"It's just weird" - The Golden Bachelorette's Joan Vassos explains the changes in the upcoming fantasy suites segment

Joan Vassos, a 61-year-old widow and mother of four, led the first season of ABC's The Golden Bachelorette. The show is a spin-off of The Bachelor, focused on finding love later in life. Vassos had previously appeared on The Golden Bachelor, where she connected with Gerry Turner before leaving due to a family emergency.

Vassos made a significant change to the well-known fantasy suite format as the lead of her season. Usually, the lead spent the night with each of the final three contestants. However, instead of following the usual format, Vassos removed the beds from the fantasy suites. She explained in an Interview with US Weekly on October 16:

"You gotta think, the person you’re potentially ending up with probably does not want to think of you last week, having slept with the guy he hangs out with. It’s just weird."

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Joan redefines the fantasy suite experience in The Golden Bachelorette

Joan Vassos’s approach to the fantasy suites was based on her personal values in The Golden Bachelorette. In the recent interview, she shared that she felt uncomfortable having physical relationships with multiple people and wanted to create an environment that aligned with her boundaries. She stated:

"I’m not a person who can have a physical relationship with more than one person."

Vassos did not focus on physical intimacy during the fantasy suites. Instead, she had conversations that were not filmed. She explained:

"We didn't spend the night together."

The absence of a bed in the room further emphasized her intent to prioritize emotional connections over physical ones.

Her approach differed from the typical format in the Bachelor franchise, where fantasy suites traditionally included an overnight stay. However, Vassos clarified that her choice was not meant to be a judgment of others who had followed a different path. She said:

"Everybody needs to do it their way. I’m not judging."

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Support from the contestants of The Golden Bachelorette

Joan’s decision to take a different approach to the fantasy suites did not face opposition from the contestants, as she mentioned that the men were respectful and understanding of her choice.

She explained that while physical intimacy held significance at any age, it may play a more central role for younger individuals. Throughout the season, Vassos maintained a cautious approach to romance, revealing that she had kissed only “five or six of the men.”

Additionally, she was mindful of public displays of affection, noting that while others may have been comfortable with such gestures, she consciously avoided them. She stated:

"I don’t love public displays of affection. That’s great you’re doing it, but no one really wants to see it. I was very conscious of that."

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The remaining contestants on The Golden Bachelorette

By the end of episode 5 of The Golden Bachelorette, Joan had made her decisions during the Rose Ceremony, eliminating Keith and Jonathan from the competition. Both men had shared meaningful moments with Joan, but she felt their connections weren’t strong enough to continue into the next stage of the journey.

With hometown visits on the horizon, the 4 remaining contestants were Pascal, Chock, Jordan, and Guy. They were set to introduce Joan to their families, allowing her to explore these relationships further as the stakes grew higher, bringing her closer to finding lasting love.

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New episodes of The Golden Bachelorette air every Wednesday at 8 pm ET/PT on ABC.