8 The Golden Bachelorette Contestants Who Were Likely Producer Plants (Did They Date Joan Vassos For The Right Reasons?)

Joan Vassos dated 24 single men during The Golden Bachelorette, but several of them were potentially "producer plants" who weren't there for the right reason. The 61-year-old private school administrator from Maryland had been through many ups and downs over the last few years. In 2021, she lost her husband, John Vassos, to cancer. The couple had been married for 32 years and had four children before John passed away.

Joan was devastated by the loss, which wasn't long ago. Joan probably wasn't completely ready when she agreed to be a contestant on The Golden Bachelor season 1, but she took the plunge anyway. Joan was one of 22 single women vying for the heart of 72-year-old Gerry Turner. Joan had to leave Gerry's season early due to a family emergency, but her journey was far from over. Though she wasn't on the show for very long, she left an impression and was ultimately cast as the spin-off's first female lead.

The season opened with Joan greeting her The Golden Bachelorette cast outside The Bachelor mansion in Los Angeles, California. After a thrilling season of senior citizen romance, Joan has narrowed her suitors down to 60-year-old Chock Chapple and 66-year-old Guy Gansert. With every season in the franchise, there are contestants accused of being on the show for the wrong reasons. Some of those contestants have even been accused of being purposely planted by the producers to achieve various outcomes.

8 Jack Lencioni

The Party Animal

Before joining the cast of The Golden Bachelorette season 1, Jack Lencioni was a 68-year-old caterer from Chicago, Illinois. From the moment he set foot in The Bachelor mansion, the gregarious Jack stood out as quite the eccentric character. He took advantage of the chef's kitchen at The Bachelor mansion to cook Joan an elaborate dinner, which she seemed to enjoy.

The other men competing for Joan's roses loved Jack, who was always good for a laugh. Jack was eventually eliminated, but not before he took full advantage of the Bachelor mansion's pool. Though Jack was always entertaining, he was more interested in having fun and playing around with the other men than in connecting with Joan. It seemed like he had been cast because producers thought he'd be entertaining, but never expected him to go far with Joan.

7 Guy Gansert

There's A Doctor In The House

66-year-old Guy Gansert hit it off with Joan from the moment they met during The Golden Bachelorette season 1, and now he's one of her final two men, along with Chock Chapple. Guy seemed perfect initially. Many women would consider a single, handsome doctor a good catch. It was later revealed he was too good to be true. People reported that Guy's ex-wife, Heidi O’Gara, filed for a temporary protective order in October 2021.

Heidi accused her ex-husband of having anger issues and making threats and even alleged that he "motioned like he was going to shoot me with his hand shaped like a pistol." She had the order dismissed a month later before it was officially granted, but it's still a potential red flag. If he's in such a contentious relationship with his ex-wife, that's a situation Joan shouldn't want to put herself in.

6 Pascal Ibgui

He Just Wasn't That Into Joan

69-year-old Pascal Igbui made it to Joan's final three, but then he destroyed the relationship in a fiery blaze. During The Golden Bachelorette season 1's hometown episode, Joan visited Pascal's hometown of Chicago, Illinois, where she enjoyed a day at his luxurious salon and met his close-knit family. They were both excited about the possibilities as they headed into overnight dates. Pascal was fun and exciting, and it sometimes felt like he was cast on the show for entertainment purposes, as opposed to his interest in Joan.

Though it was only symbolic, it freaked Pascal. It made him question whether he was ready to commit to Joan. The date exercise made him realize he didn't have romantic feelings for Joan. In a clip posted to YouTube by Bachelor Nation, he admitted he only saw her as a friend. This came as a surprise as Pascal wasn't acting like Joan's platonic friend when he was kissing her a few minutes before. Pascal self-eliminated, but at least he didn't waste more of Joan's time.

5 Gary Levingston

Life Of The Part

65-year-old Gary Levingston is a retired finance executive who hails from Palm Desert, California. Gary is the godson of legendary musician Tina Turner and shares his godmother's love of music. Gary's a great dancer and got the chance to show off his moves during an early episode of The Golden Bachelorette season 1.

During a group date to the prom, Joan and several men, including Gary, got all dressed up and danced up a storm to a live performance by Taylor Dane. Joan was blown away by Gary's dance skills. He was the first one on the dance floor, and helped all the other men let their hair down. Gary was also a great communicator and one of the most gregarious men who competed for Joan's roses, which sometimes felt like he was chosen because of his ability to entertain rather than his ability to woo Joan.

4 Jonathan Rone

The Next Golden Bachelor?

61-year-old Jonathan Rone was a shipping consultant from Oakland, Iowa. Joan was instantly attracted to the tall, handsome Jonathan, and the two had serious chemistry. Jonathan stood out to Joan during the prom group date when it became clear he was a serious contender for Joan's heart. Joan eliminated Jonathan from The Golden Bachelorette season 1 before the hometown dates.

In hindsight, it did seem like Jonathan was there to date Joan and was only interested in being groomed by Bachelor franchise producers to be the spin-off's next male lead. ABC hasn't announced the next The Golden Bachelor, but they've already started the process of casting female contestants. The sensitive and emotionally available Jonathan would make an excellent lead.

3 Chock Chapple

Producer's Choice

During night one of The Golden Bachelorette season 1, Joan met her 24 contestants, including Chock, an insurance executive from Kansas. The second episode of the season kicked off with Chock receiving Joan's first solo date, a dream Disneyland adventure that ended with a romantic kiss under a fireworks display. Chock made it all the way to Joan's final two, along with Guy Gansert.

Chock's mother passed away while filming the season, and he had to leave to be with his family. He returned later in the episode, which led to speculation he was being given preferential treatment by producers who wanted Chock to win Joan's final rose. It's important to remember the show's producers aren't professional matchmakers, and their job is to make the show as entertaining as possible.

2 Charles Ling

Another Potential Lead

Like Joan, 66-year-old Charles was a widower who lost his beloved wife to a brain aneurysm six years ago. They'd been happily married for 36 years and had two children together. Charles is still in deep mourning for his wife, and it's one of the most endearing things about him. The retired financial analyst from Philadelphia was encouraged to join the cast of The Golden Bachelorette season 1 by his daughters, who wanted their father to find love again.

Though Joan seemed to like Charles, there was never much chemistry between them, and he seemed more like another attempt to search for a lead for The Golden Bachelor season 2. Charles is warm and capable of being vulnerable, which would make for a great Bachelor lead. Being on the show helped Charles to find more closure when it came to his late wife's tragic passing.

1 Mark Anderson

Kelsey Anderson's Dad

Mark made his television debut during The Bachelor season 28, when his daughter, 26-year-old Kelsey Anderson, brought her boyfriend, 28-year-old Joey Graziadei, to meet her family during her on-camera hometown date. Kelsey ended up winning Joey's final rose, and the two are engaged now, so Mark is practically Bachelor Nation royalty. Fans fell in love with the attractive widower, and he was announced as a contestant on The Golden Bachelorette.

After an awkward one-on-one date, Joan sends Mark home before The Golden Bachelorette season 1 hometown dates. Of all the Bachelor Nation contestants who have been accused of being "producer plants," no one has been accused of it more than Mark. Online speculation has run amok that Mark will be the next The Golden Bachelor, and that he was only on Joan's season to groom him for his own. Only time will tell who will be the next The Golden Bachelor.

Sources: People, Bachelor Nation/YouTube