The new segment of the Bachelor Nation brought a refreshing twist by celebrating love and connection among seniors, with Gerry Turner and Joan Vassos debuting as the first Golden Bachelor and Golden Bachelorette. It has been an emotional journey for both, yet controversy followed close behind, especially after Turner’s split from Theresa Nist.
Despite the complexities and challenges that emerged from that situation, Turner still arguably outshines Vassos as the Golden Bachelor in one aspect. Vassos, however, has maintained an ambivalent stance on the prospect of engagement, often torn between honoring her past and looking toward her future.
Why Gerry Turner Outshines Joan Vassos as the Golden Bachelor?
The Golden Bachelor introduced Gerry Turner as a single senior seeking a new partner after the loss of his wife. Joan Vassos, who initially joined the show as one of the contestants left the reality TV show midway, and later returned as The Golden Bachelorette.
While Turner has become a center of criticism for the way he handled his relationship with Theresa Nist following their golden wedding, his readiness to embrace new experiences arguably makes him a more fitting lead for this groundbreaking season.
Turner was open from the start about wanting to move forward from his late wife, aiming to find a companion for a spontaneous, adventurous life. His breakup with Nist, which they explained was due to conflicting living arrangements, added complexity to his journey.
The two also shared that they still loved each other. However, neither of them could uproot their established lives in their respective cities, leading to a mutual and heartfelt split despite their lingering affection for one another.
The topic of relocation has since become a very serious topic of discussion in regard to The Golden Bachelor franchise, as recently pointed out by Pascal Ibgui, who stepped out from the race ahead of the series finale. He recently pointed out the issue in an interview,
But when you are like me, established, I have a business, I have real estate, I have my friends, I have my routine, I have my health club, I have my connection…I ain’t going to move anywhere.
One of the major reasons behind Turner and Nist’s split was their living arrangement, as they stated that they had discussed it and were looking for houses but could not conclude, leading to their separation.
While The Golden Bachelorette continues to follow up on the same routine, Vassos also appears hesitant about the prospect of the show as the 61-year-old private school administrator is seemingly yet to fully move on from her late husband, raising doubts about whether she will be ready to commit by the season’s end.
Joan Vassos Expressed Caution About Marriage Prospect of The Golden Bachelorette
Before joining The Golden Bachelor franchise, Joan Vassos was married for 32 years to her late husband, John Vassos, with whom she shared four children. His passing in 2021 left her deeply affected, and she often speaks about him on the show, reflecting a profound sense of loss.
Her grief has been evident since her early appearances on The Golden Bachelor, and now, as she stepped into the lead role as The Golden Bachelorette, many believe that she may not yet be ready to fully move on, which some feel doesn’t entirely align with the show’s premise.
Vassos has also expressed hesitation about moving on as she said in an interview with CNN, “I did not want to spend my life alone, so I knew that I had to take action, but my heart wasn’t there at all.”
She has also expressed that although she is hoping to find a life partner on the show, she does not want to rush into marriage. She stated that though she believes in the process, she would take things slow outside of the reality TV show,
I believe in the process. If it ends up in engagement, that’s great. If it ends up in, ‘you and I are going to get to know each other better in the outside world’, that’s perfect also. I probably won’t rush into a marriage right away.
Additionally, Vassos remains devoted to her family, as she has said, “I’ll never leave my family. They are the most important people in the world.” While there is potential for her to find a connection on the show, her deep ties to her family and her grief could ultimately lead to a similar outcome as Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist, who parted ways due to challenges in balancing established lives with new relationships.
The Golden Bachelor is available to watch on Hulu.
All the released episodes of The Golden Bachelorette are available to watch on Hulu.
