The Golden Bachelor star Gerry Turner shared more about his experience as the lead in an episode of The Kardashians, revealing to Kris and Kendall Jenner why he was excited about the fantasy suites, and his answer may be surprising. Gerry, the first-ever lead of the Bachelor Nation spin-off, took the world by storm when he was named The Golden Bachelor. Dating a group of women on national TV wasn’t something the widower planned for, but after falling for Theresa Nist, he understood how the process worked. Unfortunately, the pair got engaged, married, and divorced in a few short months.
"I'm very happy about the overnights–not for the reason you think."
In a recent episode of The Kardashians (via Fox News), Gerry met with the family for dinner while The Golden Bachelor was still airing on ABC. Kris was excited to discuss the show with Gerry and was surprised to learn what he revealed about his time in the fantasy suites. “I’m very happy about the overnights because – yeah, not for the reason you think,” Gerry joked. “If you spend five weeks getting to know women, yet everything you say and do is recorded, you’re dying to get to that overnight where you can ask the questions without an audience.”
Should Bachelor Contestants Get More Opportunities To Speak Off-Camera?
Bachelor Star & Contestants Need To Feel Comfortable Talking To Each Other
Gerry’s reasoning behind the fantasy suite dates being an important step was surprisingly sweet and clearly surprised Kris. Though people likely wouldn’t expect Gerry to be crude about his fantasy suite visits, the idea that he was ready to talk to his finalists in a more private setting is authentic and sweet. Gerry’s behavior is on par with the version of the man Bachelor Nation met during The Golden Bachelor, which has come into question in the months since the show, and Gerry’s marriage to Theresa, ended.
While Gerry and Theresa’s relationship clearly developed further after their fantasy suite date, it remains to be seen if Bachelor Nation couples should have more time to speak off-camera. Throughout the process of most Bachelor Nation shows, the time that the lead and the contestants have to speak one-on-one is already quite limited. The couples can talk during dates and cocktail parties but rarely get the chance to speak outside of the setups that are filmed for the show. There are a few moments, like during camera setups and rides between locations, where they can talk unsupervised.
While there is an allotted amount of time for the contestants and lead to speak before reaching the point of the fantasy suite dates, where they’re finally left alone without cameras, there should likely be some more private time earlier in the process. For a genuine connection to build between TheBachelor or Bachelorette with their contestants, having time off-camera to connect is crucial. The leads need to feel comfortable talking to the contestants about sometimes sensitive topics, or even just to get to know each other in a more neutral environment. Bachelor Nation stars should be given more privacy.
While Gerry and Theresa’s relationship didn’t work out, there could’ve been a different outcome for the pair if they’d been able to have some more time together off-camera before their engagement. Though it’s not certain the couple would’ve been successful, the ability to have more time together without the presence of a camera crew would’ve helpedthem to navigate some of their interactions with more precision and care. Throughout Bachelor Nation, but especially on The Golden Bachelor, the ability to have delicate conversations without others watching is a necessity that should be considered in the future.
