died than say I’m gay.”

The former NFL player implied that he even attempted suicide.

“There was a moment in LA that I woke up, and I didn’t think I was going to wake up. I didn’t have the intentions of waking up. I think that for me was my wakeup call.”

Underwood was last linked to Bachelor contestant Cassie Randolph, who filed a restraining order against him last year. During the GMA interview, Underwood apologized to Randolph.

“I would like to say sorry for how things ended. I messed up. I made a lot of bad choices.”

Underwood admitted he was in love with Randolph, which made figuring out his sexuality more difficult.

“It made it more confusing for me. I loved everything about her. … I wish that I would’ve been courageous enough to fix myself before breaking anyone else.”

The split up and got back together and then the breakup took a dark turn. Randolph filed for — and received — a restraining order against Underwood after she claimed he was stalking her.

Underwood told TMZ,

“The two of us were able to reach a private agreement to address any of Cassie’s concerns.

I do not believe Cassie did anything wrong in filing for the restraining orders and also believe she acted in good faith. I appreciate everyone’s respect for privacy regarding this matter.”