Former Bachelor Nick Viall Questions the ‘Entire Narrative’ of ‘The Golden Bachelor’
Former Bachelor star Nick Viall said he has “mixed feelings” about The Golden Bachelor, given the conflicting reports about Gerry Turner, the lead of the Bachelor spinoff’s first season.
“It’s tough to watch an entire season of Gerry selling this entire narrative that all he’s been doing since the passing of his wife was cry, play pickleball, and occasionally [have] this weird one-on-one moment with some hand lotion,” Viall said in the latest episode of Page Six’s Virtual Reali-Tea podcast. “And in reality, we come to find out that the body was barely cold before he started dating. And it opens up a lot of questions about what was going on.”
On the eve of The Golden Bachelor’s dramatic season finale, The Hollywood Reporter covered allegations that Gerry had a lengthy romantic relationship that started within months of his wife’s death, despite the show presenting him as a man who hadn’t kissed a woman in six years. That other woman, whom THR codenamed Carolyn, also told the magazine that Gerry criticized her for gaining weight and dumped her soon after.
As a veteran of The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, and The Bachelor, Viall (pictured above) has an insider’s perspective on the franchise — a franchise that, he said, “sometimes tries to craft a narrative about their leads that even the leads are a little uncomfortable with because it almost feels like, ‘I’m not that squeaky clean,’ type of thing. Because no one really is, right, you know?”
He went on: “So I think sometimes that is the fault of the show, this kind of narrative. [Gerry] was allowed to date. He didn’t cheat on anyone, from what we know.”
Still, Viall contended, Gerry’s Golden Bachelor journey made for a “fantastic season” of television.
“This season was very inspiring,” he said. “And I don’t think Bachelor Nation or the audience really wanted to hear Gerry talk about his dating life post-the death of his wife. We wanted him to celebrate his wife, we wanted him to talk about that love. And so it just made better television.”
Conversation23 Comments
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Well, being a widow of a wonderful man, I am grateful to finally get to comment. From my own experience, pretty soon after 'Sam' died I was looking. Now, I realize I was looking for another Sam to stop the pain. Grief is a horrible thing and each one deals with it in their own way. When a person is older and has experienced great love; for me the loss was almost unbearable.
Nick has his own opinion, but hopefully understands Gerry and Theresa come from an entirely different generation. As I watched Gerry struggle with his emotions with each woman, my heart broke. During his time on The Golden Bachelor he was not only looking for love but discovering all the different emotions of going through an exciting and painful experience while he tried to understand himself also. As he said, his heart 'wasn't ready'. In my opinion The Golden Bachelor gave him the opportunity to finally find the answers he needed and he was able to find another true love.
One of the things that attracted Gerry to Theresa was her ability to maintain and nurture a healthy relationship. It was not her beauty (she is beautiful), nor her money (Gerry has his own money) but the maturity and experience learned from a lifetime of loving a husband 'till death'. She and Gerry both married young, went through adversity, had a family, and worked together as a team living a full and happy life. All you have to do is look at their children and grandchildren to realize that. They deserve their happiness.
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Really? I’m absolutely amazed that you, and others like you, can read about this (all the confirmed stories in the Hollywood Reporter for instance) and still come to the conclusion you did. Did the fact he’s “so dreamy” affect your reasoning ability? He’s a fraud. Lived with a woman; was cheap; and an ego maniac, but he cashed in on this drivel and you and millions of others gobbled it up. Ridiculous.
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Totally Agree w You
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I really would like to see responses ONLY from Gerry and Theresa's peers, older seniors, especially those who have experienced a loss. Gerry actually is not my type and don't consider him 'dreamy' but believe I do have compassion and understanding of his struggles. Surprised how so many people are so cynical and quick to think the worse. The woman, "Carolyn" was 14 years younger, moved to be closer to him, and tried to get her name on his home. Seems no one remembers this! Seems she had an agenda. Don't believe Gerry is 'cheap' because all seniors know you have to budget your money, you no long have a job, and most of the time your income is 'fixed'. Gerry and Theresa are equals in every way and with lots of energy and love to share. Good for them.
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After listening to many, many remarks about Gerry, I have come to some conclusions. "Carolyn", who was 14 years younger than Gerry asked to have her name put on his property. To me, she was just a gold digger Gerry and Theresa came from a different generation. Their moral compass is different. I do not believe Gerry had an issue with 'Carolyn's" weight. His wife was a little on the 'heavy' side. If, indeed, he did say that, the relationship had been over for a while. He wanted her to move out and probably didn't know how to make that happen.
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She actually had to be talked into moving to his home because he couldn’t afford the mortgage on his own! So who’s the goldigger??
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Well, seems he lived years on his own after she left. Of course, he also had children nearby and continued to be active in activities. If, indeed, 'Carolyn' had to be 'talked into' moving, then she shouldn't have. She is a mature woman and why was she involved with a man 14 years her senior????? Of course, they do that all the time in 'Hollywood' and the woman usually has an agenda of her own. She should have had some kind of commitment before she took that important step. I've just seen this way to often. She would have been in her 50's, single, and should have been preparing for her 'senior years'. I think she thought she was.
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I agree come on reality TV we don’t really know every single detail of everybody’s life. There are producers and editors. Everybody knows that he didn’t lie. I just don’t wanna hear about the two or three ladies he dated and failed. Who cares I like the idea that he was moving forward in lifeif you don’t like the show don’t watch it, but every single one of these reality shows people have a lot of other back stories producers and editors. Do just that they EDIT the content to keep it, streamlined and focused on the topic, which is just finding love after death or divorce in older age it was a charming show
Just because he’s on a reality show doesn’t mean he owes every single detail do the Kardashians tell every detail do you watch their show does a real housewives of Beverly Hills tell every detail do you know all of their backstory I doubt it, but you watch the reality show don’t you because it’s good TV Just get over it move who cares who we dated in between
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Ditto!!
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If Gerry did have a relationship with Carolyn he should have been honest. I think that was deceitful on his behalf. He didn't have to give details or dates about his involvement just honesty.
I still enjoyed the show and would watch another episode. Blessings!
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“Carolyn lived with him and he charged her money to live there. He didn’t invite her to a reunion because she had gained weight. That’s why he chose Teresa who he will have an easier time Manipulating.
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Happily i avoided this train wreck and didn’t waste my time because i know that reality tv is anything but, and it is a magnet for narcissists—you have to be one to be on a show like this. They’ll be separated within two years, but no one will say anything out of embarrassment.
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Teresa has blinders on & is lonely = extremely easy to manipulate.
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I would not want to be in a relationship if I couldn't make a meaningful contribution, financially and energy. I would feel like a 'kept woman' if I had to depend on a man to support me. Of course, I am from another generation than many who have commented. I would also not 'live' with a man, giving up a good job. Just doesn't make sense to me. If anything, in my opinion, 'Carolyn' wasn't very smart. As Theresa said she would NOT want Gerry unless it was 1000 percent which showed me she has tremendous self esteem and demanded the respect she deserves. She is not the kind that would 'move in' with a man; her moral compass would not allow her to do that. Gerry, indeed, got the prize!
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Who knows what the producers 'edited'.??????
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I think that evil woman Theresa, who showed up for the show naked and tried to manipulate and canive, deserves to be disappointed
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Naked? What show were you watching? I would have remembered that!
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Shame on you! Theresa was always tasteful and conservative. AND, she has a great sense of humor and looks fantastic!!!!
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When you are 72, how much $ is in your IRA, and/or stock portfolio, and how much debt you have is important. I think Gerry could have allowed his CPA to pick his next wife.
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I am sure there were women on the show more financially secure than Theresa. Her career was not even mentioned until the fantasy suites! Come On!!
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He's not a "golden bachelor" that I'd be interested in. Is he really supposed to be 71? If so, it's a very fake-looking 71.
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Fake from head to toe, thought so from the beginning. Run Teresa Run
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I still can't believe so many people are so cynical.
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