In a recent episode of Page Six’s Virtual Reali-Tea podcast, former Bachelor star Nick Viall shared his conflicting feelings towards The Golden Bachelor. The spinoff’s first season has been surrounded by controversy, particularly concerning the lead, Gerry Turner. Viall expressed his disappointment in watching Gerry portray himself as a grieving and emotionally vulnerable man, when in reality, he had wasted no time in pursuing new relationships shortly after his wife’s passing. This revelation has raised numerous questions about Gerry’s true intentions.
As The Golden Bachelor approaches its dramatic season finale, The Hollywood Reporter released an article shedding light on allegations against Gerry. The report reveals that he was involved in a long-term romantic relationship just a few months after his wife’s death, contradicting the show’s portrayal of him as someone who had not even kissed a woman in six years. The article also introduced an anonymous woman, referred to as Carolyn, who experienced Gerry’s judgmental behavior towards her weight gain and was abruptly dumped by him.
These revelations have left Nick Viall feeling conflicted about The Golden Bachelor and have sparked discussions about the authenticity of the show and its participants. The conflicting reports surrounding Gerry’s personal life have raised doubts about the integrity of the series.
Having appeared on multiple reality TV shows within the Bachelor franchise, including The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, and The Bachelor, Viall is well-acquainted with the inner workings of the franchise. According to him, the producers sometimes try to construct a specific narrative about the show’s leads that may not necessarily align with their true selves. He believes that this desire to portray leads as flawless can be uncomfortable for the leads themselves because no one is truly squeaky clean in reality. He further adds that Gerry, the Golden Bachelor, was not involved in any cheating scandals during his journey, as far as anyone knows. Despite this, Viall believes that Gerry’s season made for exceptional television because it focused on celebrating his late wife rather than delving into his dating life after her passing.
