Shortly after season 7 of ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ debuted, rumors that contestant Chris Conran was gay circulated online. But Conran wasn’t having any of it and went on to Twitter to call out fans of the show and social media trolls for making assumptions about his sexuality.
He said in his tweet, which he also posted on his Instagram story, “I’ve noticed rumors of people questioning my sexuality online and on podcasts.” He then put the rumors to bed and set the record straight with a clear statement that he wasn’t gay.
I’ve noticed rumors of people questioning my sexuality online and on podcasts.
— Chris Conran ???????? (@chrisconran) September 1, 2021
I am not gay.
It is disrespectful that society effeminates Asian men and uses “gay” as a derogatory term. Don’t impose sexuality on individuals.
The reality TV star who first appeared on Clare Crawley’s season of ‘The Bachelorette’ also emphasized the impact of the comments made about him. “It is disrespectful that society effeminates Asian men and uses “gay” as a derogatory term. Don’t impose sexuality on individuals.”
Unsurprisingly, his statement garnered mixed reactions.
Many were sympathetic to him, telling him how beautiful his soul was and how blessed they were to have him as a friend. And how they understood how he felt about people assuming they knew him better than himself.
You’re a beautiful soul Chris, blessed to have you as a friend! ❤️
— Braden Webb (@Bwebb_30) September 1, 2021
The internet is acting as if it knows you better than you do about yourself.
— Noah Trulock (@trulock_noah) September 2, 2021
Why do people have to box people into categories so bad? Not everyone fits into an easily explainable stereotype.
Some even told him how proud they were of his courage to speak up.
????????DON’T????????IMPOSE????????SEXUALITY????????ON????????OTHERS????????
— Sandy (@sandylikeabeach) September 2, 2021
Ty for saying this and speaking out. Proud of you!
However, not everyone was supportive of his statement. One Twitter user said that what happened wasn’t disrespectful and that the speculations were hardly imposing on him. If any, his taking offense at the speculations showed that it was a ‘him’ problem.
Speculating on someone’s sexuality isn’t disrespectful and speculation is hardly “imposing”. Being offended by speculation that you’re gay suggests it’s YOU who has a problem with gay people. Being gay isn’t a bad thing. Being deceitful to get on tv is pretty bad though.
— Emily (@EmilytheAxolotl) September 8, 2021
There were also multiple comments criticizing his response, saying that what had been circulating online wasn’t derogatory in nature. Apart from that, those who thought he was gay weren’t taking his race (being Asian) into consideration. It was an assumption solely based on how he acted on screen.
Aside from those, several tweets also tagged former Bachelor Nick Viall. As it happened, Viall made several comments about Conran during an episode of his podcast ‘The Viall Files’ recapping the season’s hottest drama with comedian Dave Holmes.
He said when Conran first arrived on the screen, “First off, no joke, when he was walking down we only got a shot of his legs, I wasn’t sure. I was like, ‘Oh, is this a guy or a girl?’” He then proceeded to say that the reality star had very pretty legs.
During the talk, it was also suggested that Conran and fellow contestant Chasen Nick be added to the show for the bisexual element. They even said they were sure about it and added that host Wells Adams would make them a cocktail, and who knows what would happen next.
The duo also made a reference to the sixth season of ‘Bachelor in Paradise.’ It was when Demi Burnett came out as bisexual and ended the season with an engagement to another woman, Kristian Haggerty (who was later added to the cast after Burnett confessed to being in love with her when she met her before she entered Paradise). “That was my feeling. Because we’ve been there with women. We haven’t been there with men yet.”
However, that wasn’t the end of it. The duo also discussed Conran and Nick’s use of the word ‘smokeshow’ (which got them the nickname ‘smoke bros’ on the show), which they thought was silly and reeked of ‘performative heterosexuality.’
Viall didn’t make any statements after Chris Conran indirectly slammed his podcast for creating the whole rumor mill that he is gay.
