Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist, also known as the Golden Bachelor couple, recently opened up about their relationship in a podcast interview just weeks before announcing their separation after three months of marriage. Gerry revealed on the Good Morning America show that they had mutually decided to dissolve their marriage for the happiness of each of them. He filed for divorce in his Indiana hometown, citing an irretrievable breakdown as the reason for the split. Per their prenup, they will give back the wedding rings they exchanged during their live TV nuptials, but they cherish the memories they created together.
During the podcast interview, Gerry shared his good first impression of Theresa when she made her Golden Bachelor debut in her “birthday suit.” Theresa admitted she initially wasn’t confident in her limo entrance but felt an intense attraction to Gerry upon meeting him. Their immediate attraction led Gerry to break his kids’ rule of not kissing anyone on the first night of the show. Gerry and Theresa acknowledged that their similar personalities could sometimes lead to issues when resolving tension, as they are both self-disciplined, organized, outgoing, and efficient. They viewed their conflicts as opportunities to find a compromise and learn from each other.
Theresa revealed that the biggest hurdle they faced in their relationship was her continued work, as she never expected to stay on The Golden Bachelor for an extended period. Her New Jersey finance job made it difficult for her and Gerry to live together, with their relationship existing as a long-distance one until they could decide on a place to live. Gerry expressed his desire for fun, adventure, and the freedom to enjoy life while acknowledging that their living arrangement was secondary to this. They both emphasized the importance of addressing relationship conflicts directly with each other rather than involving others.
In discussing how they fought, Theresa described their arguments as involving yelling, apologizing, and ultimately being better for it. Gerry noted their fighting style as intellectual jousting and shared his internal conflict as a retired mediator trying to remain detached during conflicts with his emotional nature. They both emphasized the importance of finding a compromise area rather than focusing on being right or proving their point. Theresa advised other couples to keep relationship conflicts between themselves and to communicate openly with each other rather than with others.
Reflecting on their Golden Bachelor experience, Theresa expressed surprise at the speed at which their connection developed and the success of the process. Gerry acknowledged that the idea of falling into a relationship at an older age being easier was not the case and that building a relationship required effort and understanding their partner’s love language. They both admitted that starting their marriage before truly getting to know each other was a unique challenge that required active effort to understand and please each other. Despite their divorce, Gerry and Theresa valued the experience and lessons learned from their time together as a couple.
