“We’ve kind of come to the conclusion mutually that it’s probably time for us to dissolve our marriage,” Turner said in a joint interview with Nist
Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist are going their separate ways.
The Golden Bachelor stars revealed on Friday, April 12 that they are divorcing, just three months after they married in a lavish televised “Golden wedding.”
“Theresa and I have had a number of heart-to-heart conversations, and we’ve looked closely at our situation, our living situation and so forth, and we’ve kind of come to the conclusion mutually that it’s probably time for us to dissolve our marriage,” Turner, 74, said in a joint interview with Nist, 70, that aired on Good Morning America.
The former pair both said they were really nervous about how viewers of the hit ABC would react to the news, knowing that their union inspired so many singles in their 70s looking for love.
“We have received so much love and support from so many people who watch the Golden Bachelor and I don’t think we can tell you how many people told us it gave them so much hope,” Nist said. “We want none of that to change for anybody.”
“Don’t give up,” she added. “Stay in it. Stay hopeful. ‘Cause we are.”
Asked what went wrong, the pair said the distance proved a problem, despite their previous claims that they were “100% committed to making it work.” He lives at his lake house in Indiana while she is based out of New Jersey.
They had planned to move in together, Nist said, explaining Turner considered a move to New Jersey and both even looked for homes in South Carolina. “We looked at home after home, but we never got to the point where we made that decision,” she said.
“The thing that strikes me the most in our conversations, it’s been how dedicated both of us are to our families,” shared Turner. “So we look at these conversation and we both think it’s best for the happiness of each of us to live apart.”
Both insisted that they did not fall out of love, and that the realities of being in the public eye — and reports about Turner’s dating past — had nothing to do with their split. The two did their GMA interview holding hands, and told ABC News’ Juju Chang they are “best friends” and plan on staying in one another’s lives.
“I still love this person. There’s no doubt in my mind, I still am in love with her. I root for her every day,” Turner said, pointing to Nist who gushed, “I still love him.”
Even while Nist admitted she’d be giving back the ring, which she was still wearing, Turner sweetly said, “But you know what, we don’t have to give back the memories.”
As for finding love again, Turner and Nist agreed they plan on going on that journey. “And we tell everybody else to continue to look for love,” Nist said.
Turner gave his final rose to Nist on the season finale of The Golden Bachelor on Nov. 30, 2023. The series followed the father of two (and grandfather of two) on his journey to find love after the death of his wife Toni.
Nist accepted the coveted flower — and his 3.15-carat, princess-cut diamond engagement ring from Neil Lane — but only after she said “yes” to Turner’s hand in marriage when he got down on one knee and proposed. Before accepting the ring, she poured her heart out to Turner.
“I know how sometimes it feels like the whole world thinks love is only for the young, and quite honestly, at the age of 70, I was beginning to feel that myself,” she said. “I’m so madly in love with you, Gerry, and I feel that for us, life isn’t over, the best is yet to come.”
Turner and Nist said their “I dos” on Jan. 4 in a televised wedding special from the La Quinta Resort and Club in La Quinta, California. The ceremony was officiated by fan-favorite Susan Noles, and attended by a sea of Bachelor Nation stars including Wells Adams, Ben Higgins, Jason and Molly Mesnick, Desiree and Chris Siegfried, and Trista and Ryan Sutter.
“I promise to choose you, every day, as the one I love, and never take your heart for granted,” Turner told Nist in his vows. “I promise to shout the ‘I love yous’ by day, and whisper them softly at night. I promise to keep you safe. And I promise to make you feel comforted in difficult times and abundantly joyful in great times.”
“I love you,” said Nist. “I love your heart and your soul. I love your smiles and your laughter. We have so much fun together we laugh until we cry. … I promise to be calm in the storm, to comfort you when you’re sad, to laugh with you when you’re happy, and to stick with you throughout it all, but most of all, to have fun. For the rest of the days that we have left on this earth, which could be another hour.”
PEOPLE reached out to reps for Turner and Nist for comment. No divorce paperwork has been filed yet, but the two did have a prenup, according to GMA.
