The Golden Bachelor’s Leslie Fhima Is Pals With Theresa Nist, So I Was Super Surprised About Her Take On Gerry Turner’s Memoir

by

It’s been more than a year since Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist, the first couple from The Golden Bachelor, announced their divorce on Good Morning America after only three months of marriage, and the story is still unfolding. After Turner shared his side in a new memoir, Nist has made some accusations of her own. However, the most surprising part of this whole situation, to me, has been the response from Leslie Fhima, who was also a contestant on the first season of the show.

What Did Leslie Fhima Say About Gerry Turner’s Memoir?

Leslie Fhima was the other finalist on Gerry Turner’s season of The Golden Bachelor, and while things didn’t work out with the Indiana widower (for her or Theresa NIst), Fhima was among those who reached out to Theresa Nist after the breakup, and the friendship they formed has stood the test of time. That’s why I was so surprised at Fhima’s comments about Golden Years: What I’ve Learned from Love, Loss and Reality TV.

During an appearance on the 2 Black Girls, 1 Rose podcast, Fhima described herself as remaining neutral – “Switzerland” – and chose not to offer any support for Nist in light of the claims made in Turner’s book. She then stated:

I told Theresa I’m on her side and I care about her a lot. I want to be supportive, listen to what she’s going through, and offer advice when she needs it. However, I also want to stay neutral and avoid getting directly involved in whatever situation she’s facing, because it’s not my place to interfere.

I get why someone would want to stay out of a fight, but considering how much trouble Gerry Turner has given her friend, I thought she might have said something to support Theresa Nist.

Leslie Fhima admitted she only read the portion of the memoir that mentioned her and didn’t want to read any further. This means she might not know about any specific claims Gerry Turner made about his former partner. However, she did acknowledge how difficult this situation has been for Theresa.

I told her how I felt – that I loved her and would always be there for her, offering a shoulder to cry on if she needed it. While she hasn’t actually cried to me, she has been upset on several occasions. I’ve been there to talk her through things, and she’s usually taken my advice, which is all I can really do.

Even though the marriage on The Golden Bachelor didn’t work out, the strong friendships that were made were the most important part. I think that’s something Mel Owens’ season lacked. I also hope Theresa Nist isn’t upset by what Leslie Fhima said, and I’d love to see more sweet videos like the one shared below.

What Did Gerry Turner Say About Theresa Nist?

Even before Gerry Turner’s memoir came out, Theresa Nist was already disagreeing with his account of their brief marriage, specifically his claim that his cancer diagnosis contributed to their divorce. In his book, Golden Years, he explained (according to E! News) that he struggled to feel close to Nist during their phone calls, stating:

I hesitated to say it, but I struggled to connect with her during conversations. She spoke in the same flat tone no matter the topic, whether it was work issues or something as simple as her breakfast.

Gerry Turner wasn’t impressed with the expensive smoothies, and he wasn’t happy with Theresa’s diet, which mainly consisted of fish and salad. He also felt she hadn’t been completely honest about her financial situation during their time in the Fantasy Suites, specifically when they discussed it.

I felt a bit annoyed because her financial situation turned out to be very different from what she’d shared on TV, and it made me question whether she’d been truthful about other things too.

Theresa Nist discussed several disagreements – potentially including a dispute about cornfields – on the Dear Shandy podcast.

It must be difficult for Theresa Nist to revisit these events after two years, especially for Gerry Turner’s book. No matter what actually happened, I hope she has strong support from her loved ones. I also hope Leslie Fhima remains a friend to Theresa, even though she hasn’t taken a side regarding the book.

Read More

2025-11-10 22:39