The Golden Bachelorette hasn’t even premiered yet but some fans think Joan Vassos’ season is doomed to fail.
Joan Vassos Might Not Be As Popular As The Network Thinks
Joan Vassos was a contestant on the first-ever season of The Golden Bachelor. But she never got a chance to explore a connection with Gerry Turner. She left the show in Week 3 after a phone call from her family. Her daughter had recently given birth and was struggling.
The move drew praised from viewers for putting her family first. Joan returned for the Women Tell All special in November 2023. She shared more insight into her decision to leave.
Gerry Turner proposed to Theresa Nist on the Golden Bachelor finale and married her just two months later. The two shockingly announced their decision to divorce in April 2024, just three months after their highly publicized wedding.
Before the divorce announcement, The Golden Bachelor was considered a huge success that revived the tired franchise. Fans immediately began begging for a Golden Bachelorette spinoff.
The network confirmed in February that the spinoff was happening. But didn’t announce Joan Vassos as the lead until June. Many fans were shocked by the news. After all, they never received a chance to connect with Joan since she self-eliminated so early on.
Traditionally, the network chooses leads that fans already know and have a connection with. Since Joan isn’t well known, there’s a chance her season could be a total flop.
The Gerry Turner Effect
While Joan Vassos’ casting was a disappointment to some Bachelor Nation fans, Gerry Turner was a bigger disappointment. People who don’t usually watch The Bachelor franchise tuned in to the senior version of the dating show.
Viewers thought Gerry Turner was charming and unproblematic. The Hollywood Reporter published an expose poker holes in his back story right before the Golden Bachelor season finale aired. But the piece was largely ignored.
His wedding to Theresa Nist aired live on ABC with millions of viewers tuning in. But the divorce news puts a stain on the franchise that could affect people whether tune in to the Golden Bachelorette or not.
Screen Rant speculates that Gerry Turner costs the franchise credibility. Gerry and Theresa were hardly the first couple in the franchise to break up but their rush to divorce so soon after their wedding was definitely a first for Bachelor Nation.
