Rumors have been swirling about The Golden Bachelor star Gerry Turner possibly reaching out to Joan Vassos after his short-lived marriage to Theresa Nist ended in divorce. While Joan, now The Golden Bachelorette, had an undeniable connection with Gerry during their season, she left early due to a family emergency. With Gerry now single again, many have speculated about whether he tried to rekindle things with Joan.
When recently asked about these rumors, Joan’s response was intriguing—but did she confirm or deny the speculation?
Joan & Gerry’s Golden Bachelor Connection
Joan Vassos, a private school administrator from Maryland, was one of 22 women competing for Gerry’s heart on The Golden Bachelor. Though she wasn’t an early frontrunner, her talent and charm soon caught Gerry’s attention. After winning a talent show group date, she earned a coveted one-on-one dinner, where their chemistry became evident.
Just as things were heating up between them, Joan received a heartbreaking phone call. Her daughter, struggling with postpartum depression, needed her. Faced with a difficult decision, Joan chose to leave the show and return to her family, telling Gerry that her responsibilities at home had to come first.
Although Joan’s exit was emotional, some fans wondered if she was truly ready to move on after losing her husband of 32 years, John Vassos, in 2021. Regardless, her departure left a lingering question: what could have been between her and Gerry?
Did Gerry Try to Rekindle Things with Joan?
After Joan’s exit, Gerry continued his journey and ultimately proposed to Theresa Nist. Their whirlwind romance culminated in a televised wedding, but just three months later, they shocked Bachelor Nation by announcing their divorce. Almost immediately, rumors emerged suggesting that Gerry had reached out to Joan in hopes of rekindling their relationship.
During a recent appearance on the Two Jersey J’s podcast, Joan addressed the speculation head-on. She admitted that while she and Gerry had a romantic connection early on, their relationship had evolved into a “really good friendship.” When asked directly if Gerry had pursued her post-divorce, Joan cryptically responded, “I’m not gonna comment.”
Her reluctance to give a definitive answer has only fueled speculation. Was she protecting Gerry’s privacy, or is there more to the story?
Why a Reunion Seems Unlikely
While the idea of Gerry and Joan finding their way back to each other sounds like a fairytale ending, it’s likely just that—a fairytale. One major reason? Gerry’s health struggles.
Shortly after his wedding to Theresa, routine medical tests revealed a serious condition: slow-acting bone marrow cancer. The diagnosis shifted Gerry’s priorities dramatically, leading him to focus on his health and time with family rather than a new romantic relationship.
Additionally, distance was already a factor in his divorce from Theresa—he lived in Indiana while she resided in New Jersey. If geography was an issue with Theresa, it’s hard to imagine that rekindling a romance with Joan, who lives in Maryland, would have been any more feasible.
Joan Has Moved On—Has Gerry?
Regardless of what happened between them, Joan has officially moved forward. After her early exit from The Golden Bachelor, she was cast as The Golden Bachelorette, where she had her own journey to find love.
Her season ended with a successful engagement to Chock Chapple, a 60-year-old insurance executive. Unlike Gerry and Theresa, Joan and Chock have spent considerable time together and seem to be building a solid relationship. While it’s still early days, a Golden Bachelorette wedding could be on the horizon.
As for Gerry? He’s navigating life post-divorce and focusing on his health. Whether or not he ever considered rekindling things with Joan remains a mystery—but if he did, it seems that chapter has already closed.
