Joan Vassos, the star of The Golden Bachelorette, made an unexpected and lighthearted statement during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live that quickly gained attention. As the show was nearing its finale, Vassos was asked if she would trade her final pick for actor Rob Lowe. Without hesitation, Vassos replied:
"Like, in one second!"
This remark, made on October 16, 2024, during her interview on the late-night talk show, drew laughter from the audience and prompted a playful response from Lowe himself.
The Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos and her celebrity crush on Rob Lowe
Rob Lowe appeared in the 1985 movie St. Elmo's Fire, in which Joan Vassos revealed on Jimmy Kimmel Live that she had been an extra. She revealed that meeting Lowe during the filming had sparked a lasting admiration for him.
When host Jimmy Kimmel asked if she would trade her final pick for Lowe, Vassos agreed without hesitation.
Just hours before The Golden Bachelorette finale on November 13, 2024, Lowe shared a video on Instagram in response to this criticism. In the video, Lowe jokes:
"I could be The Golden Bachelor,....That’s better than a Golden Globe — I think."
While tagging Vassos and The Golden Bachelorette’s official accounts, he captioned the post:
"Excited for the finale!"
The finale of The Golden Bachelorette
The finale of The Golden Bachelorette featured Joan Vassos making a decision between two finalists, Chock and Guy. This decision was framed as a "life-changing" moment for Vassos.
Throughout the season, Vassos faced personal challenges, particularly regarding her grief over the death of her late husband, John.
She discussed the difficulty she experienced in opening up to new relationships after his passing. Vassos explained:
“I really struggled with that in the middle of the season.”
The Golden Bachelorette provided mental health resources, which allowed Vassos to address her emotional struggles. She spoke about a conversation with the show’s psychiatrists, who helped her process her feelings. She recalled:
“They said, ‘Picture it like you have a balloon in each hand. One is John and one is this other person that you have feelings for, and you don’t have to let go of this one to have this one also.’”
Vassos found this advice helpful, as it allowed her to understand that it was possible to hold onto her memories of John while forming new connections.
Joan's personal growth during the season
Throughout the season, Joan Vassos experienced personal growth as she navigated her journey on The Golden Bachelorette.
Initially, she believed she was ready to find love again but soon recognized that the process was more challenging than she had anticipated. She said:
“I came in there thinking that I was so ready to find love and then realized that it's a way different journey than I thought it was going to be.”
The fast-paced nature of the show and the support of mental health professionals helped Vassos confront her emotions and continue her journey. She expressed that the experience pushed her to work through her grief and allowed her to evolve emotionally.
By the end of the season, Vassos felt she had made significant progress, stating:
“I feel like I grew, and I don't think I ever would be where I am today if I hadn't done this, because it kind of gave me the motivation to get through some of these emotions quickly because I wanted to end up with somebody.”
Don't miss the thrilling conclusion of The Golden Bachelorette! Tune in to the finale and watch Joan Vassos make her life-changing decision.