The Golden Bachelor star Gerry Turner has been one of the most controversial leads in Bachelor Nation history, having let the viewers down after ruining his wholesome reputation. Gerry, who was introduced to Bachelor Nation ahead of his season being filmed, was slated to be a wholesome widower who hadn’t dated since his late wife had passed away. While Gerry was a father and grandfather who got fulfillment from his family, he was looking for something more and wanted to fall in love again in his life.
While Gerry was open to something blossoming naturally, choosing to go on The Golden Bachelor season 1 for love was a major departure from what he’d been doing in his Indiana hometown. Gerry decided to take a leap when he applied for the series, and ultimately felt that he was going to find lasting love on the ABC spin-off. Though Gerry had some plans of his own surrounding his reality TV appearance, viewers weren’t aware of his ulterior motives going into the season, nor did it seem like he’d be the type to be on reality TV for fame.
Throughout The Golden Bachelor, Gerry was as charming and charismatic as ever. Taking his contestants out on elaborate dates and getting to know them in a good natured, kind hearted way, Gerry was one of the most genuine guys that The Bachelor franchise had ever seen. The level of authenticity that seemed to be at play throughout his season was a major win for Bachelor Nation, who was enjoying seeing Gerry’s relationships play out on screen. While The Golden Bachelor season 1 cast was a major part of the show’s success, Gerry was the glue that kept everything together.
As Gerry and the women of his season got to know each other, he had to make some difficult decisions about who he wanted to keep around. While Gerry wasn’t a seasoned reality TV veteran, he was able to bring emotion to the rose ceremonies that made him come off vulnerable in the moments he needed to. Throughout the season, Gerry’s emotions were one of the most interesting parts of the series, as he didn’t feel hardened or jaded by the Bachelor process, but instead showed just how difficult it was for him.
Though Gerry’s season of The Golden Bachelor ended with him falling in love with and proposing to Theresa Nist, the couple’s relationship was one of the catalysts to Gerry’s facade unraveling. Throughout the months after the Golden finale, Gerry and Theresa planned their live TV wedding amidst scandal. The couple married in a live TV special, but Gerry and Theresa announced their divorce just three months later, and Gerry’s reputation has taken a major hit after his split.
8. Gerry Lied About His Backstory
He Wasn’t Freshly In The Dating Pool
During Gerry’s initial press tour for The Golden Bachelor season 1, he shared quite a bit of information about himself with the public. Introduced as a widower who had two adult daughters and older granddaughters, Gerry’s tragic backstory was put on public display and made to seem a bit more gut wrenching for viewers. Gerry’s late wife, Toni Turner, had died suddenly just a few years prior to the series, and while there was truth behind the story of him becoming a widower, his circumstances afterward were greatly exaggerated.
Gerry had shared that he hadn’t dated seriously since his wife had died to Bachelor Nation several times prior to the season, and was continuing to peddle that story during his season. At the end of the season, one of Gerry’s ex-girlfriends, who chose to remain anonymous in the press, explained that they’d been together for quite a while after his wife had passed. Making it clear he’d had a serious relationship, Gerry openly lied about his backstory to curry Bachelor Nation’s favor.
7. Gerry Used His Family To Trick Bachelor Nation
His Daughters & Granddaughters Were In On The Rouse
Although Gerry was the only person to outwardly lie about his backstory to Bachelor Nation, he enlisted the help of his daughters and granddaughters to make him seem like more of a wholesome family guy on TV. Throughout The Golden Bachelor press cycle and leading up to the exciting premiere of the series, Gerry often spoke about his daughters and granddaughters in high regard. While Gerry wasn’t lying about his feelings for his family, he was using his family to help make him more of a relatable everyman.
Gerry’s daughters shared that they didn’t feel there was a better person to become the first Golden Bachelor than their father, and both reaffirmed that he’d been lost since their mother’s death. While this may have felt real to them, it’s clear that the narrative drafted around their father was meant to create a sense of pity and support around Gerry. The Golden Bachelor star also often used his grandaughters on social media to endear him to younger audiences prior to the show’s premiere.
6. Gerry Wasn’t Honest With The Women Of His Cast
He Opened Up, But Only So Much
While Gerry was upfront about his past with the women of The Golden Bachelor, he was upfront about the lie he’d been holding for the duration of the press cycle and the series. Gerry had been made to tell everyone that he hadn’t dated after his wife Toni passed, which was a lie that he upheld during his time in the Bachelor Mansion. Though he’d been honest about his feelings, the foundation of the relationships he formed was based on lies.
For the duration of the season, Gerry seemed unequipped to handle the ins and outs of a relationship that wasn’t a marriage and often shared how he hadn’t dated in a long time, but those quips were cleverly designed to make him look inoffensive. While Gerry has denied the idea that he’d lied during his time as The Golden Bachelor, his behavior was clear throughout the season. He’d done everything he could to make sure that he came off as an inoffensive, excited party without much dating experience.
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