Gerry Turner Says Cancer Diagnosis Led to Split from Theresa Nist

Gerry Turner has stayed pretty quiet since he announced his split from Theresa Nist in April 2024, just a few months after tying the knot in a televised ceremony. The first-ever golden bachelor has received plenty of criticism for the divorce, with many fans pointing to a scathing review from a previous ex as proof he’s a problematic bachelor. Now, the 72-year-old reality TV star is trying to set the record straight. He recently revealed a surprising cancer diagnosis led to his quick divorce.

Gerry Turner says surprise cancer diagnosis led to split from Theresa Nist

Gerry Turner made headlines as the first-ever golden bachelor. He opened up on TV about the loss of his wife and seemingly found love with Theresa Nist. He also took criticism for failing to make that marriage work. Now, he’s opening up about what really led to the surprising split. In an interview with People, Turner revealed that he received a shocking cancer diagnosis that made him reconsider his priorities.

Turner told the publication that an orthopedist was alarmed by blood work results after the reality TV star conferred with him about a shoulder injury. From there, Turner saw an oncologist who diagnosed him with a rare, slow-growing form of cancer. He said after the diagnosis, he told his wife and decided he wanted to keep his life as “normal” as possible. The big move he and Nist planned to South Carolina was shelved, and he focused on spending time with his children and grandchildren. The marriage took a backseat and then ended in short order.

Turner has Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia. According to several sources, it is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Treatment largely depends on the cancer’s growth and the patient’s health. Some select patients may be eligible for a stem cell transplant, while others may keep the progression at bay with chemotherapy or other medications. Turner did not reveal his treatment plan.

Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist’s split doesn’t seem amicable

While Turner and Nist both suggested the split was a mutual and amicable decision, they appear to be singing a different tune now. In fact, one could argue that Turner threw some shade toward Nist in his announcement. He seemed to suggest his short-term bride wasn’t as supportive or accommodating as one might expect during his health troubles. The timing of the announcement is interesting, too.

Turner revealed his cancer diagnosis shortly after Nist appeared on a podcast and shaded her reality TV ex. Last month, Nist appeared on Almost Famous and seemed to be feeling a bit salty towards Turner. She said that Turner “altered” their living plans after their January 2024 wedding and hinted at darker reasons for their split. She did not reveal that the septuagenarian had received a cancer diagnosis during their short-lived marriage, but she did say you can’t know someone well enough to marry them in just a few weeks.