Gerry Turner: Reflections on Backlash Following Leslie Fhima Breakup
Gerry Turner, the Golden Bachelor, opens up about the intense backlash he faced after his split with Leslie Fhima on the show Accused of lying, Gerry reflects on feeling like a villain at times Discover his emotional journey on 'The Golden Bachelor' finale
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Gerry Turner can own up to the fact that he hurt Leslie Fhima on his way to finding love with Theresa Nist.
During a joint interview with Theresa, 70, on Good Morning America on Friday, December 1, the Golden Bachelor star, 72, admitted, "I felt like a villain at times." When host Juju Chang pointed out that Gerry is "required to be a heartbreaker," he agreed and added, "Yes, it is an artificial environment. I didn't realize how impactful it would be."
When questioned by the journalist, Gerry responded to the allegations of giving false hope to 64-year-old Leslie by stating, "At that moment, that's sort of how I felt. I have no further comment on that."
During the season's closing moments, Gerry professed to Leslie that she was "The One" — a statement she later confronted him about during their reunion on After the Final Rose on Thursday, November 30.
Leslie Fhima expresses her feelings for Gerry Turner and the reasons why she fell in love with him. She notes his sparkling eyes, the way his nose prickled when he spoke to her, and how they made each other laugh. She appreciates that he understood her sense of humor and valued his integrity, emphasizing that his words were meaningful to her.
Leslie stated that while everyone is aware of what Gerry said on camera, he also provided her with additional reassurance in private. "But only you and I know it was said during the overnight. And I would never share that with anyone. It’s our private time. But those words gave me 100 percent certainty that I was your girl," she said. "And your words just meant so much to me, and that’s why I was blindsided. Because I wasn’t sure how it changed or what happened."
Gerry apologized to Leslie, who expressed uncertainty about accepting it. Then, when Theresa was brought on stage, Gerry admitted that he planned to propose to her after their overnight date, which happened after his private time with Leslie. Theresa, on the other hand, revealed that while she had strong feelings for Gerry, she wasn't confident he would choose her.
“We had beautiful, wonderful women there. Faith, Leslie — they’re amazing. I didn’t say, ‘OK, I’m running away with this,'” she said.
The remark made Gerry emotional.
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"Gerry was moved to tears by the display of her unselfishness and innocence," he said. "It had a strong impact on me, and I also couldn't help but think back on how difficult those moments were. It's a combination of those two things."
Gerry and Theresa, who are relocating to Charleston, will be capturing their wedding on The Golden Wedding, airing live on ABC Thursday, January 4, 2024, at 8 p.m. ET.
