It was obvious from the start that The Golden Bachelor was going to be a show unlike anything Bachelor Nation had ever seen when much of Gerry Turner’s introduction centered around his late wife, Toni, who was married to Gerry for 43 years before her death in 2017. A framed photo of her was prominent as he got ready for his big first night, sending the message that Toni was very much still a part of this journey. With many of those featured on the show also experiencing loss, it’s been powerful to watch them find comfort in each other and navigate the complicated emotions of feeling love again.
Grief and loss aren’t common topics to discuss on primetime television — they’re especially rare on reality dating shows — but what’s happening on The Golden Bachelor is something special, as we’re seeing the good memories of wedding days and even sex discussed in the same breath as death and loneliness. I can only hope that there’s healing for these seniors as they share their feelings with others who have had similar experiences. Below are a few of the powerful ways grief and loss have been addressed this season.
