While his time on The Golden Bachelor pushed viewers’ perception of Gerry to assume he was the sweet guy Bachelor producers wanted him to be, Gerry’s connections on the show did feel authentic. Though the cast of The Golden Bachelor season 1 was quick to find themselves interested in Gerry, Bachelor Nation was more interested in the women as they moved through the competition. While he quickly developed a connection with Theresa, Gerry was fostering relationships with each of the women, including Leslie Fhima and Faith Martin. Even with attempts to revive his reputation, Gerry’s deception has been overly publicized.
Gerry’s Wholesome Personality Was Revealed To Be A Bachelor Nation Rouse
Bachelor Producers Sold Gerry As Someone Else
When Gerry went on his initial press tour for The Golden Bachelor, his talking points included his late wife’s passing, his kids and grandkids, as well as the fact that he hadn’t dated since his wife died. While Bachelor Nation likely would’ve liked Gerry regardless, the fact that he hadn’t dated since his wife’s death and was choosing to do so on the show was a point for Gerry, who were happy to see him dedicated to the process. It was revealed later in the season that Gerry’s story about not having dated was a lie, skewing Bachelor Nation’s perception.
Their Relationship Lasted Less Than Six Months Total
On the heels of finding out that Gerry had been lying about not having a relationship prior to The Golden Bachelor because of one of his ex-girlfriends speaking out about their difficult relationship, Gerry and Theresa’s engagement aired on The Golden Bachelor finale. The couple joined Bachelor Nation host Jesse Palmer during the live finale aftershow to share some big news, revealing that they’d be getting married in just a matter of weeks. With a live TV wedding scheduled for just four weeks post-finale, Gerry and Theresa worked hard to make press appearances and share more about their new relationship.
His Attempts To Stay Relevant Haven’t Worked Well
Gerry’s Tragic Cancer Diagnosis Put Everything Into Perspective
The Announcement Explained More About His Decision To Divorce
In late 2024, Gerry revealed that earlier in the year, he’d been diagnosed with a slow-growing but incurable cancer that had pushed him to reevaluate his life after The Golden Bachelor. Explaining that he’d been trying to live his life to the fullest since the surprising diagnosis, which came after a routine doctor’s appointment, he made it clear that he understood Bachelor Nation’s confusion when he’d been withholding so much information. Gerry shared that his diagnosis had been a major player in his decision to pursue a divorce, as he’d wanted to prioritize his daughters and granddaughters with his time.
It Left A Stain On The Series
While Gerry appeared to take a break from social media and is potentially rehabilitating his reputation in the meantime, Bachelor Nation took their time forgiving him for the difficulty he caused the franchise. As the first Golden Bachelor, Gerry should’ve been an incredible look at how a mature lead could manage his emotions and move into a healthy relationship in the series. Instead, Gerry’s difficulties followed him through the season, revealing some dark truths about production by the time the finale aired. Trying to iron things out, Gerry and Theresa’s quickie wedding distracted viewers but didn’t change the truth.
