Minneapolis native Leslie Fhima made it to the final two of “The Golden Bachelor,” but ultimately wasn’t chosen by Gerry Turner in the finale episode that aired Thursday night.
Turner told Fhima, a former figure skater and Zumba teacher at the Sabes JCC, after their last date on the show in Costa Rica in, that he was going to propose to the other finalist, Theresa Nist.
Fhima said on the live finale that she was “cautiously optimistic” that she was going to be chosen.
“I don’t get ahead of myself,” said Fhima. “I don’t count on things until they happen. It’s Gerry’s journey and his choice, ultimately.”
In their first face-to-face meeting since Turner broke the news to Fhima, she told him that she was authentically herself with him.
“Everyone knows what you said on camera, but only we knew what was said off camera,” she said. “Your words meant so much to me, and thats why I was blindsided.”
Said Turner: “I thought you were the right person until suddenly you weren’t.”
Turner apologized to Fhima how everything went down, but Fhima said in response: “I don’t accept your apology but I understand it.“
The internet, however, was firmly on Team Leslie:
“Is there something you want to tell me?” Gerry shakes his head no like a fucking coward.
Leslie’s intuition knows what’s going on- don’t play dumb and just break up with her then.
Gerry might be old but he is still a man #GoldenBachelor pic.twitter.com/9TNZL4FgMg
— Hannah T (@hannahtea_) December 1, 2023
The only thing this show has taught me is a 70 year old man is no different than a 27 year old man. My nights ruined goodnight #GoldenBachelor pic.twitter.com/Gl5K18SMok
— TAM SURBA (@samanthaSWERVa) December 1, 2023
You don’t tell someone YOU ARE THE ONE and then make them the number 2 Gerry #TheGoldenBachelor #GoldenBachelor pic.twitter.com/Fni2KVgGUE
— RightOnTopOfThatROSE (@SueEllenCrandal) December 1, 2023
gerry welcome to the poor decisions bachelor hall of fame#TheGoldenBachelor #GoldenBachelor pic.twitter.com/EQs884eOnt
— bach memes (@thebachelwhore) December 1, 2023
I LOVE THAT LESLIES GETTING HER POUND OF FLESH ON NATIONAL TELEVISION !!!
TAKE NOTE GENTLEMAN OF THE WORLD, YOU DO NOT play women like this!! #teamleslie #TheGoldenBachelor
— Caroline Twohill (@ctwohillphoto) December 1, 2023
Gerry missed out on a wonderful and exciting life adventure with this wholesome and beautiful Leslie and her special family in Minneapolis.
Maybe Leslie is better off. She is so much more, and now she will have a chance for a better life with someone else. You did great, Leslie! Don’t even look back!
I’m a 62 year old bachelor in Minnesota and think she’s a wonderful lady.
I wonder who Gerry would have chosen had he slept with both Theresa and Leslie before making his decision. Sleeping with Theresa seems to be what “turned his head” and changed his mind.