The Golden Bachelor winner Theresa Nist has revealed long distance wasn't the only reason why her marriage to Gerry Turner crumbled and they got a divorce.
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"You really can't know somebody in four weeks. I'll just say that. That's all I can say," Theresa, 71, said during the November 5 episode of "The Ben & Ashley I: Almost Famous Podcast."
Theresa noted, "I don't want to say any more than that. You get to know each other better [post-finale in the real world], and it's not something I want to discuss at this point."
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But then Theresa told Ben Higgins and Ashley Iaconetti of her divorce: "It's not just the location thing. That's all I'll say."
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Theresa added how the excitement and happiness she felt with Gerry after getting engaged was probably heavily influenced by "external factors" -- such as media appearances, celebrity events and vacations -- and the "whirlwind" they were in post-show.
Gerry, a retired Iowa native who owns a house on a lake in Indiana, selected Theresa, who continues to work a job in finance in her native New Jersey, as his The Golden Bachelor winner last year.
Theresa and Gerry got engaged during The Golden Bachelor finale, which aired in November 2023, and then they wed on January 4 in a live televised special for ABC.
However, Theresa and Gerry announced their split on April 12, and they claimed at the time neither person was willing to sacrifice and move because it would mean leaving family and friends behind.
Gerry and Theresa insisted their split was amicable and they'd simply be happier living apart.
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Theresa confirmed on "Almost Famous" that she and Gerry had a "plan" to move to Charleston, SC, that never came to fruition.
"We were looking at homes, virtually, and so I wasn't ready. I'm still working full time. I have a home. I wasn't ready to sell my home until we found a home, and we never got to the point where we found a home," Theresa shared.
Theresa said after the former couple's search for a Charleston property came up empty, Gerry suddenly changed his mind.
"Gerry came up with the idea of doing six weeks there and six weeks here," Theresa said of their current homes.
"And I truly wanted to have our home together. I was willing to move. I wanted to have our big home where our family could come visit us."
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Theresa elaborated, "You know, I didn't want to go back and forth to our homes. I wanted to have an established base where I could have a beautiful home, together, with Gerry, and then we'd go and visit our children."
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Theresa explained that was "my idea" and what she wanted to do since she and Gerry had initially "agreed upon" that course of action.
"He loves his house, and I don't blame him! He loves where he lives, and if that's what he decided to do, then do it. I want him to be happy," Theresa said.
"So it did change, and it wasn't what we had discussed. We had never discussed six weeks here, six weeks there."
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Theresa said she was sad to disappoint The Golden Bachelor fans because "the world wants a love story and they want you to move."
Theresa insisted she really wants to be in love and have a partner in life; however, she acknowledged, "You don't know how you're going to feel until you're really faced with that decision. It's very difficult."
Theresa therefore noted it would be "an outstanding idea" for The Golden Bachelor franchise to cast regionally, meaning Gerry would have had a pool of bachelorettes living a car ride away in Indiana.
Although distance wasn't the only factor in Theresa and Gerry's split, the mother and grandmother said she and Gerry would've had "a better chance" of staying together had they lived in the same state when they first met.
After Theresa and Gerry's divorce was finalized on June 13, a newly-singe Gerry told TMZ that women interested in dating him were flooding his DMs on Instagram.
But Gerry said he wanted to meet a woman organically and exchange phone numbers the old-fashioned way.
In terms of what Gerry is looking for in his next partner, The Golden Bachelor star said he'd love to find a good friend and someone to travel with and enjoy adventures.
Gerry also noted that he'd like to date an active woman who currently resides -- or would like to live -- in Indiana.
Ben previously repeated a rumor he had heard about the demise of Gerry and Theresa's marriage on the "Almost Famous" podcast.
"There is a rumor that on Theresa's visit to Indiana, Gerry picked Theresa up at the airport. It's about two hours from where Gerry lives," Ben began on a May episode of his podcast.
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Ben continued, "So after he picks her up, they're both excited, but there had already been some issues in the relationship. There had been some grumblings and things happening... They're not seeing eye-to-eye in life."
Ben said during Gerry and Theresa's drive from the airport to his lake house, the spouses had an eye-opening conversation.
"Most of that drive is through cornfields. Most of that drive is through agriculture and untouched land, in a lot of ways," Ben noted.
Ben said the rumor is that Theresa had made a comment to Gerry that rubbed the Iowa native the wrong way.
"[Theresa said], 'Wow, look at all this beautiful untouched land. Think about what could be done if they developed it -- condos, office buildings, apartments. Think about the towns that could congregate in these open fields and think about the people that would be interested in moving here,'" Ben alleged.
"[She added], 'And look at that lake! There's a lake with only cornfields around it. Think about if they build up a resort where people could vacation to.'"
The Bachelor's Season 20 star went on to reveal, "And Gerry's comment back to her, again, a rumor, was, 'You don't take land from a farmer.' And that was the start of them realizing that they do not see the world the same way."
Theresa also reportedly wasn't ready to retire when Gerry had been looking forward to traveling and having freedom.
Susan Noles and Kathy Swarts, who both competed for Gerry's heart on The Golden Bachelor last year, appeared on SiriusXM's "The Jess Cagle Show" earlier this year and defended Gerry amid his divorce from Theresa.
"I've got to support this man a little bit. I feel like he got the wrong end of it," Susan said.
"Theresa decided not to move and not to quit her job. He got frustrated. Who can blame him? I mean, I would've never said I would move to that place, wherever that is, in the middle of nowhere."
Kathy knocked Indiana by telling Susan, "Let's face it, Susan. You and I were not going to shuck corn in Indiana. We're not doing it."
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Kathy added how fellow The Golden Bachelor alum Nancy Hulkower "lives outside of Washington, D.C." and had told the women that the lake Gerry lives on is definitely more of "a pond."
Susan noted how Gerry and Theresa seemingly got "caught up in the moment" but their love was definitely real.
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