Get ready for some tears, Bachelor Nation. In The Golden Bachelorette Episode 5, Joan Vassos said a heartfelt goodbye to Mark Anderson, the 57-year-old Army veteran from Leesville, Louisiana, leaving fans emotional as they had hoped he would make it to Hometown Week.
Mark, the father of former Bachelor winner Kelsey Anderson, became a fan favorite throughout the season. From the beginning, his kindness, sensitivity, and strong family values impressed Joan. Despite their bond, Joan ultimately decided that Mark wasn’t the right person for her at this stage in her journey.
“Mark is an amazing man,” Joan shared during a Zoom interview with Decider. “He’s exactly as he was portrayed on Joey’s season. He’s a great family man, a great father, and someone who has been through so much. He has this quiet and steady demeanor that’s very calming. It was so easy to talk to him, especially during such a crazy and intimidating experience.”
Host Jesse Palmer echoed her sentiments, praising Mark as a stand-up guy who has overcome a lot in life and been a rock for his family. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and you can see why Kelsey is so incredible. Mark is such a sweet, sweet man,” Palmer said. “Anyone who comes in contact with Mark is amazed by the person he is. He’s really special.”
Despite all the admiration from Joan and others, Mark ultimately wasn’t the man Joan envisioned herself with. Though their conversations were deep and meaningful, Joan revealed she didn’t see their future together as clearly as she had hoped.
“I feel like you’ve grown so much personally, but I didn’t feel the connection I imagined between us,” Joan told Mark during their final conversation. She expressed concern that Mark was still healing from his grief, having lost his wife Denise to breast cancer, and that he might not be ready for the next stage in a relationship. “I came into this a little too early for you, and I need someone who is as far along in their journey as I am.”
Though Mark was understandably disappointed, he handled the rejection with grace. He told Joan that the experience had changed him for the better. “I’m leaving here a better man, a better human being, and a better father,” he said. Mark’s fellow contestants, deeply affected by his departure, gathered around him for an emotional goodbye, sharing tears and hugs.
Mark’s exit wasn’t the only heartbreak of Episode 5. Joan also sent home two other fan favorites ahead of Hometown Week: Keith Gordon, the 62-year-old father from San Jose, California, and Jonathan Rone, the 61-year-old shipping consultant from Oakland, Iowa.
Keith, who received Joan’s first impression rose, charmed her from the start with his quirky arrival in an old station wagon and their shared love of wine and cheese. Their connection continued to grow, and Keith even scored a one-on-one date in Episode 5. However, Joan ultimately had stronger connections with her remaining suitors.
Jonathan, another standout from early in the season, won Joan over with his fun and thoughtful personality. He made a memorable first impression by stepping out of the limo blindfolded, a nod to Joan’s earlier comments about feeling invisible. Although he shared an emotional one-on-one date with Joan in Episode 3, where they bonded over horseback riding, their connection wasn’t enough to take him to the next level.
As we say goodbye to three of the season’s most beloved contestants, Bachelor Nation can only hope we’ll see them again at The Men Tell All or in future spin-offs. With the Final Four now set, Hometown Week promises even more emotional moments as Joan continues her search for love.
