Golden Bachelor’s Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist have only been married for three months, but last Friday they announced on live television their decision to divorce.
Fans are annoyed and have vented their frustrations online, claiming the first-ever season of the Bachelor spin-off was “pointless.”
They’ve even begun to claim that finalists Faith Martin and Leslie Fhima “dodged bullets.”
Now, one of Gerry’s former Golden Bachelor contestants has agreed; she’s dodged a massive bullet where the 72-year-old is concerned.
Maria Trice, a contestant who was eliminated in the show’s first week, told People exclusively: When “trying to force a shoe that doesn’t fit, you’re going to get corns on your toes.”
“I think I dodged a bullet,” she added. “… The interesting part about being at this stage and this age is people have stuff, even if they do their due diligence of finding out as much as they can about everyone, I think other stuff just comes up. Men in particular.”
“I hope Teresa is happy,” Trice continues.
Trice, who called Nist “the sweetest,” also explained that “getting to know all about” someone is a “dance.”
“And at first everyone is showing their inner ambassador and batting their eyes, but when the covers come off, and you see the real reality of who each other are, you’re like, I’m not really sure this is who I want for the rest of my life,” she continued.
Trice added: “I’ve had a lot of love in my life, real love. She can do it again, and she can do it better. The biggest love you can have is loving yourself and that attracts all sorts of things.”
Adding of Gerry, she said: “When I first met him, I was like, he’s not for me. She [Theresa] was so excited. I was like, he’s nice, he’s handsome. I didn’t feel a spark. She did and definitely wanted him and she got him,” Trice says. “After three months they must know it’s for the best to not be together.”
Trice added that Turner “seemed to be a nice guy.”
“But how well can you know someone after that short period of my time. Once the excitement wore off and reality kicked in, I was like we’ll see,” she said. “When you do something really fast like that it takes at least 3-6 months before all the shine is off and you’re dealing with that person raw.”
On Friday, Theresa and Gerry revealed in a joint interview on Good Morning America that after “a number of heart-to-heart conversations,” they decided to split three months after their Golden Wedding.
During the interview, the pair cited distance their main issue.
Gerry lives at his lake house in Indiana while Theresa was based out of New Jersey.
At one point, she said Gerry considered moving to New Jersey and they both were looking at homes in South Carolina.
“We’ve looked closely at our living situations and we’ve kind of come to the conclusion mutually that it’s time for us to dissolve our marriage,” Gerry said.
“The things that strike me the most in our conversations it’s been how dedicated both of us are to our families. So, we look at these situations and I think we just feel like it’s best for the happiness of each of us to live apart,” he added.
“I still love this person, there’s no doubt in my mind. I root for her every day.”
Theresa acknowledged that they have a prenuptial agreement in place and plan on returning their wedding rings, which is a rule in Bachelor Nation.
“I think that’s the rule, I think I have to give this ring back. Sad to say,” she shared, with Gerry adding, “But, you know what, we don’t have to give back the memories.”
The couple’s divorce puts the future of the “Golden” Bachelor spin-offs in jeopardy.
Fans were also not happy about the annoucement, calling it a “waste of time.”
One person wrote: “F***ING RIDICULOUS!!! Stop wasting our time with these fake-a*s couples!”
Another added: “So they got free vacations around the world and 15 minutes of fame. Who still believes that show is real?”
A third said: “So, the #GoldenBachelor couple are getting a divorce? Whyyy are dating shows still even being made? Those relationships NEVER last.”
