“The Golden Bachelor” is yet another reality dating show, but unlike “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” both of which feature younger competitors, “The Golden Bachelor” stars 72-year-old Gerry (pronounced Gary) Turner as he searches for love again.

The show, which ended yesterday, has been wildly popular, partly because Gerry Turner, or perhaps Gerry Turner’s persona, has been well-received by the public.

But how authentic is this silver fox?

“They made him look so sympathetic – the sweetest,” says Allie Beth Stuckey’s producer Bri Shrader, who watched the show from start to finish.

However, according to recent reports, the real Gerry doesn’t exactly match up with his onstage presence.

The show portrayed Gerry in a sympathetic light, claiming he “[hadn’t] dated in 45 years because his wife died.” They called him a “retired restaurateur” and “[made] him seem like he was wealthy,” says Allie.

But it’s looking like Gerry’s traits were more rooted in dramatic effect than they were in reality.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, “these things aren’t really true.” Gerry is allegedly “not so inexperienced when it comes to dating,” and “he’s not a retired restaurateur.”

The report stated that “he has dated since his wife died.” In fact, “he began a three-year relationship pretty quickly after his wife died (one month after his wife died)” with a woman named Carolyn.

“According to the article, the relationship was confirmed through Carolyn's family, friends’ text messages, and even a background check confirming her address was the same as Gerry's for over a year,” reads Allie, “and then they broke up in October 2019 after reportedly Gerry told Carolyn he wasn't going to take her to his high school reunion looking like that because she had gained weight and told her to be out by January 1, 2020.”

“Also he is not a retired restaurateur,” Allie explains. “He last owned a restaurant in 1985 when he sold his Mr. Quick Hamburger drive-in franchise.”

After selling his restaurant, “apparently he was actually a maintenance man at a counseling office.”

“There's nothing wrong with that,” says Allie, “but I think it's interesting how ‘The Golden Bachelor’ people decided, ‘Well, that's not part of the persona that we want to build; that's not going to sell, we want someone who seems successful and wealthy.”’

To hear Allie and Bri's full analysis, watch the video below.

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