Joan Vassos, The Golden Bachelorette, recently reunited with her fellow Golden Bachelor contestants at a heartwarming baby shower for Bachelor star Ben Higgins and his wife, Jessica Clarke. The gathering offered a glimpse of the strong bonds formed during the show and highlighted the enduring friendships among the cast members.
Joan took to Instagram to share memorable moments from the event, including a sweet photo with her fiancé, Chock Chapple. The couple, who got engaged during Joan’s season finale this fall, are in no hurry to tie the knot. Another photo showed Joan alongside her fellow “Golden” ladies, Kathy Swarts, Susan Noles, and Nancy Hulkower, posing cheerfully in front of a pink Christmas tree.
Additional snapshots captured touching moments, such as Joan and Chock posing with Season 20 Bachelor Ben Higgins and Season 4 Bachelor Bob Guiney. The ladies also warmly embraced Chock, while Ben was photographed holding up a baby onesie emblazoned with the logo of his podcast, The Almost Famous Podcast.
In her Instagram caption, Joan expressed her joy at being part of the celebration:
“Had the best time showering @higgins.ben and @jessclarke_ with our Bachelor Nation family. We even got to record a new episode with @almost_famouspodcast that’s out now… thank you for having us!!”
The official Golden Bachelorette account commented on the post, calling it “too sweet,” while the Almost Famous Podcast account thanked Joan and Chock for joining and sharing their advice with the expectant couple.
Fans also chimed in with love and support for Joan and her friends. One fan praised the photo of Joan embracing her fellow contestants, writing:
“The second-to-last pic makes me smile!!!”
Another fan commented:
“Y’all are so cute! And I bet fun to hang out with. Keep being you!!”
Many highlighted the sense of community and friendship fostered by the Golden Bachelor franchise. One fan remarked:
“I love how the Golden Bachelor and Golden Bachelorette gang has built beautiful and lasting friendships.”
Gerry Turner’s Cancer Diagnosis Revealed
The joyful reunion comes on the heels of sobering news from Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner, who recently revealed his diagnosis of Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia, a rare and slow-growing bone marrow cancer.
Speaking to People, Gerry shared:
“I wanted my life to continue on as normal as possible, and that meant prioritizing time with my family—my two daughters, my sons-in-law, and my granddaughters.”
Gerry explained that the diagnosis impacted his relationship with Theresa Nist, his fiancée from The Golden Bachelor. While their split had surprised fans, Gerry revealed that his health played a significant role in their decision to part ways:
“The importance of finding the way with Theresa was still there, but it became less of a priority.”
He hoped his openness about his health would shift public opinion, adding:
“I hope people understand now that it wasn’t a rash or fast decision. There was something else going on.”
Theresa also addressed the situation in a separate statement, emphasizing that the diagnosis was not a factor in their breakup:
“It was devastating news, really. But Gerry told me it was a type of cancer he would most likely outlive.”
Despite their split, both Gerry and Theresa expressed mutual respect and fondness for one another, lamenting the circumstances that ultimately led to their parting.
This mix of joy and heartfelt news showcases the highs and lows experienced by the Golden Bachelor and Golden Bachelorette cast, underscoring the deep connections formed both on and off-screen.
