Golden Bachelorette Fans React To Gerry Turner’s Surprise Return

A year after fronting the inaugural season of The Golden Bachelor, Gerry Turner made a surprise return to the franchise — and not everyone was happy about it.

Turner went back to Bachelor Mansion to reunite with Golden Bachelorette lead, Joan Vassos, who appeared as a contestant on his season in 2023 before she left the show in Week 3 due to a family emergency. During the Oct. 2 episode of The Golden Bachelorette, Turner interrupted the rose ceremony for an emotional sit-down with Vassos. As the two had their talk, Turner advised her to “take a breath and be herself,” and asked if she’d considered that “[her] guy” might not be on the show.

“I have a couple of strong connections, but there is that possibility because merging lives is hard,” Vassos admitted, likely referring to Turner’s short-lived marriage to his Golden Bachelor winner, Theresa Nist.

Turner and Nist got engaged in The Golden Bachelor’s November 2023 finale and wed in a televised wedding ceremony on Jan. 4. However, the couple announced their divorce in April, citing living in different states as a major factor in their decision to split.

While Turner’s return made for some gripping viewing, fans were divided over his surprise visit.

“Gerry is the last person Joan should be getting relationship advice from,” one Golden Bachelorette fan joked on X (formerly Twitter) — and others agreed. “Gerry giving advice to Joan after how his season ended up?!” another viewer commented. “Gerry, why are you here?” asked one fan.

However, others appreciated Turner’s brief Golden Bachelorette cameo. “Gerry! Great to see him,” another viewer chimed in, while another praised him for being “so good with his words.”

Joan Was “Very Happy” With Gerry

Despite division in the fan base, Vassos was glad Turner stopped by Bachelor Mansion. “Gerry came and we had some really good, insightful conversations,” she told Us Weekly. “So I was very happy that he came.”

Meanwhile, Golden Bachelorette host Jesse Palmer revealed that both he and Vassos were taken aback by Turner’s return, telling Decider that it “was a surprise.”

“I didn’t know he was coming. I know Joan didn’t know he was coming,” Palmer said. “For me personally, it was very heartwarming and touching to have Gerry show up, and to see him. It was something that I had no idea was going to happen.”