‘Golden Bachelorette’ Joan Vassos Cries With Her Kids Amid Tough Decision: 'It’s a Lot Harder Than You Think'
Joan Vassos shed tears with her children before making her man decision on The Golden Bachelorette finale.
And Parade has the exclusive first look video of the emotional moment from the show airing tonight at 8 p.m. on ABC.
As fans know, Joan began her love journey with 24 men, but whittled them down to her final two—insurance executive Chock Chapple and ER doctor Guy Gansert.
(Disney/Gilles Mingasson)
At the end of last week’s “Men Tell All” episode, viewers saw a finale preview clip in which Joan said, “This is better than any dream I could possibly have…I have two great guys that I can see a future with… That future that was looking bleak now looks very vivid to me… And I never in a million years thought I’d feel love like this again.”
But Parade has learned that on Wednesday’s finale Joan, 61, is still thinking about the memory of her late husband, John Vassos.
Throughout The Golden Bachelorette, Joan has wondered if she is really ready for the second great love of her life.
The beautiful blonde has been grieving since her husband died of pancreatic cancer in January 2021. On Episode 4, Joan's suitors performed in a strip show to benefit Stand Up To Cancer.
Although Joan has said that John sat her down before he died and told her that he wanted her to find love again, she still has expressed guilt.
The private school administrator warned her reality TV suitors at one point that she might not be ready to move on.
Parade’s clip from the Bora Bora finale shows that Joan was still conflicted as she got ready to choose between Chock and Guy or wind up alone. The Golden star’s grown children’s feelings also worried her.
Wearing a stunning white dress, she was thrilled to greet her daughter Ally and her husband Noah and her oldest son Nick and his fiancée Brooke.
“Oh, my God,” Joan said, hugging her loved ones in the island paradise after she’d spent weeks away from them doing the show.
Joan said in confessional, “I’m dying to tell them where I am in this journey.”
She updated her family, recalling her start with 24 guys. “But [now] I’m down to two,” the mother of four said.
(Disney/Gilles Mingasson)
“The first one is a guy named Guy,” Joan continued. “And there’s Chock.
“You know, it’s a long journey. It’s a lot harder than you think when you’re this age. You have a lot of other stuff to deal with and I’ve thought a lot about dad,” she said of their late father, John. “A really lot about dad.”
Joan got teary-eyed and said, “I’m sorry.”
Her daughter Ally began to wipe tears away as well.
Joan went on tearfully, “And if I had loved dad so much, would I be able to fall in love again?”
Her son Nick, 34, said, “It’s refreshing to hear that. That should happen. This shouldn’t be easy.”
Ally noted of their dad, “I always call him your husband from above.”
Joan told the cameras, “My biggest fear is, even though my kids want me to find love, actually seeing me with a person is going to be emotional for them.”
Tune in to ABC tonight to find out what happens on The Golden Bachelorette season finale and “After the Final Rose” special!
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