Golden Bachelor’s Kathy Swarts has many interesting opinions about Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist’s relationship and split.
Golden Bachelor’s Kathy Swarts has some interesting opinions about Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist’s decision to divorce, including what could have hindered them from the start.
She and fellow fan-favorite Susan Noles talked about the bombshell news on their podcast, Bachelor Happy Hour: Golden Hour.
While the pair agreed that the former couple deserve privacy as they navigate their divorce, they also didn’t shy away from revealing what they think went wrong and what stopped them from having a long and happy marriage.
“We all feel like we want to know more we should know more, they owe us more,” Kathy, 70, said on the April 19 episode of the podcast.
“Do we really have a right to know more? I don’t think so. I think that what they did had to be so hard publicly, to do it all publicly and you know, for that, I admire their courage.”
Kathy also pointed out that Gerry and Theresa dated unlike anyone else: “These two did something very different than most people do. They met in public, they dated in public, they got engaged in public, they got married in public and they’re now getting divorced in public.”
She also mentioned that ABC had something to do with the split.
Since the network didn’t know if Golden Bachelor would perform with audiences, Gerry’s season, the first-ever, was shorter than typical Bachelor seasons.
Meaning, Gerry had less time to get to know all of his suitors.
“Everybody had less time together to get to know everyone and then you know, they didn’t get to see each other very much,” Kathy explained. “It was really like, it was like speed dating. And maybe they regret what they did — clearly it didn’t work out — but let’s just let them live.”
Kathy also said that because she and Susan “lived this romance” with Theresa and Gerry, “it’s difficult” to watch them break up.
“But they deserve the respect and the space to try to heal,” Kathy continued to Susan. “And I know when you and I talked about, at the wedding, I mean, we were sitting there crying, watching them and we were just so happy and quiet honestly, you and I both were envious that they had fallen in love.”
Meanwhile, Susan — who previously mentioned that she no longer has a perfect track record when it comes to being a wedding officiant due to the split — urged Bachelor Nation to be kind to the former couple now that they’ve revealed their divorce.
“We watched them fall in love and I cannot deny that that wasn’t real,” said Susan. “I believe it was real and they got caught up in a moment. Who are we to judge anybody out there? Who are we to judge? As I made a statement a couple days ago, it’s about being kind. Yes, I know the public, everybody was disappointed. We all are. But they have their reasons.”
When Susan watched Theresa and Gerry say “I do,” it felt real.
“I did marry them in front of 11 million people and when I watched them say those vows, they meant what they said,” the TV personality explained. “So this isn’t a fake. I mean, a lot of people have different opinions. It was real. It was very, very real. And you have to admit that at 70-something years old, when reality hit and they had their discussions that it wasn’t going to work and they’re not going to waste their time.”
Kathy added that “we all believe in fairy tales,” but “life is not always a fairy tale.”
Still, she still believes love can be found on TV.
“We believe in the show,” Kathy said. “We believe in finding love. And OK, it didn’t work out this time, but you know, hopefully the next time it will.”
Gerry and Theresa cited distance as their main issue and the unwillingness to move from their respective states — Gerry in Indiana and Theresa in New Jersey.
Everyone has given their opinions on the divorce but fans were the most angry, calling the first season of the ABC show a “waste of time.”
During their appearance on Good Morning America earlier, Gerry said: “Theresa and I have had a number of heart-to-heart conversations.”
“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.”
“I still love this person, there’s no doubt in my mind. I root for her every day.”
