The Golden Bachelorseason 1 ended with devastating heartbreak, but there were signs all along the way thatGerry Turner and Theresa Nist wouldn’t last. Hopes were high for the couple as they rode off into the proverbial sunset after the final rose ceremony, but reality has a way of intruding on even the most compelling love stories. And the union of 72-year-old Gerry and 70-year-old Theresa was nothing if not compelling.
Gerry, a retired restaurateur from Indiana, made his public debut when he was announced asTheBachelorspin-off’s first lead. He was a part of history, as this was the first unscripted dating show about single senior citizens. Widows and divorcees from all over the country flooded the ABC casting offices with applications to be the next love of Gerry’s life.
Among the women hoping to win Gerry’s heart onThe Golden Bachelorseason 1was Theresa, a day trader from New Jersey. After a season of group dates, talent shows, pickleball tournaments, and dramatic interludes, Gerry gave his final rose to Theresa. The two were married in a lavish, star-studded wedding just weeks after going public with their relationship.These two seniors found a second chance at love that inspired manypeople. They were both widowers, so it was a feel-good story. Despite high hopes of happily ever after, Gerry and Theresa announced their divorce after three months of marriage.
8Gerry & Theresa Live In Different States
Long Distance Marriage Didn’t Work
When Gerry and Theresa announced their divorce, they cited not deciding on a place to live as one of the reasons. Before joining thecast ofThe Golden Bachelorseason 1, Theresa lived in New Jersey near her daughter and grandchildren, while Gerry lived in Indiana near his family. Sinceneither wanted to move to the other’s home state, they decided to go back and forth between the two.
20 Best Reality TV Dating Shows
Reality TV dating has become a complex and nuanced part of the genre, welcoming all different types of dating shows. Here are the 20 best!
At one point, they considered moving to North Carolina, where they both had family and friends, but it never happened. Over time, the long-distance marriage wasn’t working for Gerry or Theresa, so they called it quits. In hindsight,living so far away from each other was a bad signof things to come. They both live in homes they love, where they’ve established full lives. Neither was willing to upend their world for someone they met on a reality television show.
7Gerry & Theresa Got Married After Three Months
Seduced By A Free Wedding
Only three short months went by from the moment Gerry and Theresa met during the premiere night ofThe Golden Bachelorseason 1 to the moment they tied the knot onThe Golden Bachelorwedding special on ABC.People can’tknow each other well enough after three months, especially in the highly manufactured environment of a reality television show.
Since their divorce, Theresa recently spilled some tea about the rush to the wedding.
Theresa recently appeared on theAlmost Famouspodcast where she made a big confession about her decision to get married at the end ofThe Golden Bachelorseason 1. According to Theresa, she and Gerryfelt rushed into marriage because the network offered to payfor their wedding. She also explained they simply didn’t know each other well enough to get married, implying they weren’t compatible. Still, in a scene posted to YouTube byBachelor Nation, Theresa and Gerry walk down the aisle anyway.
6Gerry & Theresa Didn’t Have Chemistry On The Show
Physical & Emotional Distance
Hopes were dashed whenGerry and Theresa announced their divorceafter only three months of marriage. Theill-advised marriage and subsequent divorce damaged the reputation of theGolden Bachelorbrand. In hindisght, it seems Gerry and Theresa were never that into each other. Though they seemed to get along, they were never very attracted to each other.
Gerry and Theresa seemed more like friends than lovers.Gerry always kept Theresa at a physical and emotional distance. Even photos in which they pose cheek-to-cheek feel manufactured or even forced. It could be that Gerry and Theresa are just the kind of people who don’t like engaging in public displays of affection, but a lack of attraction could have also been a factor.
5Gerry Cared Leslie
He Called Her “The One”
Gerry broke many hearts before giving Theresa his final rose, but none so painfully as66-year-old Leslie Fima’s. Leslie, a soft-spoken dance and fitness instructor from Minnesota,fell deeply in love with Gerry during the show, and he seemed to reciprocate her feelings. In fact, Gerry seemed to be much more attracted to Leslie and showed her more physical affection.
Leslie made it to Gerry’s final two, and it was down to her and Theresa.
During Gerry and Leslie’s overnight date, Gerry looked deeply into Leslie’s eye during a romantic moment and told her that she was “the one.” Though it seemed like Leslie would surely be the winner, Gerry realized Theresa was the one and gave her the final rose. Gerry cared for Leslie, but he had stronger feelings for Theresa.
4The Show Made Gerry Seem Like A Different Person
Gerry Was Indecisive In His Choice
Long before joining the cast ofThe Golden Bachelorseason 1, Gerry was married to Toni Turner for 43 years until she passed away in 2017. Though Gerry claimed he had been a single, lonely widower since his late wife’s untimely death,The Hollywood ReporterreportedGerry lied about his relationship status. According to the story,Gerry had started dating again one month after his late wife’s deathand had even been in a three-year-long relationship with a much younger woman who had lived with him. To make matters worse, the relationship ended badly as Gerry end the relationship.
The explosive report broke while the season was airing, and it was a sign that Gerry and Theresa were doomed.
3Gerry Hit On Another Reality Television Star
While Engaged To Theresa
BeingThe Golden Bacheloropened doors for Gerry, and the retired widower enjoyed walking through them. In addition to all the accolades, Gerry’s newfound fame meant he got to rub elbows with celebrities. While the season was airing,Gerry was invited to Kris Jenner’s house to watch an episode with members of the Kardashian familybecauseKendall Jenner was Gerry’s biggest fan. According to Kendall,The Golden Bachelorflirted with Kris throughout the night. During an outtake from a June episode ofThe Kardashians, 28-year-old Kendall confirmed to producers that Gerry was flirting with her 68-year-old mother.
“Yes, he was commenting on her smile and her eyes and her energy,“Kendall said. “I’m like, I think we should leave, like, I don’t know!”
When producers asked Kris about it later, she didn’t confirm or deny the accusation. She laughed it off and made a joke about already being in a relationship. It’s possible Gerry was just being nice, and Kendall misread it as flirting. If he was flirting with Kris,that would have been a terrible sign, as he was engaged to Theresaat the time.
2Gerry & Theresa Didn’t Spend Christmas 2023 Together
Decking The Halls In Different States
One way to put Gerry and Theresa’s relationship in context is to compare it to Joan Vassos and Chock Chapple’s relationship. Joan and Chock got engaged onThe Golden Bacheloretteseason 1and recently went public with their relationship. Now that they’re engaged, they’re spending the holidays together and posting family photos on social media.
They’re excited about spending their first holidays together and blending their families. In contrast,Gerry and Theresa spent their first holidays far apart, which should have been a glaring sign they weren’t serious about their relationship. Though spending the holidays together doesn’t guarantee Joan and Chock will live happily ever after, it’s a better sign the couple wants to be together.
1Gerry Was Distracted By Fame
Nomination, Awards & Other Accolades
Gerry had the best of intentions when he agreed to beThe Golden Bachelor,but he was distracted by fame, which happens to many reality stars. In May,a few weeks before announcing his divorcefrom Theresa,Gerrytook to Instagram to post about his Critics' Choice “Male Star of the Year” nomination. Gerry posted a screenshot of the nominees with his name circled.
The Critics' Choice award ended up going to Alan Cumming forThe Traitors,but just being nominated was a huge accomplishment for Gerry to brag about.
Soon after marrying Theresa,Gerry’s Instagram account posted a photo of an Emmy consideration magazine ad that featured a photo of Gerry under the words “HISTORY-MAKING.” The first season ofThe Golden Bachelorearned other nominations, including aDGA nomination for best reality program premiere and an AARP Movies For Grownupsaward for best reality series. The inaugural season ofThe Golden Bachelordidn’t win an Emmy Award, but, still, the show was a huge ratings coup for ABC and Gerry.
70 years old
Day trader
128K Instagram followers
72 years old
Retired restaurateur
147K Instagram followers
The Golden Bachelor
Cast
The Bachelor returns to TV with The Golden Bachelor, a romantic reality competition series created for ABC. The show will focus on an older generation of hopefuls, with one senior male hoping to court and win the heart of one of several older female contestants.
