Fans of The Golden Bachelor have expressed doubts about Gerry Turner's integrity after the live season finale.
Turner, 72, dropped to one knee and proposed to 70-year-old Theresa Nist during Thursday night's series finale on ABC.
While the happy couple is excited to start their lives together, so have some skeptics Reddit to ask Turner's true character – reflecting on the possible reactions of the women not chosen by the retired restaurateur.
“Is anyone else wondering about the reactions of the 'unelected' ladies to the revelations about Gerry's devious and cheap dating life after his wife died?” a fan wrote in The Golden Bachelor subredditthe day before the finale aired.
Fans of The Golden Bachelor have expressed doubts about Gerry Turner's integrity after Thursday's live season finale
The 72-year-old retired widow from Indiana and Theresa Nist, 64, beamed as they celebrated their engagement
'Given that he's clearly shallow and narcissistic – and possibly even a misogynistic body-shamer – it makes sense why the final two of Gerry/Gairy/Gary are the skinny, petite and somewhat silent women.
“All those strong, amazing women dodged a big, cheap, lying bullet!!!”
The Reddit user then suggested that Turner choose Nist because she is “financially sound” and can “pay her half of the rent, dinners, and cable bill while still looking at him in admiration.”
'You could almost see his eyes popping out, dollar signs spinning like a slot machine jackpot, when he finally realized she had a lucrative career! CRAWL!' They wrote.
“Each one of those women deserves MUCH better than this fake-nonsense-with-mayo-on-white-bread, boring and blubbering old hot tub installer from the Midwest!” they shut down the scathing post.
Viewers shared their thoughts on the first-ever Golden Bachelor, with some agreeing that there was something fishy about the 72-year-old widower.
“I hope they're all in a group chat to freak him out. Now that we know Teresa was talking about how she's tied up and Gerry suddenly knows she's the one is disgusting. I hope her kids cleared her mind about him. Gross,” one user commented.
“He's so dirty… I hope the winner dumps him immediately,” another raged.
Leslie Fhima (pictured) also vied for Turner's heart and accused the bachelor of lying to her about his feelings
In the finale, Turner met with his family, his two daughters – Jennifer and Angie – and his grandchildren in Costa Rica to help him make his decision.
The 72-year-old was introduced as a loving retired restaurateur who had not had a single date since his 45-year-old wife Toni died suddenly of an infection in 2017.
An investigation by The Hollywood Reporter claimed that Turner has a professional and personal history that does not match the personality of a grieving man
Some fans came to the defense of the very first Golden Bachelor.
“I feel like some of the ladies who got to know him personally would be a little kinder to him and slower to judge than some of the fans on Reddit,” one person argued.
Viewers also posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts on the finale and Turner.
Many commented on the fact that Turner had told both Nist and Leslie Fhima, 64, that he loved them.
“The one thing this show has taught me is that a 70-year-old man is no different than a 27-year-old man. My nights have ruined the good night,” one user wrote.
“I didn't think men would still be immature trash at 70,” another agreed.
“I really hope Theresa gets a good prenup – she'll need it if he shows his true colors,” one viewer warned.
“The Hollywood Reporter article reinforced what his actions showed tonight.”
“Gerry the moment Theresa started talking about her finances,” another wrote, along with a gif of SpongeBob Squarepants, which shows the character's eyes popping out and becoming dollar signs.
Turner proposed to Nist and chose her over Fhima in the emotional final episode.
“You're not the right person for me to live with, you're the person I can't live without,” said Gerry, 72.
While a few viewers stood up for the bachelor, some users online were also disappointed with the 72-year-old
“You are not the right person for me to live with, you are the person I cannot live without,” he told the financial services company.
'Theresa, I love you 1000 percent. I will never stop believing that I choose you every day. Will you marry me?' Turner asked the Shrewsbury, New Jersey, resident.
The 72-year-old initially captured the hearts of millions when he was introduced as a loving retired restaurateur who hadn't had a single date since his 45-year-old wife died suddenly from an infection in 2017.
However, an investigation by The Hollywood Reporter claimed that Turner has a professional and personal history that does not match the personality of a grieving man who hasn't had a first date in forty years.
Turner reportedly had a three-year relationship with a woman who claims she was dumped because she gained five pounds.
The woman, whose name is Carolyn and is 14 years younger than Turner, said she lived with him at his lake house in Indiana for more than a year.
While Turner was introduced on the show as a “retired restaurateur,” his LinkedIn profile shows he hasn't owned a restaurant since 1985, when he sold his Mr. Quick hamburger franchise in Iowa, where he had worked his way up since high school.