The Bachelor franchise often promises fairytale endings, but sometimes those endings turn out to be more like nightmares. Such is the case with the marriage of Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist, stars of ABC’s The Golden Bachelor.
Gerry Turner, a retired restaurateur with many hobbies, found love on the show, which promised to help its participants find a companion for their golden years. Theresa Nist was among the 22 women vying for his attention and affection.
After getting engaged on the show’s finale in November 2023, the couple tied the knot in a live, televised ceremony on January 4, 2024.
However, just three months later, on April 12, 2024, the couple announced their decision to divorce. The news shocked fans of the show and sent waves through the reality TV community.
Sandra Mason Stands Up For Gerry & Theresa Amid Criticism
So, what went wrong in this seemingly perfect match? It appears that the couple faced significant challenges in their relationship, including disputes over where to live and how to spend their time together. These issues ultimately led to their mutual decision to part ways.
The divorce news left Bachelor Nation fans disappointed and angry. As everyone from Neil Lane to Susan Noles weighed in, Golden Bachelor contestant Sandra Mason had something to say.
She took to Instagram to share her thoughts on the divorce. “Gerry and Theresa are my friends,” she said at the beginning of the video response. “They’re in pain,” she added.
Sandra acknowledged that people were searching for answers behind the shocking divorce news. However, she implored fans to be kind of the former couple as they navigate a very public breakup.
“I think they’ve shared with us what they want to share,” she said. Sandra also denied rumors that the split was a ploy for the network to get more ratings.
Fans Lash Out Over Golden Bachelor Marriage Mockery
Theresa Nist replied to Sandra video with the comment, “Thank you, Sandra. I am so lucky to call you my friend. You are such a wonderful human being.”
However, Bachelor Nation fans reacted very differently. They took to Reddit to speak out against Gerry and Theresa’s “sham” marriage and Sandra’s plea for kindness.
“Oh dear lord, Sandra, nice try but they and the network just made a complete mockery of marriage. First they portrayed Gerry as this grieving widower who hadn’t had anyone since his wife died,” one Redditor responded to the video. They added, “The two of them are ridiculous, I don’t care if they’re your friends or not.”
Another Bachelor Nation fan scoffed at the former couple’s expectation of privacy. Gerry and Theresa “promoted the heck out of their lives for 6 months,” the fan said.
They continued ranting, “Now, please, leave us alone in our ‘private lives’ while we promote our TicTocs and Grams and hashtag ABC and Golden Bachelor.”
Do you think Gerry and Theresa or ABC made a mockery of marriage with the divorce just months after a TV wedding? Share your reaction in the comments.
