Colton Underwood has apparently felt restrained by his contract with ABC, but now that he's contractually free to speak his mind, the Season 23 The Bachelor star is unloading on how unfair producers were to Peter Weber.
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"One of my goals of the show was to break the fourth wall and I don't think production really liked that I was onboard with that," Colton, 28, said.
"But nobody wants to feel tricked nowadays, and I think that was my growing frustration as I was, you know, watching -- or not really watching, but hearing about -- Peter's season and seeing the recaps on Twitter, and they wouldn't let me write about it."
"They wouldn't let me talk about his season because they knew I'd keep it too real," Colton added. "They knew that I knew too much of what was going on."
Peter's The Bachelor season was laced with drama and unexpected twists and turns well before his unprecedented finale.
Victoria Fuller, for example, had a one-on-one date with Peter during which her ex-boyfriend, country singer Chase Rice, was asked to perform. The situation was very uncomfortable for all three parties.
"Victoria doesn't show up with Chase Rice singing as her ex on accident," Colton said.
"The whole Victoria situation, I feel bad for that poor lady and I feel frustrated for Peter, just because there was so much confusion going on."
Colton continued, "And I feel like that's the producers' job, is to sort of help guide the lead and help guide the person, and I felt like they hung him out to dry in so many different ways and set him up for failure. That's more of where my frustration was with them."
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At the end of Peter's The Bachelor edition, Madison Prewett -- who was Peter's definite frontrunner towards the end -- quit the show because she didn't think they were compatible or had similar lifestyles.
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Peter therefore proposed marriage to Hannah Ann Sluss at the Final Rose Ceremony, only to blindside and dump her in January because he couldn't give the model his whole heart.
Following Peter's split with Hannah Ann, The Bachelor host Chris Harrison played matchmaker and informed Madison that Peter was single again, setting up a reunion for the pair that ultimately resulted in them getting back together on The Bachelor's March 10 live finale.
However, Peter and Madison announced via Instagram on March 12 they had mutually decided to part ways and end their revived romance.
Colton said there's a "fine balance" between making a show entertaining and interfering with a star's search for love. While Colton acknowledged The Bachelor is a TV show, he suggested producer involvement can get out of hand.
"It's a give and take. You have to trust them, but at the same time, be wary of what's going on," said Colton, who starred on The Bachelor's 2019 season.
The former pro football player, however, insisted he didn't want to "completely bash" The Bachelor producers.
"I realize, like, this is an entertainment business... and you don't take things personally. But I'm still going to maintain a professional relationship with you. I just asked for that in return," Colton told Us.
"I think when the line started getting crossed, and I got told to be a 'good little boy' and 'keep my mouth shut.' Like, that's when I was like, 'You don't get to say that and you don't get to still act like you still have this control or this power over me.'"
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"Yes, I have a contract with you," elaborated Colton, who is no longer forced to comply to the contract's terms.
"Yes, I have an NDA. Yes, I'm going to abide by that. But please, don't demean me. Please don't threaten me. Please don't make these statements saying you 'made me' when this is America -- you're only as good as your last job."
Colton said if he's only going to be known for being the Bachelor, then that's fine.
"I felt like I did a good job to keep moving forward," Colton noted.
"So that's where my frustration came in with the franchise. I'll never bite the hand that feeds me. I appreciate them. I'm thankful for them... I look back now and I'm happily in love and in a relationship that I cherish, so I can't thank them enough for that."
When Colton starred on The Bachelor, his season ended prematurely when he fell in love with and selected Cassie Randolph over his other two remaining bachelorettes, Tayshia Adams and Hannah Godwin.
Colton had made up his mind before even finishing out his round of overnight Fantasy Suite dates.
Cassie, however, attempted to quit The Bachelor when Colton was prepared to give her the final rose. Cassie didn't feel ready to get engaged after dating Colton for such a short period of time, and so he fought for her to stay and took engagement pressure off the table.
Cassie was hesitant to continue but decided to stick around for Colton, and then she proceeded to meet his family on the show and fall in love with him once filming wrapped.
Colton and Cassie are still dating and going strong; however, they are not living together and Colton has yet to propose marriage.
Cassie has admitted on numerous occasions she feels no rush to live with Colton or get married, although she says she can definitely envision a future with Colton.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? (PHOTOS)
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
