Last month, Colton Underwood came out publicly in a sit-down interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America.

The former lead of ‘The Bachelor’, Underwood’s announcement was met with some harsh criticism since he was already prepping a reality show about it for Netflix.

However, in a new feature with Variety, Colton shares what finally led him to reveal his truth: “I, at one point, during my rock bottom and spiral, was getting blackmailed. Nobody knows I was blackmailed.”

In his conversation, Underwood shared that while in LA he visited a spa known for a gay clientele.  Shortly thereafter, he received an anonymous email from someone claiming to have taken nude photos of him at the venue. Underwood never saw the alleged photos and explains he was at the spa “just to look,” saying he “should have never been there.”

The unidentified blackmailer threatened to “out” him in the press, and in a panic, Underwood forwarded the email to his publicist, which forced him to finally have an honest conversation about his sexual orientation, and a reckoning, of sorts.

Adding to all of this, Underwood’s relationship with his ex Cassie Randolph has also been under fire, where in court documents she filed a restraining order, alleging that he stalked her and placed a tracking device on her car.

Photo: ABC

Due to a joint agreement with Randolph, Underwood is limited in what he can say to the press. But in the interview with Variety, he shared he wants to clear the air, because he’s seen the word “abuse” attached to previous reports on their relationship situation.  Colton expressed, “I did not physically touch or physically abuse Cassie in any way, shape or form.”

Randolph broke up with Underwood he shares, and that he was in “such a dark place” because he knew that this would be his last straight relationship and the reality hit him hard.  Underwood clarified: “If there was anything I could do to take more ownership, I would. But also, out of respect to her, I don’t want to get into the details. I want this interview to be the last time I address her, because it’s not fair for her to have her name in articles every time I talk. I’m sorry, and I want her to know that I hope she has the best, most beautiful life.”

As far as if Colton feels ABC should discuss having a gay season of The Bachelor, or if he would come back to appear as its lead, he would only say: “I think they should discuss it.  It should be a conversation. I don’t like speaking in definitives, but I’m not in a position to be in a show like that. I’m at a crossroads in my life right now.”

Watch a portion of the interview below with Colton and Variety below.  Then share your thoughts on how Underwood decided to come out via the comment section and his plans for the near-future.

Ellen DeGeneres informed her staff yesterday that she has made the decision to end her talk show after its upcoming 19th season.  She will sit down with Oprah Winfrey on the May 13th episode of the The Ellen DeGeneres Show to discuss her decision to step away.

In an exclusive interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Ellen shared: “When you’re a creative person, you constantly need to be challenged – and as great as this show is, and as fun as it is, it’s just not a challenge anymore.”

The show’s end comes on the heels of all of the turmoil last summer when several former and current employees accused Ellen of fostering a toxic work environment.  As well, several key producers were let-go as a result.

When speaking with THR, DeGeneres said of last summer’s revelations and accusations against her: “It was four solid months. And you have to understand, in that time, someone got into our house and robbed us and I lost four animals — three cats and a dog died. It was a tsunami. When it started, with that stupid ‘someone couldn’t look me in the eye’ or whatever the first thing was, it’s like a crest of a wave. Like, ‘This isn’t going to be that big of a wave.’ And then it just keeps getting bigger and bigger until it was out of control. And I really, honestly, felt like, ‘I don’t deserve this. I don’t need this. I know who I am. I’m a good person.’  And I was sitting back going, ‘If I was someone watching this, I would think, ‘Well, there must be some truth to it because it’s not stopping.’ Of course they’re going to believe this because I’m not addressing it because I was told not to and you can imagine what that felt like. And it’s a lot to live up to. I started saying “be kind to one another” because I really believe people should be kind to one another and so it was easy clickbait to say, ‘Oh, the be kind lady isn’t so kind.’ … I am kind, I’m also a woman and I’m a boss.”

Earlier this morning, The Daily Mall UK reported that Ellen DeGeneres and Warner Brothers, were expected to make an announcement that she will end her talk show after the 2021-2022 season.  According to their sources, DeGeneres told her team she “has had enough and told her team that she’s done.”

It should be noted that the The Ellen DeGeneres Show has seen a steady decline in the ratings as well.  The ratings for total households from February 2020 to February 2021 were down 40% in New York City and Chicago; and in Los Angeles it lost 59%.

Ellen’s talk show has produced over 3,000 episodes.

So, what do you think of Ellen deciding to conclude her talk show? Comment below.

On tomorrow night’s May 12th episode of the hit ABC comedy series, The Goldbergs, be on the lookout for a very familiar face from Genoa City.

That’s because The Young and the Restless Cait Fairbanks (Tessa) will guest start on the episode entitled “Alligator Schwartz” playing the role of Paula Hogan.

The episode airs at 8 p.m. ET/PT and 7 p.m. CT.

In story: Erica fears that Geoff has moved on from their breakup and started dating someone else. Meanwhile, Adam decides to find Dave Kim a date to prom, once he remembers his pact with Dave that they won’t go to prom if they both don’t have dates.

So will you be watching for Cait on The Goldbergs? Comment below.