The Golden Bachelor’s Joan Hopes for Another ‘Chance at Love’ but Feels ‘Lucky’ for Support After Sudden Exit

Joan Vassos hopes so The Golden Bachelor was not her only opportunity for love.

Following her surprise exit from the ABC dating series, the 60-year-old private school principal has opened up about her decision, saying she hasn’t given up on finding a partner after ending her relationship with Gerry Turner.

“A big thank you to everyone who expressed concern for my family,” she shared on her Instagram Story. “It’s a privilege to be a mom to four amazing children and a grandmother (my name is Jojo) to two beautiful grandchildren. But once a mom, always a mom and sometimes it’s not time to find love.”

“Everyone at home is doing great and I hope that one day I will get the chance to love again,” she continued.

Instagram story of Joan Vassos.

Joan Vassos/instagram

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The Maryland native also gave a special shout out to the other ladies competing for Gerry’s heart on the inaugural season The Golden Bachelor.

“I’m so lucky to have been surrounded by such sweet, supportive women,” she wrote alongside a clip of her letting them know she was leaving the show. “I miss these women!”

Instagram story of Joan Vassos.

Joan Vassos/instagram

On Thursday’s episode, Joan scored a one-on-one dinner with Gerry after an unforgettable performance of her original song, “I Just Hope I Don’t Vomit On Your Shoes,” on the talent show.

During the meal, she admitted that she was having a “very hard time” leaving the house after her daughter gave birth to a baby 15 days before the show. She explained her decision to come to the show with the words: “For the first time in my life, I’m really going to do something for myself because I think I’m ready and this is an opportunity I simply can’t let go of.” .”

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Despite bonding with Gerry over dinner and getting a rose, Joan had a change of heart when she received a text from her daughter the next morning and broke down in tears over whether she should leave the show to be with her family.

She told Gerry: “I got a text this morning and I think I have to go home and be a mum now. So as much as I don’t want to leave—and I don’t want to abandon our journey—I have to be a parent.”

Gerry Turner and Joan in ‘The Golden Bachelor’.

John Fleenor/abc

While he understood her decision, Gerry said he was “disappointed” she was leaving, adding: “I was delighted we had the conversation we did, but there is a moral compass that we both share and sometimes doing the hardest thing is the right thing to do.”

After sharing a goodbye kiss with Joan, Gerry broke down in tears on the bench outside the mansion.

The Golden BachelorMarina ‘s explains why she left the show after the first week: ‘I had to sort out my priorities’

Gerry Turner and Joan in ‘The Golden Bachelor’.

John Fleenor/abc

Joan is not the only woman who had to leave The Golden Bachelor early. Another hopeful Marin Perera also walked out of the series due to a “family situation at home”.

During a FaceTime call with Gerry, Marina explained that she had to prioritize her family.

“What I wanted to tell you, you know, I’m a single mother and I had to choose my family and, you know, support the needs of my family at this time,” she said in a post shared last week. “I’m so sorry I had to go, but at the same time I had to sort out my priorities.”

Gerry was fully responsive to her thinking. “I totally understand,” he said. “Commitment to family trumps almost everything else.”

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

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