The Golden Bachelor Fans Are Divided Over “I Love You” Rule

With The Golden Bachelor reaching its conclusion on Nov. 30, fans are now reflecting on the first-ever season of the reality dating spinoff.

On Reddit, one fan observed how the Golden Bachelor himself, Gerry Turner, has uttered the phrase “I love you” to more than one contestant throughout the season.

The user also asked if a new rule that states a Bachelor can only say “the L-word” when he really means it should be introduced in future seasons.

The suggestion inspired a flurry of replies from fellow Golden Bachelor enthusiasts, many of whom believe that “I love you” shouldn’t be thrown around quite so easily.

Fans Are Divided

Many Redditors agreed that the proposed rule could be a good idea, with one fan commenting: “I would rather the head person say it to none of them until the final rose.”

“I am from the Midwest and I only say ‘I love you’ when I mean it,” another user wrote, while others claimed The Bachelor franchise “used to be more strict” about contestants saying “I love you” on the show.

Others disagreed, however, with one user saying: “If you haven’t watched The Bachelor before, it’s common for the lead to say they are in love with more than one person. This isn’t a big deal.”

Another commented, “I actually think there’s a huge difference between saying ‘I love you’ and ‘I’m in love with you.’”

It’s Not That Deep

Meanwhile, some Golden Bachelor fans haven’t put much credence in Gerry’s declarations of love throughout the season.

“I think that his ‘I love you's are said almost like ‘I adore you’ or even ‘hey I think you’re great,’” one viewer said on Reddit. “Maybe he’s just a lovey-dovey talking kind of guy ... I don’t think he means ‘You are the next love of my life and I’m all-in.’”

In addition to debating an “I love you” rule, fans have been busy sharing what changes they would like to see introduced in a yet-to-be-announced Golden Bachelor Season 2, including a complete format overhaul and more “mansion shenanigans.”