Bachelor Nation Reacts To Gerry & Theresa’s Divorce

Bachelor Nation is reacting to Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist’s divorce. On April 12, The Golden Bachelor couple announced their split in an interview with Good Morning America, just a few months after walking down the aisle.

Fans and fellow Bachelor Nation stars quickly reacted to Gerry and Theresa’s announcement, including Nick Viall, who fronted The Bachelor Season 21. “I was caught off guard and surprised by the abruptness,” The Viall Files podcast host told People. “I’m really curious what changed with Gerry and Theresa that made them so sure to sign up a marriage license, but now only to get a divorce.”

Adding that he feels “there’s more to the story that we’re not hearing,” Viall concluded, “Maybe Gerry’s not as golden as we hoped he would be.”

Maria Trice, one of the first to be eliminated on The Golden Bachelor, also shared her thoughts on the split with People. “Trying to force a shoe that doesn’t fit, you’re going to get corns on your toes,” she told the outlet, adding that she “dodged a bullet” not marrying Gerry.

Susan Noles and Kathy Swarts, who are co-hosting the upcoming Bachelor Happy Hour: Golden Hour podcast, were among the first to share reactions to the breakup. “We just watched it on TV,” Swarts said on Instagram. “It is sad, it is tragic. Please people be kind. These are our friends. The love didn’t work out, but they’re great people. Our hearts are breaking for them.”

Noles, who officiated the couple’s wedding ceremony on January 4, encouraged fans not to “give up on the idea of meeting somebody on a show” like The Golden Bachelor.

“There are so many people out there who are still in love. And I truly believe those two fell in love,” Noles said, noting that Gerry and Theresa will likely “have their reasons” for divorcing. “So be supportive everybody. Stay positive, and we wish them all the best.”

Joan Vassos, another Golden Bachelor Season 1 contestant, also reacted to the news, writing on her Instagram Stories, “My heart goes out to my good friends Gerry and Theresa.” She continued, “I know they care for each other deeply and they will always have a special relationship.” April Lynn Kirkwood also shared a link to the couple’s GMA interview on Instagram, but didn’t add additional comments.

Speaking to GMA host Juju Chang, Gerry and Theresa — who got engaged in the The Golden Bachelor’s November 2023 finale — talked about things that did and didn’t impact their decision to split after roughly three months of marriage.

Gerry explained that he and Theresa “had a number of heart-to-heart conversations” before deciding to announce the divorce. “We’ve looked closely at our situation, our living situation, so forth and — and we’ve kind of come to the conclusion mutually that it’s probably time for us to — dissolve our marriage,” he said.