<p id=”par-1_71″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/the-golden-bachelorette-gerry-turners-surprise-appearance-is-everything-wrong-with-the-franchise.html/”>Gerry Turner</a> won’t be turning up on <em>Bachelor in Paradise</em>. At least he won’t appear this year. The first-ever golden bachelor turned down the chance to head to Mexico to find love. Don’t worry; Turner isn’t burnt out on dating competitions. He’d be open to competing on <em><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/bachelor-in-paradise/?swcfpc=1″>Bachelor in Paradise</a> </em>in the future. He just wants to sit this season out in particular, and the reason makes a lot of sense.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-gerry-turner-was-asked-to-join-bachelor-in-paradise”>Gerry Turner was asked to join ‘Bachelor in Paradise’</h2>
<p id=”par-2_57″>Gerry Turner spent much of his life working a typical job and raising a family. In his 70s, he decided to take a shot at love and became the first lead of <em>The Golden Bachelor</em>. Turner didn’t turn out to be the wholesome man he was billed as. Still, he gained some star power from the gig.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” fetchpriority=”high” width=”1500″ height=”1000″ src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/The-Golden-Bachelor-Gerry-Turner-net-worth.jpg?strip=all&quality=89″ alt=”‘The Golden Bachelor’ star Gerry Turner smiling at the camera” class=”wp-image-3579043″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>‘The Golden Bachelor’ star Gerry Turner | ABC/Craig Sjodin</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-3_52″>Turner recently revealed that he was asked to join <em>Bachelor in Paradise</em>. The dating competition alum told <a target=”_blank” href=”https://www.tmz.com/2025/03/27/gerry-turner-turns-down-bachelor-in-paradise/#continued” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>TMZ </a>that producers contacted him just a few weeks ago to see if he was interested in donning a bathing suit to flirt with golden singles on a beach in Mexico. He decided to pass.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-he-turned-down-the-opportunity”>He turned down the opportunity</h2>
<p id=”par-4_51″>While Turner was approached for <em>Bachelor in Paradise</em>, he ultimately turned down the gig. Turner told TMZ that he’s not opposed to another dating competition, but the women in his age group appearing in the series are the women he already tried to romance during season 1 of <em>The Golden Bachelor</em>.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Bachelor-In-Paradise-S09_Key-Art-Download.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Key art for ‘Bachelor in Paradise'” class=”wp-image-3793371″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Bachelor in Paradise | Disney</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-5_56″>According to the outlet, Turner isn’t against competing on <em>Bachelor in Paradise</em> but would prefer to sign up when there are women he hasn’t already dated attached to the project. That means Turner will probably wait at least two more seasons before joining the fun in the sun. In the meantime, he’s <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/gerry-turner-says-hes-dating-someone-its-not-the-first-time-hes-moved-on-quickly.html/”>looking for love organically.</a></p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-who-will-be-appearing-on-the-show”>Who will be appearing on the show?</h2>
<p id=”par-6_65″>Gerry Turner turned down a chance to appear on <em>Bachelor in Paradise</em>, but other golden alums have decided to take another chance at love. Earlier this week, Jesse Palmer revealed both Leslie Fhima and Gary Levingston will appear this season. Palmer has yet to announce how many other golden alums will appear on <em>Bachelor in Paradise</em>, but we are sure there will be a few.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-3″><img decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” width=”1500″ height=”998″ src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/The-Golden-Bachelor-Leslie-Fhima.jpg?strip=all&quality=89″ alt=”Leslie Fhima in ‘The Golden Bachelor’ finale standing by herself and looking pensive” class=”wp-image-3594864″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Leslie Fhima in ‘The Golden Bachelor’ | ABC/John Fleenor</figcaption></figure>
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<p id=”par-7_78″>Leslie Fhima competed in season 1 of <em>The Golden Bachelor</em>. She was Turner’s runner-up. While there appears to be some bad blood between Fhima and Gerry Turner, she’s grown close to Turner’s winner and now ex-wife, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/theresa-nist-says-gerry-turner-altered-their-plan-after-the-golden-wedding.html/”>Theresa Nist.</a> Gary Levingston competed for Joan Vassos’ affection on season 1 of <em>The Golden Bachelorette</em>. He was eliminated during week 4. Vassos eventually picked Chock Chapple as her winner. They left the competition engaged. They are currently in <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/chock-chapple-and-joan-vassos-still-arent-living-together-is-their-relationship-in-trouble.html/”>a long-distance relationship</a>.</p>
<p id=”par-8_38″><em>Bachelor in Paradise</em> doesn’t have a premiere date yet, but the series is expected to air over the summer. Filming will begin shortly, and the series will likely slide into the timeslot left vacant by <em>The Bachelorette’s</em> hiatus.</p>