The Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner said he’s still not ready to date six days after finalizing his divorce from the winning contestant Theresa Nist following three months of wedded bliss (and eight months of knowing each other).
The 72-year-old reality star told TMZ on Wednesday that numerous eligible women have approached him in public spaces, such as wineries, and virtually, through Instagram DMs, where they pass along their phone numbers.
Gerry is flattered by the onslaught of bold female attention, but he hasn’t spoken with anyone as he’s reportedly ‘cautious of women who reach out to him first.’
Turner told the outlet that whenever he’s ready to date he’d prefer to meet someone ‘organically’ without dating apps, and they’ll have to live somewhere nearby his $637K, 365-acre four-bedroom lakeside home in LaGrange County in Indiana.
Distance is particularly important to the former hot tub installer considering his quickie marriage to the 70-year-old financial services professional ended because she wanted to remain in New Jersey and he wanted to remain in the Hoosier State.
The former septuagenarian lovebirds – who had a prenup – never cashed in on their free honeymoon trip to Italy, but an Indiana judge signed off on both their dissolution of marriage and marital settlement agreement last Thursday – according to TMZ.
‘We looked at homes in South Carolina, we considered New Jersey, and we just looked at homes after home,’ Theresa explained on GMA on April 12.
‘But we never got to the point where we made that decision [of cohabitating].’
Gerry added: ‘The thing that strikes 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, to live apart.’
On May 14, Turner publicly congratulated his former contestant Joan Vassos – who quit The Golden Bachelor in week three due to a family emergency – on being named the first-ever Golden Bachelorette in an ABC spin-off airing this fall.
‘You will be phenomenal as the new representative of a generation,’ the former maintenance man – who boasts 156K Instagram followers – gushed.
‘From one Golden to another… relax, breathe, and enjoy!’
The 61-year-old private school administrator replied: ‘What a beautiful message from my fellow Golden. You have taught me so much about being open and vulnerable and how looking for love at this age can be dignified and fun. Thank you my friend for setting the stage for the rest of us Goldens… and I’m open to advice!’
Gerry was originally described as a retired restaurateur, but he reportedly sold his only Mr. Quick hamburger drive-in franchise way back in 1985.
On November 29, THR revealed Turner had a 10-month, live-in relationship with a woman between 2018-2019, but they split after he refused to bring her to his high school reunion because she ‘gained 10lbs.’
Bachelor Nation fans are some of the most passionate and devoted, despite the horrible track record for couples remaining together on the various shows.
Out of the 28 prior seasons of The Bachelor, only four couples are still together including Sean and Catherine Lowe from season 17.
Out of 20 seasons of The Bachelorette, four couples remain together including Ryan and Trista Sutter from season one.
Surprisingly, Bachelor in Paradise is the most successful franchise with 10 couples remaining together after nine seasons.
