The Real Reason Joan Vassos Quit 'The Golden Bachelor'
Joan Vassos shocked viewers last year when she self-eliminated from The Golden Bachelor premiere season and walked away from her chance at finding late-in-life love with Gerry Turner. Fast-forward a year and she's starring in the first female-led senior series, The Golden Bachelorette, which premiered Sept. 18 on ABC.
Read on for more details on why Joan quit The Golden Bachelor.
The following article was originally published Oct. 12, 2023, the day Joan Vassos quit The Golden Bachelor.
On tonight's episode, Joan Vassos walked away from her chance at finding love with sexy senior Bachelor Gerry Turner.
Joan and Gerry spent a romantic one-on-one date in which she shared that she had made a huge sacrifice by joining the show
Retired restaurant owner Gerry, 72, had given Joan a rose during their one-on-one date following the group date talent show.
What happened to Joan on Golden Bachelor?
The next day, Joan, who had explained to Gerry how hard it was to leave her family because her daughter had just had a baby in a difficult C-section birth just 15 days before she left for the show, got a disturbing call from her daughter.
Joan decided she needed to leave the show to support her daughter.
"My family will always be first," she told the cameras. "Once you become a mom, you're always a mom, even when your kids are older. Nothing is more important."
She tearfully told the other women that she had decided to leave and go home and be a mom.
My family needs me," she told them. "I selfishly came here to do this. My heart is breaking that I'm leaving. And I wish I could be here for this whole journey."
"I hope that one of you finds love with Gerry because I got to tell you, I really honestly, I know everybody keeps saying this. He's a really amazing guy."
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ABC
Why did Joan quit The Golden Bachelor?
Next, she had to break the news Gerry, who had told cameras on his ride to meet the women that he woke up "feeling like a million bucks" after his date with Joan.
Joan met Gerry outside as he arrived at Bachelor mansion.
"As you know, it was really hard for me to come here," she said. "And since I've been here the things that were kind of playing at home haven't gotten any better. I got a text this morning, and I think that I need to go home and be a mom."
Gerry said he understood.
"I can't tell you how disappointed I am," he said. "But there's a moral compass that we both share. And sometimes the right thing to do is the hardest."
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As they tearfully embraced, Joan added, "I feel like I'm doing the right thing for my family but I'm doing the hugely wrong thing for us."
They both said they’d miss each other, and Gerry sat on a bench and cried as Joan left in the van.
Later in the evening, Gerry eliminated Christina, 73, and Edith, 60.
The Golden Bachelor airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
