WARNING: This article contains major SPOILERS about
The Golden Bachelorette
season 1.
The Golden Bachelorette is nearing its conclusion, but there are signs that Joan Vassos' relationship with Chock Chapple is more of a publicity stunt than a love match. It's an almost unthinkable premise, because 61-year-old Joan has been through so much, and she really deserves to find true love again. The private school administrator from Maryland is no stranger to true love, as she had found it once before. She was married to the love of her life, John Vassos, for 32 happy years until he passed away in 2021.
Joan made her television debut on The Golden Bachelor season 1, where she dated 72-year-old Gerry Turner. She had to leave the season early due to a family emergency, but she got a second chance at finding love on national television when she was cast as the Bachelor spin-off's first female lead. The inaugural season of The Golden Bachelorette premiered with Joan greeting the 24 Golden single men who'd be competing for her love, including 60-year-old Chock Chapple. Joan and Chock seem to be happy together, but is it a real relationship? Read on to find out.
Joan & Chock Are Like "Golden Barbie & Ken"
They're Almost Too Perfect
Joan liked Chock right away on night one of The Golden Bachelorette season 1. Though he didn't get her first impression rose, he got her first solo date. They went on an epic Disneyland adventure that ended with a romantic kiss under a sky lit up by fireworks. Joan even dressed up like a Disney princess, with Chock in the role of Prince Charming, and each looked the part. Joan and Chock seem like they're made for each other. Only time will tell if Chock was a plant, or if the love between them is real.
Chock's a Virgo, and he's a good match for Capricorn Joan, but that doesn't mean that they're a "forever" match. They may be in cahoots, planning out a showmance that will make them both famous. Behind the scenes, almost anything is possible. They could be friends more than romantic partners. They might have similar career goals that they can try to achieve together, but not really together. Just because the two Earth signs have a lot of complementary personality traits doesn't mean that they aren't faking their love for the cameras.
In fact, due to their astrological compatibility, they'd be great at this. Both are detail-oriented, and can easily create a facade that is believable. They may genuinely like each other. However, it will take time to determine if this relationship is for real. On The Golden Bachelor, it all seemed very authentic, but it really wasn't. If the two leads were for real, they'd probably still be together. They definitely wouldn't have thrown in the towel so quickly.
Joan May Be Trying To Look Good After The Golden Bachelor
She's Under A Lot Of Pressure
Custom image by César García
The Golden Bachelor season 1 ended with a whimper. After an exciting season of romantic dates and high expectations, Gerry gave his final rose to 70-year-old Theresa Nist, and the two were quickly married in a lavish Golden wedding. Hopes were high for the septuagenarians, but they announced their divorce after only three short months of marriage. Bachelor Nation fans had come to see the pair as a symbol of second chances, so the disappointment was real.
People want to believe in love - well, most people do. The novelty of The Golden Bachelor was exciting, and it was so easy to get caught up in the drama and romance. When everything fell apart, the dreams that viewers probably had for the couple died. There may have been a sense of disillusionment. It's sad when people break up, especially when their ups and downs are featured onscreen. After the show, Gerry and Theresa had to adjust to all the backlash. Gerry got the brunt of it.
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The failure of The Golden Bachelor put a lot of pressure on The Golden Bachelorette. If the franchise ends in another public divorce, it could damage the brand beyond repair. It's entirely possible that the show's producers cast Chock to be the perfect contestant. They wanted to cover their bases if Joan didn't find the right guy. The fact that Joan and Chock look so perfect together only adds to the suspicion, but, hopefully, the love between them is real and lasting.
Since Gerry and Theresa couldn't make it work, a real and lasting love story would change things for the Bachelor franchise. The Golden Bachelor was an exciting concept that really resonated. It was different enough to be truly exciting. It was quite heartwarming too, since many contestants had lost their partners. Gerry was a widower. After going through so many painful life changes, it's not surprising that these fledgling reality stars wanted to find love. However, for Gerry and Theresa, starting over as husband and wife just wasn't sustainable.
Chock May Be A Clout Chaser
Spoilers Ahead
The finale of The Golden Bachelorette season 1 is just around the corner, but the reality television reporter Reality Steve posted to Instagram revealing that Chock was the season's winner. He had initially reported that the winner of the season was 66-year-old ER doctor Guy Gansert, but he later corrected his reveal. Though it looks like Joan gave Chock her final rose, it's unclear if the couple got engaged after the final rose.
If Chock turns out to be a producer plant,
Bachelor
fans won't be getting another
Golden
wedding anytime soon.
Of all the men who competed for Joan's heart on The Golden Bachelorette season 1, Chock was the most ardent in his adoration. He seemed to be obsessed with Joan, despite the fact that they hadn't known each other for long. Hopefully, his feelings are real and lasting, because Joan deserves to be happy, but it could also be a red flag. If it's an act, it will break Joan's heart into too many pieces to ever be put back together again.
Joan's Remaining Men
Age
Occupation
Hometown
Chock
60
Insurance executive
Wichita, KA
Guy
66
ER doctor
Reno, NV
The Golden Bachelorette season 1 airs Wednesday nights at 8 pm ET/PT on ABC.
The Golden Bachelorette: This reality series offers one woman in her later years the opportunity to find love, as a group of seasoned men compete for her affection. Participants bring diverse romantic histories, seeking a meaningful connection and a chance to build a promising future together.
Cast Joan Vassos , Jesse Palmer , Gary Levingston , Pascal Ibgui , Jonathan Rone , Charles Chock Chapple , Charles Ling , Keith Gordon , Guy Gansert , Jordan Heller , Mark Anderson , Daniel Roemer , Gil Ramirez , Charles King , Kim Buike , Gregg Lassen , Michael Stevens
Custom image by César García
Custom image by César García 
English (US) ·