Gerry Turner's Surprising Decision: Faith Martin Edges Out Theresa Nist in the Eyes of Golden Bachelor’s Leslie Fhima
Golden Bachelor's Leslie Fhima shares her expectations on 'The Golden Bachelor' season 1, revealing her belief that Gerry Turner would choose either her or Faith Martin as his ultimate pick
Leslie Fhima, Gerry Turner, Faith Martin, Theresa Nist. ABC(4)
Gerry Turner’s Golden Bachelor runner-up, Leslie Fhima, had a change of heart when he proposed to Theresa Nist. During the December 5 episode of “Bachelor Happy Hour,” Leslie, 64, talked about the close connection she formed with other season 1 contestants, including Faith Martin, who was eliminated by Gerry, 72, after hometowns.
Leslie expressed her heartbreak for Faith during her breakup when she shared on the podcast, "I felt so bad for her. I remember that night we just sat separately, not talking, waiting. I wanted to comfort her so badly, but we couldn't really communicate."
Looking back before Faith's elimination, Leslie thought they would both make it to the finale over Theresa, 70. "I was really shocked," Leslie admitted. "I wish I could have comforted her and shed some tears with her." (Leslie had previously disclosed in part one of her "Bachelor Happy Hour" interview that Gerry had told her he said "I love you" to Faith, but she didn't know he also said it to Theresa.)
Leslie and Theresa were both competing for Gerry’s last rose in the season 1 finale, which was aired on November 30th, a Thursday. After their overnight dates, Gerry ultimately chose to break things off with Leslie after realizing that his feelings for Theresa were stronger.
In the midst of their emotional breakup, Leslie questioned whether everything that she and Gerry had discussed in the fantasy suite had been “a complete and utter lie,” but Gerry reassured her that, at that time, he had been completely honest.
"You made it seem as if you selected me. Your words made me believe that this was the real thing," she expressed. "You guided me along a path, only to suddenly veer off and abandon me. That's how I perceive it. It's truly bewildering, to be frank."
ABC/Craig Sjodin
Gerry apologized, and once he left the room, Leslie finally let her emotions out. "I'm tired of being vulnerable," she expressed. "I feel like time is running out."
The pair came face to face again during the live After the Final Rose special on Thursday, and Leslie accused Gerry of catching her off guard with his decision. "I just want to tell you, Gerry, that I fell in love with you for multiple reasons. I truly did. The thing I admired most about you was your integrity," she told him. "And because of your integrity, your words held so much weight with me. I didn't take them lightly. I took them to heart, ok?"
Leslie pointed out that everyone is aware of what Gerry said to her on the show, but what fans didn't witness were the private conversations they had. "I would never disclose that to anyone. It's our personal time," she stated. "But those words gave me complete certainty that I was the one for you. ... And your words meant so much to me, which is why I was caught off guard. I wasn't sure how things changed or what happened."
Gerry apologized once again, acknowledging that it became increasingly challenging to send people home as feelings developed throughout the season. "You were the person I believed was meant for me until I suddenly realized you weren't," he clarified.
Leslie shared what Gerry told her off camera after the finale, revealing on the Monday, December 4, episode of “Bachelor Happy Hour” that Gerry had made significant promises in the fantasy suite. "He made plans with me for the future. ... He did what he did. It’s his journey. Do I respect him? I just wish he would’ve handled it differently. I don’t respect what he did,” she said. “I mean, it started with Faith and then me a little more because I went to Costa Rica and did all that. So I feel like he just used ‘I love you’ too much. And do I respect him? That’s such a hard question, because I want to say I do. But it’s hard. He hurt me.”
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Gerry has proposed to Theresa, and they are now preparing to get married on TV in January 2024. During a joint interview on Good Morning America, Gerry revealed that he had moments where he felt like a villain during his Golden Bachelor journey. Theresa admitted that she had doubts about being The One in the end.
"We had wonderful women like Faith and Leslie. They are amazing. I didn't just think, 'I'm definitely running away with this,'" Theresa stated during the interview on December 1.
