Though The Golden Bachelor's Gerry Turner seemed like a hero at first, he turned out to be the show's villain, and he may never be able to salvage his battered image. The 73-year-old retired restaurateur had so much going for him. He was tall, attractive, and charming, with a warm, empathetic style, a great relationship with his family, and a heartwarming backstory. When he was announced as The Bachelor spin-off's first lead, women from all over the country applied to be on the show to date him.
Among the 22 bachelorettes who dated Gerry during The Golden Bachelor season 1 was 71-year-old day trader Theresa Nist. The couple wasted no time planning their televised Golden Bachelor wedding, which aired just a few weeks after the couple went public with their relationship. They probably shouldn't have rushed into things, because the septuagenarian newlyweds announced their divorce three months later. Fans turned on Gerry after the split, but their love for him had soured long before then.
Gerry Hid Behind His Wholesome Persona
It Was A Facade
Facade is a French word meaning false front, and that's exactly what Gerry's persona was. The Golden Bachelor season 1 producers crafted an image of Gerry that couldn't have been more wholesome. The father of two and grandfather of two was a loving family man and prolific philanthropist who spent his free time organizing fund-raisers and driving his family around the lake on his boat. It was hard not to fall in love with the empathetic Gerry, and Theresa fell hard. In the end, it turned out that Gerry wasn't the perfect bachelor that audiences were led to believe.
Gerry's Backstory Tug At The Viewer's Heartstrings
He Was A Lonely Widower
Long before Gerry joined the cast of The Golden Bachelor season 1, he was married to his beloved wife, Toni Turner. They were married for 43 years, until she passed away in 2017, after a brief illness. Though the story was that Gerry had been single since Toni's death, it was later revealed that he actually started dating soon after she died, and even had a long-term live-in girlfriend at one point. This information came to light before the wedding, but Theresa ignored the red flag and married Gerry anyway.
Gerry's True Self Was Revealed After His Divorce from Theresa
He's Not Who He Seemed
Things aren't always what they seem, and goes double for people. Though Gerry probably had the best of intentions, he didn't always handle things properly, which is why so many people are still mad at The Golden Bachelor. Though it seemed like Gerry was head over heels in love with Theresa, he didn't like her enough to give the marriage more than three months. For her part, Theresa didn't fight for the marriage either and is just as responsible for the failed marriage.
