“The Golden Bachelor” star Theresa Nist has addressed the mixed feedback she’s received since she and Gerry Turner announced their divorce Friday — after just three months of marriage.
“To everyone who has expressed love, support and kindness to me I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are all such wonderful human beings,” Nist began Monday in a lengthy Instagram post. “It means the world to me that you took the time to reach out to me, whether in person, on the phone, by text or by direct message.”
The compliance officer continued to encourage anyone who is “confused” by the split to “please try to find it in your heart to understand and to try a little kindness. Not just for me but for the world and for everyone you encounter.”
“It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life, something I never expected to happen at this point in my life and I truly thought it was going to last forever,” Nist said. “It turns out, even at the age of 70, you don’t know everything. Sometimes things don’t go the way you planned and that’s okay.”
The newlywed added that she’s walking away from this experience with new friends from the “Golden” cast and crew, as well as the show’s fans.
Nist concluded: “I ask you to please stay open to all the experiences, opportunities, and love that may come your way. Keep smiling, keep laughing … I will. I love you all.”
Her long caption was accompanied by a photo of Dr. Seuss’ famous quote, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
The estranged couple revealed their split Friday on ABC’s “Good Morning America” — the same network where they found love and married in a televised ceremony on Jan. 4.
“Theresa and I have had a number of heart-to-heart conversations … and looked closely to our living situations,” Turner, 72, dropped the bomb, noting that they’ve decided to “dissolve” their marriage.
“We just feel like it’s best for the happiness of each of us to live apart,” he said. “I still love this person. There’s no doubt in my mind.”
Turner and Nist had been living separately since tying the knot, with him residing in Indiana and her in New Jersey.
The pair did mention that they had a prenuptial agreement and that Nist will be returning the 3.15-carat Neil Lane engagement ring.
Turner filed for divorce in Indiana shortly after the interview aired, with legal docs claiming, “The marriage of the parties should be dissolved because of irretrievable breakdown.”
“Golden” contestant Susan Noles claimed on Instagram that the pair ultimately decided to call their marriage off because “neither one of them can leave their families.”
This was the second marriage for both Turner and Nist. He hass two daughters with his late wife, Toni, and two grandkids. Nist is a mother of two kids of her own with her late husband, Billy, and has six grandsons.