The Golden Bachelorette: Signs Joan Vassos Isn't Handling Public Attention About Chock Chapple Relationship Backlash Well (How She's Been Presenting)

The Golden Bachelorette's Joan Vassos' relationship with Chock Chapple has been under scrutiny, and Joan is not handling it well and has been presenting poorly. The Golden Bachelorette season 1 was filmed in July 2024 and aired from September 2024 to November 2024. Joan started the journey with 24 eligible Golden suitors, but narrowed it down to her top four: Chock, Pascal Ibgui, Jordan Heller, and Guy Gansert.

Joan felt Jordan wasn't vulnerable enough and eliminated him, leaving her to bring Chock, Pascal, and Guy to Tahiti. Pascal self-eliminated, and Chock had been Joan's frontrunner throughout the season. Joan chose Chock in the end, and the pair left the experience engaged. However, Chock showcased some red flags, and him and Joan's relationship has been criticized. The pair is in the public eye now, and the negativity surrounding their reception is weighing on Joan.

Joan & Chock Are Not Being Positively Received

Chock Didn't Win Many Fans

Chock got a divorce from the mother of his two children, and he went on to be in a 12-year engagement with another woman before her passing. Chock's inability to follow through in relationships and his noncommittal behavior have been denounced by The Golden Bachelorette viewers. During the show, Chock was relentless in his pursuit of Joan, leading Pascal to call Chock a "stalker." He was very possessive of Joan and was viewed as insincere and overly confident. Fans don't think Chock is the right match for Joan based on these factors. Moreover, the pair are long-distance.

Joan Is Over-Compensating

Joan Projects She & Chock Are Perfect

Joan is projecting a very rosy picture of her relationship with Chock. Joan has gone out of her way to share many Instagram posts depicting the allegedly happy and carefree nature of her and Chock's connection. However, it looks like Joan is over-compensating. Instead of giving honest representations of the challenges she and Chock are facing, Joan is choosing to deflect and give an unrealistic representation. She doesn't address any of the public scrutiny, which is not a good look. The only negative point she's addressed is blending their families.

Joan Has Indicated She's Struggling

"Little Harder Right Now"

Over Thanksgiving, Chock and his family went to Joan's native Maryland to spend that holiday with her and her family. Then, Joan and Chock spent two weeks apart leading up to Christmas. While Chock was back in Maryland for Christmas, Joan went to Chock's native Kansas for the New Year. When addressing the back and forth nature of their holiday season and blending their families, Joan described the situation as being a "little harder right now."

If Joan were to be more transparent about the struggles she and Chock are facing, it would put a halt to the speculation circulating. The Golden Bachelorette's Joan is not handling the public's microscope on her and Chock's less-than-ideal relationship well, and she is not presenting an accurate depiction.

The Golden Bachelorette season 1 is available to stream on Hulu.