It seems like The Golden Bachelorette couple, Joan Vassos and Chock Chapple, are heading towards full-time influencer lifestyles, and it makes me think they are focused on the wrong things. Joan was announced as The Golden Bachelorette season 1 lead in May 2024. The season was filmed in July 2024, and it aired on ABC from September to November 2024. Chock was Joan's top choice all season, as their connection and commonalities were obvious. Chock beat out 23 other Golden men to win Joan's heart, and the pair became engaged during the final rose ceremony.
Once the finale aired, Joan and Chock could step out as an official couple. Since then, they have been doing television and podcast interview tours, as well as attending Bachelor Nation events. However, I see Joan and Chock's main issue is how they are going to viably and logistically be together given that they are long-distance. Chock lives in Kansas, and Joan lives in Maryland. They've been spending their time traveling between the two places and trying to nest in NYC while also vacationing, and I think it's a mess. Now I see a larger problem threatening their union.
Joan & Chock Are Too Active On Social Media
Joan & Chock Are Always Posting
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Chock Chapple (@chockchapple)
Since stepping out into public attention after The Golden Bachelorette season 1, Joan and Chock have been highly active on social media, specifically Instagram. Joan and Chock were both unknown before the show, but I see them embracing and relishing the spotlight and trying to capitalize on it. Joan has become a brand ambassador and promoter for a bevy of different companies. She loves doing paid advocating for skincare lines, vitamin brands, and clothing companies.
It's become clear to me that Joan and Chock are reveling in being influencers. The pair both don't seem to have gone back to the occupations they had before the show, and have transitioned into full-time influencers and reality TV celebrities. Their priorities seem to lie with content creation and keeping Golden fans up to date on their lives, and I think their emphasis is misplaced, and they aren't giving themselves enough time to acknowledge their pitfalls.
Joan & Chock Have A Lot Of Issues To Overcome
Distance, Family, Careers
I think Joan and Chock's biggest issue is their long-distance relationship. Their lifestyle has looked like chaos to me, as they've been constantly traveling to see each other, and that's not sustainable. Aside from the distance, Joan and Chock are having trouble blending their families.
Joan is the matriarch of her family, and Chock is a main figure in his. While they've met each other's families, having them come together has proved difficult, and the couple has mentioned that the struggle is real in that regard. Joan and Chock's careers also seem to be on hold as they are striving to ride the Golden celebrity wave.
Joan & Chock Need To Refocus Their Energy
Quality Time Over New Influencer Lives
I believe Joan and Chock are making their influencer careers and reality TV celebrity their main objective as they take advantage of their time and success on The Golden Bachelorette. I think it's the wrong placement of energy, as the pair still have a lot of obstacles to their long-term happiness to overcome.
I don't doubt Joan and Chock's love for one another, but I fear parts of their connection could dwindle if they don't place their relationship first over what reality TV has afforded them.
Their priorities should be one another and how to get their lifestyles to fit in the best way, not with all the social media time and energy. The Golden Bachelorette brought Joan and Chock together, but I feel the inflated aspects of fame and influencer status could get in the way of their lasting love. I don't want to see Joan and Chock lose sight of their relationship's foundation, as I see it being clouded by their new influencer stations.
