Joan Vassos, star of The Golden Bachelorette, has her reservations about the idea of a Golden Bachelor in Paradise spinoff, and she’s not alone in her skepticism. The 61-year-old reality star shared her thoughts on the possibility of a Golden Bachelor version of the popular Bachelor in Paradise show, explaining that there are practical reasons why it might not work at this time.
In an interview with Decider, Joan admitted that many of the men from her season of The Golden Bachelorette have already entered into new relationships since the show ended. She pointed out that these men, many of whom had been single for years before appearing on the show, are now ready for love after connecting with each other during their “free therapy sessions” on set. According to Joan, this quick blossoming of relationships has already reduced the pool of eligible contestants who might be interested in joining a Golden Bachelor in Paradise spinoff.
“I think the pool of people ready to go on a Golden Bachelor in Paradise season may be smaller than what we were thinking,” Joan said. “I don’t know if these relationships will work out or if they’re just new romances that may fizzle out, but right now, if you were going to have a Paradise soon, we might have a hard time finding enough participants.”
Joan went on to say that she’s even played matchmaker herself, helping some of the men from her season find new connections. She shared that “at least five” of the men from The Golden Bachelorette are already “matched up” with someone, and she’s currently working on setting up a couple more. This leaves fewer available contestants for a Golden Bachelor in Paradise season, making the idea seem less feasible.
Fans of the franchise have already witnessed some Golden Bachelorette cast members forming bonds after the show aired. Jordan Heller, who finished fourth on Joan’s season, has been spending time with Golden Bachelor runner-up Leslie Fhima. While Leslie has said they’re not dating, she confirmed that they’ve been texting since their initial meeting. Meanwhile, other men from Joan’s season, like Mark Anderson and Jonathan Rone, have been seen in public with new partners, including Barbara Alyn Woods and a new girlfriend, respectively.
Joan, however, is not only playing the role of matchmaker; she’s also thriving in her own romance. She and her fiancé, Chock Chapple, got engaged during the finale of The Golden Bachelorette and have since been adjusting to life in the public eye. The couple plans to divide their time between Chock’s hometown in Kansas and Joan’s home state of Maryland. They’re also looking for a new place in New York City where they can enjoy some privacy away from the spotlight.
As they prepare for their first Thanksgiving together, Joan shared with People that she’s excited for their children to meet in person after getting to know each other over the phone and through text. “It’s weird at this age to welcome a new stepsibling into your life,” Joan admitted, “but we’re excited to see them spend time together.”
For now, Joan’s focus is on her own future with Chock, and she’s not concerned about the Golden Bachelor in Paradise concept. While there’s always a chance the idea could evolve, for now, it seems that the show’s romantic dynamics might be better suited to a future season, rather than a Golden version of Paradise.
