Golden Bachelor fans slam ‘creep’ Gerry Turner as he warns ex-wife Theresa Nist about upcoming memoir

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Gerry Turner, star of *The Golden Bachelor*, has upset many people online after making critical comments about his ex-wife, Theresa Nist, in a recent interview.

Last year, the star of The Golden Bachelor – a version of The Bachelor for seniors – married Nist after proposing to her on the show. He had been widowed before finding love on the series.

However, the marriage didn’t last long, ending after only three months with a final separation.

Actor Ben Turner, who is engaged to retired teacher Lana Sutton, recently told Us Weekly about his upcoming memoir, ‘The Golden Years.’ He also revealed he now thinks a former co-star, Nist, wasn’t genuine during their time on the show.

Turner brought up past arguments, including a disagreement about her wanting to keep her job even after she’d said she’d give it up for someone she really cared about.

When asked if he was concerned about his ex-wife reading his memoir, he flipped the script, saying he wasn’t worried at all – but that *she* should be.

Redditors had a field day dissecting the interview, with one branding him a ‘creep.’

One online commenter described him as unpleasant, saying everyone suspected he was only with Theresa for her money, and that he’s therefore not in a position to criticize anyone. They added that he’d probably make a better impression if he simply stayed quiet.

‘Oh please…’ another wrote.

It’s a familiar story: a woman is painted as the bad guy simply because she prioritizes her own life and doesn’t conform to what a man wants. It’s definitely possible to have a career and travel extensively! But it seems Gerry was looking for a traditional housewife, and I’m happy Theresa escaped that situation.

Although someone was hesitant to criticize Turner further because of his cancer diagnosis, they still disagreed with his statements.

‘Are you worried at all about her reading the book? I’m not worried; I think she should be worried.

I don’t want to be disrespectful to someone battling cancer, but that comment was really unkind and showed poor character. It was obvious to anyone watching the show that Theresa genuinely cared for him. It’s frustrating that a woman is criticized for wanting to continue a fulfilling and enjoyable career… Please be considerate, Gerry.

Someone noted the irony of Turner criticizing Nist for wanting attention while seemingly doing the same thing himself.

It’s ironic that Theresa is being criticized by someone who’s famous – featured on the cover of Us Weekly and writing a book about their life.

Turner mentioned in an interview with Us Weekly that he originally thought she was joining the show with good intentions.

While the show was happening, I didn’t realize what was actually going on. Looking back, as I started to hear things and connect the dots, it all began to click and I understood those earlier comments.

He used to think differently, explaining, ‘It became clear that a woman’s true intentions on the show were being tested. I initially believed Theresa was genuine, but later I realized I was wrong.’

Okay, so apparently Nist *told* Turner she’d leave her job for the right person, and honestly, I’m dying over that! But then… she *didn’t* quit after he proposed?! I just… I can’t even process it. It’s like, she said one thing, and then another! It’s so confusing, but I’m completely obsessed with figuring out what happened!

During the show, I asked Theresa if she was thinking of leaving her job. She replied that she’d consider it once she found a partner. What I understood from that was she’s looking for someone who’s open to traveling and having new experiences – someone who shares her idea of fun.

After every performance, she’d immediately say she wanted to continue working, which made finding a resolution really difficult.

Honestly, it just *kills* me that she went and painted me as the bad guy after we announced our split on Good Morning America! Apparently, we had been given advice on how to handle things, a way to keep it civil, but she just ignored it and went straight for a public statement. It’s like she *wanted* everyone to think I was the one to blame, and it’s so frustrating because it’s just not true! I can’t believe she did that.

We were explicitly told not to say anything publicly after the GMA interview. But just two days later, she posted a statement on social media. I immediately thought, “This isn’t what we discussed, and it wasn’t part of the plan.”

Turner also revealed in his book that he felt emotionally empty when he proposed to Nist and felt trapped before they got married.

Turner admitted he was going through a tough time emotionally on the day he proposed, as he had ended things with Leslie Fhima the night before and wasn’t feeling his best.

Turner explained that after the initial proposal, when he proposed to someone else about 12 to 14 hours later, he didn’t feel the same happiness. He felt like he was just going through the motions, doing what he thought he *should* do, rather than genuinely wanting to be there and enjoying the moment.

If I’d had just a day or two to understand what happened, I think I would have reacted much better.

He also confided in Faith Martin, who finished third on the show, that he felt stuck before his wedding.

When we asked him why he went through with the wedding, he explained that commitment is important to him and he believed it was the right decision, even though he wasn’t particularly happy about it. He added that his feelings at the time were just a snapshot of the moment, and that everyone has doubts before getting married – his weren’t any more unusual than anyone else’s.

Knowing that Turner was hesitant about getting married, Nist now wishes her ex-husband had ended the relationship before they tied the knot.

She expressed deep sadness about his feelings of emptiness and being trapped, admitting she wished he had simply asked for help. However, she added that she now understands the reasons behind his past hurtful behavior. She also pointed out that people shouldn’t criticize others for faults they share themselves, and concluded by saying she hopes he finds happiness in the future.

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2025-10-14 01:12