Colton Underwood, the 27-year-old star of the current 23rd season of The Bachelor, left a charity event early on Wednesday after he was allegedly touched inappropriately.
He took to Instagram to reveal that he was attempting to take photos with fans at an event for his Legacy Foundation, which helps people with cystic fibrosis, when someone crossed a line and made him uncomfortable.
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“I’m sorry if you didn’t get a picture at the event last night, but at one point during the event I was grabbed and touched inappropriately while people were throwing cameras in my face,” he wrote on his Instagram Story of the event at his foundation’s Garden Party at Mavericks Beach Club in San Diego, Calif.
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He continued: “I am the type of person who would have stood in line for hours to make sure anyone who supported the event got a picture, but once that happened I had to do what was best for me as a human being.
“I didn’t sign up to be a piece of meat or a zoo animal,” he wrote.
“I hope we run into each other at another event or on the street and I can take the time to say hello,” he continued. “Thank you again for coming to support Legacy and the fight against CF.”
He did not identify the person (or persons) that grabbed him at the charity event.
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He added, “on another note: THANK YOU so much to @mavericksbeachclub & @puravidabracelets for putting on an amazing event.”
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Some former Bachelor stars were in attendance, including Becca Kufrin, Garrett Yrigoyen, Blake Horstmann and Tanner Tolbert.
In January, the former NFL player addressed sexual assault on The Bachelor after contestant Caelynn revealed she was drugged and raped in college.
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“I have had a situation in my past where I was in a relationship in which she was sexually abused,” Underwood said. “For me, that was the hardest thing I ever had to watch. … Going through something with someone. Looking in their eyes and knowing the pain associated with it, (but) who am I to feel the pain because I wasn’t the victim?”
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or is involved in an abusive situation, please visit the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime for help. They are also reachable toll-free at 1-877-232-2610.
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