Star of The Golden Bachelorette, Mark Anderson, has turned heads since his first appearance on The Bachelor season 28, when he was introduced as the father of contender Kelsey Anderson. Fans swooned upon meeting him, as Mark was dubbed the “hot dad” of the season. Likable and seemingly genuine, Mark created enough buzz to be invited back as a contender on The Golden Bachelorette. In this competition, he has established himself as a charismatic addition to the season’s lineup.
Fans were ecstatic to see Mark back on the show. With a devastating past, in which he lost his wife to cancer, Mark tugged at heartstrings. Unfortunately, it seems as though he will not be finding love on the show’s debut. The Golden Bachelorette season 1's star, Joan Vassos, appears to have similar personality traits. However, the two have struggled to find a romantic connection.
Mark has been open and vulnerable throughout his stint on the show. The loss of his wife was devastating, but he retained the hope of finding someone special. Mark would undoubtedly make an incredible partner, and viewers want to see him succeed in his endeavors. With the audience eager to see Mark in love, it’s growing increasingly obvious that he will probably be invited back for The Golden Bachelor. However, this may do more harm than good for a soft-hearted widower.
Mark Anderson Will Endure So Much Criticism
The Golden Bachelorette's Mark Will Be Scrutinized
Reality TV, and the stardom that follows, can be brutal. More often than not, the people who have been featured on television endure relentless and harsh criticism. When someone is given a platform, they can expect negativity, but not everyone can handle the downside of stardom. Mark, a seemingly kind and gentle soul, may not be capable of ignoring the inevitable backlash of fame.
Audiences will be waiting for Mark to slip up. Whether he makes an odd comment or does something offensive that the general public may not agree with, people who embrace “cancel culture” might tear Mark apart. Mark demonstrated his gentle nature on The Golden Bachelorette, as he opened up to Joan about his insecurities and past. Some may use what he has shared publicly to get under his skin.
This would not be the first time that a Bachelor star shifted from a fan favorite to a villain. Star of The Golden Bachelor season 1, Gerry Turner, was admonished for his misrepresentation of his romantic past. While the star claimed that he had been single since losing his late wife, it was later revealed that he'd actually dated after her death. Now, Gerry is widely regarded as a liar and womanizer. His reputation may never recover. If Mark is brought back for the second season, he might eventually be misrepresented and chastised online.
Mark Anderson Might Not Connect With Anyone
The Golden Bachelorette's Mark May Not Find Love After All
Mark has been eager to find love again. Fans have flocked to The Golden Bachelorette in the hopes of witnessing his love story. As casting for season 2 commences, Mark stands out as a worthy leading man. However, it's possible that the season could pose more disappointment for the widower.
Finding a lifelong partner is difficult for the average person, not to mention the added pressure of hopeful contestants, guilt from eliminations, and the intrusion of a camera crew.
Mark would risk getting his hopes up, only to find that none of the contestants is worthy of marrying. This union is a major commitment. It requires daily effort and a willingness to compromise. Finding a lifelong partner is difficult enough for the average person, not to mention the added pressure of the very high hopes of cast members, guilt after eliminations, and the intrusion of a camera crew. With Mark’s every move scrutinized, he will undoubtedly find his focus shifting from love to retaining popularity.
The show also offers a small dating pool. The likelihood of finding a life partner among approximately 22 contestants is small. With billions of potential partners worldwide, Mark may be limiting his options. His debut on The Bachelor garnered worldwide attention and his acceptance of vulnerability was very endearing. He would have better luck finding love off-screen.
Mark Anderson Might Get His Heart Broken
The Golden Bachelorette's Mark Could Be Traumatized
Mark is still reeling from losing his wife after her lengthy battle with cancer. On The Golden Bachelorette, he broke down in tears remembering his loss and the accompanying grief. The gentleman seems earnest in his pursuit of love, making the potential for heartbreak even more gut-wrenching. While the show offers an opportunity for monetary gain and notoriety, it may not be worth putting his heart on the line.
With Mark willing to wear his heart on his sleeve, and with reality TV attracting clout chasers, he could be setting himself up for major trauma and embarrassment.
He has been an exemplary contestant. Putting in an effort, answering Joan’s questions earnestly, and attempting to establish a true connection, Mark has proved that he is more than willing to go the distance for a potential partner. With Mark willing to wear his heart on his sleeve, and with reality TV stars like Gerry behaving badly due to not really being on TV to find love, he could be opening himself up to major trauma and embarrassment.
Most engagements following the franchise’s shows are called off. The relationships that last until marriage often end in divorce. According to PinkVilla, only around 19% of the couples featured in the franchise are still together. Gerry Turner and season 1 winner, Theresa Nist, are great examples of this, with the couple divorcing just months after their marriage. It would be sad to see Mark devastated by a romantic failure.
Mark Anderson's Televised Love Life Might Affect His Family
The Golden Bachelorette's Mark's Kids Could Be Involved In His Drama
Mark’s career in the reality niche stemmed from his close bond with his children. Brought on The Bachelor by his daughter, Kelsey, Mark has proven his devotion to his family and paternal instincts. As he grilled Kelsey’s potential suitor, and ultimately her husband, fans commiserated with the protective father. Mark then welcomed the man to his family after establishing that Joey had the best intentions. As The Golden Bachelor, Mark:
- has a lot to lose
- things could go very badly for him
- Online shade and criticism might be more than he can handle
This debut not only indicated Mark's loyalty to his family but established that he was willing to open his heart and home to new people. It was hard not to fall in love. It will be even harder for Mark to maintain his "dream man" image in the future. When Mark is inevitably criticized and torn apart online, this newfound publicity may affect his strong relationships with his family.
Gerry Turner and his family faced backlash over his divorce from Theresa. The public outrage trickled down to his family as his daughter, Angie Warner, addressed the aftermath. Angie took to Instagram to share that, while the family doesn’t mind fans invested in their love life, “What has been disheartening is the level of rage and cruelty that our family has been met with.” It’s not fair to associate the contestants’ family with their drama. For Kelsey, who has already been heavily criticized for her reality TV stint, it may be a breaking point.
Mark Anderson established himself as a rare and genuine personality on the first season of The Golden Bachelorette. While fans are vying to see him find the one, a leading role in the next season of The Golden Bachelor could be detrimental to his personal and love life. Finding a partner can be difficult in the best scenarios, and the additional pressure of public scrutiny, televised rejections, and limited options may traumatize the eligible bachelor. He may want to think twice about pursuing this avenue for something as unpredictable as love.
The Golden Bachelorette airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.
