In a move that left me scratching my head, theBachelorproducers gave Gerry Turner a cameo inThe Golden Bachelorette, as he returned to give his friend, leading lady Joan Vassos, some advice.Gerry starred in the first-ever season ofThe Golden Bachelor, during which he initially stole hearts as a widower who was looking for the second great love of his life after his wife, Toni, had suddenly passed away six years earlier after 43 years together. Gerry found that love with Theresa Nist, who’d lost her husband of 42 years, Billy, nine years before.
DuringThe Golden Bachelor, Gerry and Theresa got engaged. They were married on July 22, 2025, in a live, televised event called the Golden Wedding. However, just three months later, Gerry and Theresa announced that they were getting a divorce because they couldn’t decide where to live because they didn’t want to leave their families. Their divorce sent shockwaves throughBachelorNation, and left some fans, including me, wondering if ABC should even botherwithThe Golden Bachelorette.However, so far, Joan has redeemed the franchise. That’s whyI find it baffling that the producers would include Gerry in Joan’s journey.
Gerry Turner Is A Heartbreaker
Gerry Didn’t Deserve To Appear In Joan’s Golden Bachelorette Season
DuringThe Golden Bachelor, I was shocked to hear thatThe Hollywood Reporterhad run an exposé about Gerry, in which they exposed the fact that the producers didn’t do a very good job of vetting him.While Gerry was presented as an innocent widower who hadn’t dated much since his wife had passed away, the article alleged that he’d dated a woman for nearly three years, and she’d even lived with him.
Gerry was accused of dumping the woman because she’d gained weight before his high school reunion. I was so disappointed to hear this because it indicated thateither Gerry had misrepresented himself to theGolden Bachelorproducers, or they knew about it and created a persona for Gerry that he could never live up to. It was astounding to me that they didn’t think that anyone would find out about Gerry’s alleged dating history.
20 Best Reality TV Shows Right Now
Reality TV is more popular than ever. With so many to choose from, here are some of the best reality TV shows to stream or watch right now.
After these accusations, much ofBachelorNation turned on Gerry, but he still had some admirers. When theGolden Bachelorettefinale aired though, many fans felt that he’d led on runner-up Leslie Fhima because he told her that he loved her and that she might be the one. I then began to see that Gerry could be a heartbreaker. However, Gerry’s divorce from Theresa was the last straw for many fans, including me.Gerry’s entire season seemed to be a sham, manipulated by the producers for ratings.
It seemed impossible that Gerry and Theresa hadn’t talked about where they’d live after they got married, and people began to question if that was even the real reason for their breakup. Gerry did so much damage to theBachelorfranchise, but, instead of using Joan’s season as a way to redeem it, the producers allowed him to make a cameo appearance which brought down her good vibes. I think that Gerry’s visit with Joan was unnecessary, even though they’re good friends, especially since Joan had said that they’d talked off-screen before her season began.Gerry was the last person who should’ve been giving Joan advice.
The Bachelor Producers Should Stop Giving Gerry A Platform
Gerry’s Golden Bachelor Season Is A Reminder Of The Franchise’s Failures
Joan was thrilled to see Gerry during hisGolden Bacheloretteappearance, but I wasn’t. Just hearing his voice again made me remember how completely duped I felt by him after his season ended.Gerry didn’t even mention Theresa during their conversation, which was very odd. In addition, Gerry asked Joan,“Have you considered the possibility that your guy is not here?“Joan answered that she’d considered it before she got there more than after her journey began.
Who Wins The Golden Bachelorette? (SPOILERS)
The Golden Bachelorette premieres on September 18, but leading lady Joan Vassos' final four men, including her ultimate choice, have been revealed.
Gerry then told Joan that if she could considerthat it was possible that she wouldn’t find love, then she was in the right spot, and she had an advantage over him in that aspect.I thought that this implied that Gerry forced himself to find love, which is why his relationship with Theresa didn’t work out. Although I was hopeful that Joan could find true, lasting love on the show, Gerry’s appearance immediately reminded me of the franchise’s many failures. I was pulled out of the fantasy world of love and romance and jolted into the reality of divorce and heartache.
They’ve Made Some Major Errors In The Past Few Years
I believe that by including Gerry in Joan’sGolden Bacheloretteseason without mentioning his divorce,theBachelorproducers appear to be in denial about how much the franchise has declined in recent years. They not only failed to properly vet Gerry, but they made dangerous mistakes with other contestants, which led to two men who’d had restraining orders filed against them being cast in their shows–Jenn Tran’sBacheloretteseason 1 winner Devin Strader (seven years ago) and Joan’sGolden Bachelorettecontestant Gil Ramirez (a week before the show began taping).
In addition, the past two seasons ofBachelor in Paradisehave failed, with every single couple breaking up because of the show’s unnecessary and manipulative twists. I thought thatJoan’s season would be a wayfor the whole franchise to have a reset and refresh, but, instead of acknowledging their mistakes,the producers included Gerry as though all of the scandals surrounding him didn’t happen. However, I shouldn’t have been surprised at their audacity at this point because it’s so usual for them, but somehow I still couldn’t believe it.
The Golden Bachelorette Season 1 Power Rankings (Episode 2) - Who Should Have Gone Home & Who Could Win
The Golden Bachelorette star Joan Vassos made some deep connections during episode 2. Here’s where the men stand after the first dates of the season.
After Jenn’s traumatic breakup with Devin, which was very hard to watch, I was looking forward to Joan’s season, hoping that I’d get a break from the past stresses of the franchise shows. However, seeing Gerry brought back all of my doubts about the ability for these shows to continue to work. Just hearing his voice reminded me that a lot of what he said duringThe Golden Bachelormight’ve been lies, andit made me question the authenticity ofThe Golden Bachelorettecontestants too, because we don’t yet know them as well as we know Joan, and they could be heartbreakers too.
TheBachelorproducers have to stop giving Gerry a platform. Although I don’t think he’s as much of a villain as some people make him out to be, I also don’t think that he’s a hero. He had his moment in the spotlight, and now it’s Joan’s time to shine.I believe that theBachelorproducers should’ve been scrambling to fix their past mistakes, and not reminding viewers about them by including Gerry in Joan’sGolden Bacheloretteseason.
The Golden Bachelorette
Cast
The Golden Bachelorette: This reality series offers one woman in her later years the opportunity to find love, as a group of seasoned men compete for her affection. Participants bring diverse romantic histories, seeking a meaningful connection and a chance to build a promising future together.
