The Golden Bachelor’s Ellen Reveals Her ‘Old Boyfriends’ Reached Out After Seeing Her on the Show (Exclusive)

The Golden BachelorEllen’s Ellen Goltzer admits she’s heard from some former beaus after appearing on national television.

The 71-year-old retired teacher tells PEOPLE that “old guys from college and high school” have “reached out” after seeing her on the ABC dating series.

“It’s almost a surreal experience. People use that word a lot, but it’s true,” she says. “It’s almost like an out-of-body experience where you don’t think he’s watching me, but I don’t think it’s actually me.”

“And then when people come up to me and say something like, ‘Oh, I know you,’ or people reach out from elementary school. I went to Forestry School with her. It’s crazy,” she adds.

Gerry Turner and Ellen Goltzer on ‘The Golden Bachelor’.

Disney/John Fleenor

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The pickleball captain says her former loves simply reached out to say “congratulations.”

When asked what she said to her boyfriends, she teased, “I think I would say, what’s up? Maybe it could have been different, but they lost the opportunity.”

Goltzer’s journey on The Golden Bachelor was abruptly cut short on Thursday when she didn’t get a rose from Gerry Turner after declaring she was “falling head over heels in love”.

Susan, Sandra, Theresa, Ellen, Leslie and Faith in ‘The Golden Bachelor’.

Disney/John Fleenor

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The Florida resident now tells PEOPLE that “when I heard him call Theresa’s name, I was surprised.”

“I doubted his feelings because I know he was torn between several girls, but not enough to feel like I didn’t get a single rose,” she explains. “There were three people. So I just expected to be one of those people, and when I wasn’t, I was a little bit shocked.”

During her time on the show, Goltzer has been honest about her feelings for Turner. He explains, “People who know me will say, ‘Wow, I saw a side of her that I’ve never seen before,’ but my ability to be honest and truthful and share things with him. I think he was a little surprised, and I surprised myself [with] the ability to do so.”

Gerry Turner and Ellen Goltzer on ‘The Golden Bachelor’.

ABC/John Fleenor

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“I’m usually not that verbal when it comes to emotions. I think that’s why they persuaded me to apply because the people in my life who love me knew that I was missing something even though I had a full life,” he explains. “I didn’t expect to be like that. I didn’t expect to be so emotional. I didn’t expect to feel so comfortable on set.”

She says that at the end of the show, it took her out of her “comfort zone”, adding: “I could have just relaxed, but I relaxed a little too much. But I guess it was good for me to be able to do that because it showed me that I was capable of being emotional again and looking for love again. It really is. I was shocked.”

After the show aired on Friday, Goltzer also shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, stressing that she’s not giving up on love.

“Saying goodbye to Gerry was not easy. I was falling in love and I haven’t felt those feelings for a guy in years,” she wrote alongside a picture of her and Turner. “This experience has taught me so much and I am so grateful to everyone at @goldenbachabc !!!”

“I have a new lease on love, I know I can fall in love again, and as my best friend Roberta said— never say never!!! I am so ready to find my forever person, I haven’t been ready for so long but now I am so ready! 💛🌹”

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The Golden Bachelor airs Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET on ABC.

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