Neither Gerry Turner nor Theresa Nist will be seen again after their separation.

The Golden Bachelor contestants announced on Friday, April 12, that they are going through with their divorce, barely three months after they tied the knot in a spectacular “Golden wedding” that was shown on television.

“Theresa and I have had a number of heart-to-heart conversations, and we’ve looked closely at our situation, our living situation, and so forth, and we’ve kind of come to the conclusion mutually that it’s probably time for us to dissolve our marriage,” Turner, who is 74 years old, said in a joint interview with Nist, who is 70 years old, that was broadcast on Good Morning America.

As a result of the fact that their marriage served as an inspiration to a great number of people in their seventies who were yearning for love, the former couple said that they were really anxious about how fans of the popular ABC show would respond to the news.

“We have received so much love and support from so many people who watch the Golden Bachelor and I don’t think we can tell you how many people told us it gave them so much hope,” Nist said in an interview. “We want none of that to change for anybody.”

“Don’t give up,” she said further. “Do not give up. Hold on to your optimism, because we are.

In response to the question of what went wrong, the couple said that the distance was an issue, despite the fact that they had previously stated that they were “100% committed to making it work.” For the time being, she is based out of New Jersey, while he resides at his lake property in Indiana.

According to Nist, they had discussed relocating to New Jersey together and had searched for properties in South Carolina. They had intended to move in together, and they had even explored moving home together. The statement that she gave was as follows: “We looked at home after home, but we never got to the point where we made that decision.”
Turner stated, “The thing that strikes me the most in our conversations is how dedicated both of us are to our families.” This is the piece of information that has struck me the most. After considering these conversations, we have come to the conclusion that it would be most beneficial for the happiness of both of us to live apart.

Both parties stated that they did not forget their love for one another and that the reality of being in the public glare, as well as stories about Turner’s previous relationships, had nothing to do with the breakup of their relationship. They told Juju Chang of ABC News that they are “best friends” and that they want to continue being a part of each other’s life. The two gave their interview on Good Morning America while holding hands.

“I continue to adore this individual. It is beyond any reasonable question in my opinion that I am still in love with her. As Turner pointed to Nist, who exclaimed, “I still love him,” he remarked, “I root for her every single day.”

Despite the fact that Nist stated that she would be returning the ring, which she was still wearing, Turner made a nice statement by saying, “But you know what, we don’t have to give back the memories.”

Together, Turner and Nist have come to the conclusion that they intend to go on the adventure of seeking love once again. “And we tell everybody else to continue to look for love,” Nist said to reporters.

ABC broadcasts Good Morning America every weekday, starting at seven o’clock Eastern Time (ET). Nightline will run more segments of Chang’s interview with Tuner and Nist (check your local listings for more information).