Golden Bachelor’s Gerry Turner may have wanted only fame instead of love during his run on the hit ABC dating show.
His marriage to Theresa Nist was allegedly over long before he filed for a divorce on April 12.
Sources tell Life & Style that the 72-year-old – who stretched the truth about his career and love life to viewers and contestants – agreed to lead the show in hopes of a major reward.
“His real goal was to set himself up as a Hollywood player and be rich and famous,” said an insider. “He never had any interest in finding a bride or in the feelings of the women he courted on the show.”
“Theresa was warned not to marry Gerry because of his history of lies and fraud,” says a source. “She really loved him, but she’s been played for a fool. She must have seen the writing on the wall when Gerry refused to move in with her” after their January wedding.
The insider continued: “They were living separate lives, with Theresa in New Jersey and Gerry holed up at his Indiana lake house. Her head has to be spinning from all his deceit!”
One source added that Gerry is reveling in his new role as “villain” in Bachelor Nation – and that he planned it this way.
“Gerry learned from the whole Vanderpump Rules scandal,” said the source. “That’s when he set out to ride the same gravy train, and his reps are already pitching him as TV’s newest bad boy!”
Contestant April Kirkwood has revealed she warned Theresa about Gerry, but fans are annoyed with how she exposed that fact, even if they are annoyed at the divorce itself, claiming watching Golden Bachelor this first season was a “waste of time.”
After announcing her divorce with Gerry, Theresa shared a post to Instagram which read: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
Fans congratulated her on “dodging a bullet” by splitting from Gerry, but it seems that April’s comment turned them angry.
April sparked uproar with her message on Nist’s post which read: “I wish you the very best. I truly tried to tell you but this was your lesson to experience. Much love!”
Fans quickly slammed the therapist for the tactless comment, with one writing: “seriously can’t believe you said this on sm for everyone to see..and you’re a ‘friend’..uh no. If you were, you wouldn’t have said the middle part..you keep it to yourself or you text her directly..wow.. unbelievable.”
Another typed: “I thought you were a therapist? Surely you understand how insensitive your ‘I told you so comment’ is. We’re all here learning on this journey of life… none of us better than anyone else. Please be kind.”
Others wrote: “April we love you but this was a personal message not meant for public comment.”
More fans added: “A reputable therapist would never post this” and “No class.”
Gerry has since revealed whether drama with his ex factored into his decision to divorce from Theresa Nist.
The 72-year-old found himself in a deep scandal that involved the ex shortly before proposing to Theresa during the hit ABC dating show’s finale.
The Hollywood Reporter released a bombshell report, in which they claimed to have discovered several inconsistencies regarding both Gerry’s work history and recent romantic relationships that contradict the narrative he and the show’s producers (who may have been ignorant of the details) put forth to viewers.
However, the drama with the ex did not contribute to the couple’s divorce, which they annouced on Good Morning America on Friday.
“Gerry had already discussed that with me,” Theresa shared during the estranged couple’s TV appearance, referring to the bombshell report.
“He had explained it to me before the report was ever released, so we were good with that,” Theresa continued. “That didn’t play into it.”
Get all the latest news, entertainment, sport and lifestyle updates from our dedicated American team.
