The Golden Bachelorette has reached its final three suitors, and with only days left before the season’s end, fans are eagerly awaiting the next dramatic episode airing Wednesday, October 30. In the preview, Joan Vassos, 61, is seen in a tense hallway moment with Pascal Ibgui, 70, as he attempts to usher the cameras away, seeking a moment of privacy with her.
Joan spoke with Us Weekly about that intense moment in the hallway, revealing that Pascal was helping her secure a private space to discuss something personal without the constant presence of the cameras. “We were trying to have a private moment to talk about something important,” Joan explained. “Pascal was just trying to get the cameras away so we could have that time alone.”
As Joan heads to Tahiti for the overnight dates with her final three — Pascal, Chock Chapple, and Guy Gansert — this season has a twist: she’s prioritized emotional intimacy over physical connection in her revamped fantasy suite dates. Unlike the typical overnight dates in Bachelor Nation, Joan’s time with her suitors will focus on conversations, not physical closeness.
“I’m not a person who can have a physical relationship with more than one person,” Joan told Us Weekly. Instead, she set a boundary with the men, agreeing to talk and connect off-camera without spending the night together. “There was no bed in the room,” she clarified, adding that the men respected her wishes and were understanding. “You gotta think, the person you’re potentially ending up with probably doesn’t want to think of you, last week, having slept with the guy he hangs out with. It’s just weird.”
However, Joan also emphasized that she holds no judgment for former Bachelor and Bachelorette stars who chose differently. “Everybody needs to do it their way. I’m not judging,” she said. “The physical part is important at every age, but I think it’s more important when people are younger. Each of us needs to engineer the journey so it works best for us.”
The outcome of Joan and Pascal’s relationship remains to be seen, but it’s clear they’re on good terms off-screen. Recently, Pascal even dressed up as Joan for Halloween, sporting a blonde wig, a gold dress, and a rose, captioning his post, “Pascal, will you accept this rose 🌹😉.”
Catch The Golden Bachelorette Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC to see how Joan’s journey continues.
