The Golden Bachelor’s Gerry Turner is one of television’s biggest heartbreakers, and he may owe Theresa Nist a public apology. Gerry, a 72-year-old retired restaurateur, and Theresa, a 70-year-old day-trader, met while filming the inaugural season of the Bachelor spin-off. Gerry was widowed in 2017, when his wife, Toni Turner, passed away after 43 years of marriage. Theresa was also a widower, having buried her beloved husband, William Nist, in 2024, after 42 years of marriage. With such long marriages under Gerry and Theresa’s belt, hopes were high that the septuagenarian couple would live happily ever after.
Gerry and Theresa tied the knot during a televised Golden Bachelor wedding in January. They had only known each other for a few months, and rushed into matrimony. Despite the high expectations, the couple announced their divorce in April, after only three months of marriage. During that time, they never lived in the same state, let alone in the same house together. Theresa married Gerry after missing multiple red flags, and he may owe her a public apology for his behavior before, during and after their ill-fated marriage.
Gerry Turner Lied About His Dating Life After Widowhood
He Misled Theresa And The Audience
When Gerry was announced as the lead for The Golden Bachelor season 1, he told a very sad story about having been a lonely widower. He claimed that, since his wife’s 2017 death, he had been single, living like a monk in the lakeside home he and his late wife had built before her tragic death.
Though it was a great story, it turned out to be fictional, as opposed to autobiographical, because it was revealed that Gerry had been in a long-term relationship since his late wife’s death.
The relationship was serious enough that the woman even lived with Gerry for a time. This information was revealed before Theresa decided to marry Gerry anyway, completely ignoring the glaring red flag.
Gerry Turner Clearly Faked His Love
Theresa Wasn’t The Only One Who Fell For It
Before Gerry gave his final rose to Theresa, he dated 21 other women on The Golden Bachelor season 1. He gave his final two roses to Theresa and 65-year-old dance instructor Leslie Fhima. During their overnight date, Gerry looked Leslie deeply into her eyes and told her that she was “the one.”
Despite confessing his feelings to Leslie, Gerry chose Theresa, and Leslie had to attend their wedding.
Gerry Seems So Shady
He Even Bragged About Being Desirable
In addition to all of Gerry’s other questionable behavior, The Golden Bachelor also flaunted his desirability after his break-up with Theresa. Though Gerry told TMZ that he’s not ready to start dating again, he also told them that his social media account was being flooded with women who were interested in him romantically. Gerry claimed that he hadn’t contacted any of his would-be suitors yet, but it was clear that he was considering wading back into the dating pool.