I haven’t always thought Guy Gansert should be in the running to be The Golden Bachelor, but the idea has grown on me. The 61-year-old former ER doctor from Reno, Nevada, could be a risky choice, but I think his pros far outweigh his cons. Guy made his television debut on The Golden Bachelorette. He made it to 62-year-old Joan Vassos’s final two, but she gave her final rose to 60-year-old Chock Chapple. Though Guy would have been the natural choice for the next Golden Bachelor, I was convinced his scandal would make him ineligible.
Guy stood out among the 24 single men of The Golden Bachelorette season 1. Aside from the fact that he’s an attractive doctor, he always seemed like a genuinely kind person. I was moved when he helped fellow contestant Charles Ling work through some personal trauma associated with the death of his late wife. And when retired Navy captain Kim Buike wanted to sing Joan a group song, Guy was the only one who was willing to stand by him. I think Guy should be The Golden Bachelor’s season 2 lead, despite his ex-wife’s allegations.
Guy’s Issues With His Ex-Wife Got Attention
“Motioned Like He Was Going To Shoot Me”
Joan liked Guy from the moment they met during The Golden Bachelorette season 1, but, according to People, Guy’s ex-wife, Heidi O’Gara, filed for a temporary protective order in October 2021. She had the order dismissed a month later before it was granted. Though the restraining order was never officially granted, some of her accusations are disturbing. She accused her ex-husband of being angry and making threats, alleging that he “motioned like he was going to shoot me with his hand shaped like a pistol.” Heidi dropped the restraining order a month later.
Guy wasn’t the only contestant on The Golden Bachelorette season 1 who had a protective order filed against them in the past. 60-year-old Gil Ramirez, an educator from Mission Viejo, California, also had one. According to People, Gil’s ex-girlfriend filed a restraining order against him about four months ago, accusing him of stalking. The reason producers didn’t know about it is that he passed their background check before the restraining order was filed. Gil was eliminated from The Golden Bachelorette earlier in the process, whereas Guy made it to the final two.
It was shocking that The Golden Bachelorette season 1 involved multiple restraining orders, and it raised questions about whether the producers were doing due diligence. While Guy having an issue with his wife isn’t great, it seems like it was a private matter that got out of hand. His wife doesn’t appear to be angry with him, and the two seem to have a positive co-parenting relationship. I feel like it would be a shame if it kept Guy from being The Golden Bachelor.
Guy Took Accountability For His Mistakes
He Addressed The Matter Head-On
When Guy’s protective order went public, he addressed the matter on Instagram. The Golden Bachelorette season 1 contestant explained that he and Heidi, whom he was married to for 34 years and had four children with, struggled during their divorce but eventually came to an agreement, prompting Heidi to drop the protective order. Producers should consider his explanation before making any decisions about his future with the franchise.
Despite his scandal, I think Guy is the show’s best bet as the next Golden Bachelor lead.
I understand why Bachelor producers would be reluctant to cast Guy in The Golden Bachelor season 2. The fact that he had a restraining order against him at one time falls under the category of a potential liability. Casting Guy isn’t without risk, but I think it’s a risk worth taking. Guy is the perfect catch, so the show would have no trouble finding women who want to date the ER doctor and single father.
Guy May Have Grown As A Person
He’s Prepared To Lead The Show
Guy wasn’t always one of my favorites to be cast in The Golden Bachelor season 2. I thought several other cast members from The Golden Bachelorette had a better shot than Guy, but I’m not sure anymore. 58-year-old Mark Anderson is already in a committed relationship, so he’s off the market. 61-year-old Jonathan Rone just got out of a serious relationship, so it may be too soon for him to date dozens of women. Despite his scandal, I think Guy is the show’s best bet.
As great as The Golden Bachelor season 1 was, I think Guy is much more telegenic and interesting than Gerry was.
I’ve also convinced Guy is actively vying for the role. He was never active on Instagram but recently broke his silence and has been posting regularly. I read this as a sign he’s trying to up his presence before the new season is announced with him as the lead. Guy recently posted a produced family vacation video on Instagram, where he looked the part. I found it quite interesting that he included several Bachelor franchise hashtags as well.
Several weeks ago, Guy posted an Instagram photo shoot that proves he looks the part of a Bachelor lead. In the footage, Guy poses for a photo shoot, and I think he’s prepared to lead the show. As great as The Golden Bachelor season 1 was, I think Guy is much more telegenic and interesting than Gerry was. Though his ex-wife accused him of disturbing things, they were going through a divorce, and she quickly dropped the accusations. It’s not surprising that the show’s producers would want to make a safer choice, but, as a fan of the show, I hope they reconsider.
