‘The Golden Bachelor’ Star Gerry Turner Slept on Couch During Visit with Wife Theresa Nist

Gerry Turner, star of the ABC reality show “The Golden Bachelor,” reportedly slept on the couch during a visit with his wife, Theresa Nist, in New Jersey shortly after their televised wedding.

Turner detailed the experience, which occurred approximately one week after their January 2024 nuptials, stating he “felt like a trespasser in her home, like I didn’t belong.” He recounted that Nist requested he sleep on the sofa as she had an early workday. “’Yeah, no problem’ were the words that came out of my mouth,” Turner said, “but I was really thinking, ‘Why? We’re married!'”

Nist offered a differing recollection of the events, explaining on the “Dear Shandy” podcast that while they did share a bed the first night, she struggled to sleep due to not being accustomed to sleeping next to someone. “He said, ‘Oh, I can sleep on the couch if you want me to,’” Nist recalled. “He offered to sleep on the couch. I did not ask him to sleep on the couch.” Turner ultimately remained on the couch for three nights, departing for Indiana a day earlier than planned. He noted a shift in Nist’s behavior, stating that intimacy was “comfortable, even forward” during their time in Costa Rica, but was subsequently “ignored” upon their return to the United States.

The revelation comes amid growing speculation about the couple’s relationship, following their recent announcement of an impending divorce. The pair’s highly publicized romance captivated audiences last fall, offering a unique storyline for the “Bachelor” franchise. Experts have noted the challenges couples face transitioning from the artificial environment of reality television to everyday life, as detailed by Psychology Today.

Representatives for Turner and Nist have not yet commented on the specific details of the sleeping arrangement, but confirmed the divorce proceedings are ongoing.