Pascal Ibgui didn’t find lasting love with Joan Vassos when he competed on season 1 of The Golden Bachelorette, and he revealed that he’s still single after he self-eliminated from the show.
“I’m single, and I’m not single because nobody wants me, I’m single because the one I want [doesn’t] want me,” Pascal, 69, said about his current relationship status during the Thursday, March 6, episode of the “Bachelor Happy Hour” podcast.
Pascal – who said he met someone online a few months ago and invited her to visit him in Chicago – went on to address past comments he made in which he seemingly implied he only dates younger women. Back in November 2024, he told Us Weekly, “Yes, I’m old, but I don’t go out with a 72-year-old woman.”
“Absolutely wrong, absolutely wrong,” he said about the assumption that he is only interested in “much younger” women. “I think I made a comment. Sometimes the language barrier … and when I look back … I said, ‘I don’t go out with a 72-year-old woman.’ That’s not what I’m trying to say. I said, ‘I want to go out with an age-appropriate [woman].’ I don’t go out with anyone under 50, 55.”
After noting that he has received messages from “young girls” on social media, Pascal insisted he would only date women between 55 to 65 years old.
“Depend[s] upon the person,” he continued of his dating preferences. “You could have a 65-year-old woman who know[s] how to take care of herself, who’s into health and fitness, who know[s] how to dress. … I have no problem with the age, but it has to be age-appropriate. So, again, [setting] the record straight. I do not go out with young women.”
Pascal made his franchise debut when he pursued a relationship with Joan, 62, during the inaugural season of The Golden Bachelorette in 2024. He self-eliminated during the October 30, 2024, episode, and Joan went on to get engaged to Chock Chapple during the season finale on November 14, 2024.
While Joan is now happy with Chock, 61, she was open about how much Pascal’s exit from the show hurt her.
During the Golden Bachelorette‘s Men Tell All on November 6, 2024, Pascal explained it was “a very difficult decision” to leave the show.
“It was really difficult for me to say goodbye,” he told host Jesse Palmer. “I hope I didn’t hurt her. That was not my intention. She is a wonderful woman. Now I’m watching and I see her saying she’s not worthy of love — she’s totally wrong. I think she is worthy of love, I just wasn’t able to give her what she was looking for at the time. I was too guarded.”
Later on in the episode, fans watched Joan and Pascal reunite for the first time following their breakup.
“I pictured a life with you and I know that that Tahitian bonding ceremony was very uncomfortable for you, and I thought maybe in fantasy suites we could’ve figured out something in either direction, but you had already made up your mind,” she admitted. “You were very kind and I just want the best for you. I want you to be happy.”
