In 2023, ABC brought in senior citizen Gerry Turner to headline the first season of The Golden Bachelor. Fans immediately took to the Indiana native, praising him as wholesome and genuine. But a year later, he may have to join a popular reality competition to fix his reputation. What happened?
Gerry Turner Was Too Good To Be True?
Bachelor Nation fans first heard rumblings of a Bachelor spinoff featuring the older generation in 2020. But it took three years before the project made it to television, thanks in part to the coronavirus pandemic.
The network chose Gerry Turner out of thousands of applicants. Then 71, he was characterized as a successful businessman who retired early and was looking for love again after tragically losing his high school sweetheart wife in 2017.
Once the season started airing, viewers met his two adult children and two grandchildren. The retired restaurateur was a hit, with multiple mainstream media articles about how he revived the franchise. The Hollywood Reporter released a major expose about how Gerry Turner was a fraud hours before the season finale.
The outlet spoke to one of his ex-girlfriends, who refuted his claim that he hadn’t dated anyone after his wife’s passing. Additionally, THR found evidence that Gerry Turner continued to work for years after he claimed he retired.
However, the criticism was widely ignored because everyone was caught up in the romantic moment when Gerry proposed to Theresa Nist. The two rushed down the aisle just two months after the finale in a televised wedding special.
But less than two months after their wedding, rumors began online that things weren’t good between the couple. Gerry and Theresa appeared on Good Morning America in April to announce that they had decided to divorce after just three months of marriage. They blamed the split on neither one being willing to move away from their families in Indiana (Gerry) or New Jersey (Theresa.)
Rumored To Join Popular Reality Competition
Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist’s shocking divorce put a harsh spotlight on the franchise known for more unsuccessful matches than successful ones. His reputation was tarnished more than hers, as many people assumed he pushed for the divorce.
According to a new report from Parade magazine, Gerry Turner is on the rumored cast list for the upcoming season of Dancing With The Stars. Season 33 will premiere this September. Check out the other updated (rumored) cast list:
- David and Victoria Beckham – Soccer star & Spice Girl
- Joan Vassos – Golden Bachelorette
- Jason Kelce – Retired NFL player
- Tom Sandoval – Vanderpump Rules
- Kelly Ripa – Morning talk show host
- Gypsy-Rose Blanchard – Famous for murdering her mother
- Sutton Stracke – The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills
- Parvati Shallow – Reality star
- Cris Judd – Jennifer Lopez’s ex-husband
- Casper Smart – former backup dancer of Jennifer Lopez
- Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning – from Netflix’s Baby Reindeer
- Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes – Former morning talk show hosts
Tom Sandoval is confirmed as contestant on Season 3 of The Traitors. We also know that Joan Vassos will be done filming the Golden Bachelorette by September. It’s likely at least one Bachelor Nation star will be on DWTS but will it be Gerry Turner, Joan, or Joey Vassos?
Who do you think will represent the franchise and would Gerry be able to redeem himself on the celebrity dance competition? Sound off in the comments.
