Following a history-making first season of “Golden Bachelor,” fan-favorite contestant Joan Vassos led ABC’s first-ever “Golden Bachelorette” in 2024.
In it, Vassos got to know 24 men competing for her heart, and, by the end, got engaged to Chock Chapple. But while fans loved tuning in to her journey to love, her season could’ve turned out quite differently. In a new interview, Vassos admitted she almost eliminated one of the men that made it all the way to her top four.
Joan Vassos Almost Eliminated One of Her Top Four Men
In a recent appearance on the “Two Be Continued” podcast, Vassos opened up about the struggles of having to make hard decisions early on the process, and how it could’ve majorly affected her season.
“In the first night, you’re not really looking for who you’re going to end up with,” Vassos explained. “You’re looking for the people you need to eliminate, which is really sad.”
While she thinks choosing like that isn’t exactly “right,” Vassos had no choice because of the number of men and the limited time she had to meet and get to know them. As a result, choosing the six men that wouldn’t carry on would come down to quick, intuitive decision.
“It was little things,” she said. “Like the one guy that I almost eliminated ended up in my final four.”
Vassos then clarified why they didn’t connect right away. “He was really, really nervous,” she revealed. “And that’s not a reason to eliminate somebody, but I couldn’t get to know him because he was so nervous. He was shaking, he had sweaty palms, he couldn’t remember anything that he had planned to say, which is typical.”
She then continued by looking back at her experience meeting Gerry Turner on “The Golden Bachelor.” “I just rambled when I got up there, which a lot of people do,” she said. “But he was almost not even able to talk, so thank God I kept him around, he ended up being really great.”
Joan Vassos’ Top Four on ‘The Golden Bachelorette’
As a reminder, Vassos’ top four contestants were Chapple, Pascal Ibgui, Jordan Heller, and Guy Gansert.
Heller was sent home after the hometown dates while Ibgui was eliminated following the fantasy suites. By the finale, Vassos gave her last rose to Chapple and he got down on one knee and proposed.
On November 2025, Vassos and Chapple celebrated one year since their engagement. On Instagram, the former lead posted a video compilation of their time together.
“One year since our finale aired and we got to share with the world that I get to be engaged to my best friend,” she wrote in the caption. “So grateful for all the memories we’ve made and thankful to have you by my side on this journey together. I love falling in love again and again with you every day.”
“Somehow the moments off-camera have been even sweeter,” Chapple wrote in the comments. “Grateful for every flight, every laugh, and every tiny in-between memory we’ve collected along the way! Love you Joan!”
