The Golden Bachelor star Gerry Turner has revealed that he's dating someone new following his divorce from Theresa Nist.
|
ADVERTISEMENT
|
"I think at this point it's going well, but I don't want to say too much and jinx it. And I'm trying to respectfully get to a point where there's an acceptable amount of time from my divorce."
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)
After Gerry proposed marriage to Theresa on The Golden Bachelor finale that aired in late 2023, the pair quickly got married in January 2024 for a televised special on ABC.
Three months later, Gerry filed for divorce from Theresa, and then the pair's divorce was finalized in June 2024.
"Maybe that's an old fashioned thought. Maybe it doesn't matter as much as I think it does. But to be respectful [of Theresa and our divorce], I kind of want to slow roll this," Gerry explained.
"But I have told Theresa that I am dating someone, so it won't be shocking news to her."
Before Gerry told Theresa about his new girlfriend, he had apparently asked The Golden Bachelor alums Joan Vassos and Leslie Fhima for advice.
"I said, 'To be respectful and to do the right thing, when should I talk to Theresa about this and let her know?' And their advice was to talk to her soon," Gerry recalled.
"So on the car ride from the hotel to the airport, [the next day] after [The Bachelor: After the Final Rose], I called Theresa. We had a really nice conversation, and, you know, I let her know."
Gerry declined to identify his new girlfriend by name, but he did share that she also has daughters.
Gerry -- who welcomed two daughters with his late wife Toni-- already introduced his children to his new love interest.
FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS!
Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source!
"I think the fun part there is she has daughters that I really relate to, and she relates well to my daughters," Gerry said.
"So we've been around each other briefly, but it's been fun. It's been a very enjoyable encounter."
Gerry complimented the new woman in his life on being adventurous and well-traveled.
After Gerry was diagnosed with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, an incurable bone marrow cancer, last year, he apparently appreciates having a partner who is ready to live big and be spontaneous.
"I feel great... [and] the person I'm dating will say, 'Do you want to go do?' And before she even gets out the rest of the sentence, I will say, 'Yes.' So I am in on everything, and it makes life exciting," Gerry gushed.
"You kind of, in the back of your head, feel like you've got a lot of living to do and you don't know how long you have to do it. So don't turn down anything."
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS)
Gerry also boasted about how he felt a strong connection -- a true spark -- with his new girlfriend almost right away.
ADVERTISEMENT
"It was like, all of a sudden, I was consumed by this look, and I had this actual physical feeling. And I pushed it off. I go, 'No, that was silly, that's ridiculous.' And with every encounter, that feeling has instantly come back with her look. And it's like, 'Damn, this is pretty awesome.'"
When asked whether he got that feeling from any of the women on his The Golden Bachelor season, Gerry shared, "I think the closest to that was when [Faith Martin] played the guitar and sang to me on I think it was the first night. She got the First Impression Rose. That would be the closest to it."
Gerry admitted he's never really believed in love at first sight -- but now he feels like he's "experiencing that" for the first time.
Gerry teased that he'll reveal more details soon, including how he met this woman.
For Theresa's part, Gerry believes that his ex-wife may make a cameo on Bachelor in Paradise's upcoming tenth season.
Gerry said that he and Theresa are not on bad terms, but he took accountability for giving Theresa space and withdrawing from her -- not out of ill will -- after their split.
Theresa told People in December 2024 that she was receiving a lot of DMs from men on Instagram, mostly younger men.
Theresa revealed that she'd love to meet a man and settle down with a partner in the near future; however, she hadn't gone on any dates at that time.
"I have been asked, and I've said no," Theresa admitted.
"I don't know. I'm more clear on what I want, so I don't want to waste anyone's time. I definitely do want to be with someone. I do."
Theresa said she believes life "is so much better when you're with someone" and have a teammate.
"But I know that it's even hard for young people to find people. Imagine how much harder it gets... I'm 71. That number scares people," Theresa said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Theresa said she's "not sure" if she'd like to get married again but that she's definitely looking for a man who will have some pep in his step.
Theresa explained how she'd like to meet a man who has "passion" for something he loves to do.
"[I hope he has] something that makes you wake up and want to get out of bed in the morning," Theresa shared of what she's looking for in her next partner.
"It's intelligence. It's to be able to speak on the same level. And that's really unique when you start talking to someone, whether or not you, you're understanding each other at your core."
Theresa is still holding down a job in finance in her native New Jersey, while Gerry -- who was born in Iowa -- is a retired restaurateur who lives on a lake in Indiana.
Long distance and not wanting to move away from their loved ones was the main reason why Theresa and Gerry's marriage didn't work out, according to the couple.
Theresa -- who learned about Gerry's cancer diagnosis in March 2024, prior to their divorce -- insisted cancer had nothing to do with her divorce from Gerry.
"Part of it was the distance, but that wasn't the only part. That's really all I will say," Theresa teased to People.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)
Interested in more The Bachelor news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group!
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
