Why I Thought Guy Gansert Would Be The Golden Bachelor on The Golden Bachelorette, But He Found Love Instead

Initially, I believed that The Golden Bachelorette star, Guy Gansert, was destined to be the lead in the upcoming season of The Golden Bachelor. At 66 years old, this retired ER doctor made headlines with his attempt at finding love on screen. Unfortunately, his journey in the previous season didn’t conclude as he had hoped. Guy was among the 24 charming older men competing for the affection of Joan Vassos, aged 62. Despite making it to the final two, Guy lost out to Chock Chapple, a 62-year-old insurance executive who ultimately received the final rose.

After his disappointing exit from The Golden Bachelorette, Guy’s name reportedly lingered on the list for potential leads for the next edition of The Golden Bachelor, especially following the exit of 72-year-old Gerry Turner. Being Joan’s runner-up naturally positioned him as a frontrunner for the role. His charm and appeal had many—including myself—believing he was a perfect candidate. His increased activity on social media seemed to suggest he was also vying for the lead role. However, it has now come to light that Guy is happily in a relationship, disqualifying him from consideration as The Golden Bachelor.

A Heartfelt Connection with Joan

Fostering Friendships

From the very first episode of The Golden Bachelorette, Guy stood out. He quickly garnered Joan’s attention and demonstrated his amiable personality. He cultivated friendships with his fellow contestants, showing particular compassion when his co-star, Kim Buike, sought volunteers to serenade Joan. While many contestants hesitated, Guy stepped up to join Kim in a heartfelt yet quirky performance. Additionally, he offered emotional support to 66-year-old Charles Ling, who was navigating the pain of losing his wife.

During a pivotal hometown visit episode, Joan took a trip to Reno, Nevada, to meet Guy’s friends and family, who expressed their strong admiration for him. As the season progressed, Guy earned one of Joan’s final three roses. After Pascal Igbui, aged 69, chose to eliminate himself during his overnight date, the competition narrowed down to an intense climax between Guy and Chock. Ultimately, Joan faced a challenging decision and opted for Chock, leaving Guy heartbroken yet again, despite being a strong candidate for the next Bachelor.

Unpacking Guy’s Family Controversy

Allegations of a Difficult Past

As The Golden Bachelorette season 1 drew to a close, reports emerged that cast a shadow over Guy’s journey. Just as audiences were rooting for him and Joan, news broke that his ex-wife, Heidi O’Gara, had filed a temporary protective order against him in October 2021. She alleged he exhibited anger issues and made threatening remarks. Although these accusations raised eyebrows, Heidi later retracted the order just a month later, and it was never formally endorsed by the court.

Guy and Heidi, who were married for 34 years and share four children, experienced significant turmoil during their divorce. Upon the circulation of the protective order details, Guy took to Instagram to clarify the situation, stating that he and Heidi were enduring a challenging phase in their relationship at the time. He described their ordeal as a family issue rather than a reflection of his character, suggesting a complex and evolving dynamic rather than simply a scandal.

Guy’s New Relationship

“I HAVE FOUND MY PERSON”

Despite initial beliefs that Guy would be stepping into the lead role of The Golden Bachelor season 2, recent developments suggest otherwise. A recent Instagram post from Guy has effectively closed the door on any Bachelor speculation. He shared a heartfelt photo with his new girlfriend, Johanna Boston, with a caption declaring, “I HAVE FOUND MY PERSON.”This revelation means that Guy is no longer a contender for the coveted role, thus further tightening the pool of potential new leads for the upcoming season.