Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos Weighs in on Guy Gansert's Restraining Order: 'We Come Here with a Lot of Past'

Mar. 15, 2025

Guy Gansert (left) and Joan Vassos from ‘The Golden Bachelorette’.Photo:Disney/Ricky Middlesworth; Disney/Brian Bowen Smith

Disney/Ricky Middlesworth; Disney/Brian Bowen Smith

Joan Vassosis addressingGuy Gansert’s past.

On the Oct. 23 episode ofThe Viall Filespodcast, the Golden Bachelorette, 61, broke her silence on reports that Gansert’s ex-wife Heidi had previously fileda temporary restraining orderagainst him in 2021.

“TheGoldenfranchise is a little bit unique because we come here with a lot of past," Vassos began. “We’ve lived a lot of life and it doesn’t completely surprise me that there are things that they’re maybe not proud of later on.”

She went on to explain that she “never saw that side of Guy” and all of her interactions with the men vying for her heart were “pure and lovely.”

“I would have never had any indication that there was any kind of past that he had. I had no idea what the interactions with his ex-wife were at that time,” she continued. “He was so kind to me and he was so open and he was so vulnerable. He cried. He talked about, you know, finally feeling happy for the first time in so many years.”

(L) Guy Gansert and Joan Vassos on ‘The Golden Bachelorette’.Disney/Gilles Mingasson

Disney/Gilles Mingasson

Though she would have “never” guessed in a “million years,” that Gansert, 66, had that kind of history, Vassos added, “I still believe that he’s a kind and good person. You know, maybe he made a mistake. I don’t know. I don’t know anything about [it] other than what you guys know.”

Earlier this month, PEOPLE reported that Gansert’s ex-wife Heidi O’Gara previously filed for a temporary protective order in Reno, Nevada in October 2021, but dismissed it a month later before it was granted.

The day she filed for the order, she alleged that Gansert had placed something under her tire after running into her with his sister at the gym. He then allegedly “motioned like he was going to shoot me with his hand shaped like a pistol.”

On Nov. 3, 2021, O’Gara filed a motion to dismiss the application for a protective order, which was never put into place, and the judge granted her request, according to the motion.

Guy Gansert.Disney/Ricky Middlesworth

Disney/Ricky Middlesworth

On Oct. 10, Gansert (who isstill vyingfor Vassos' heart onThe Golden Bachelorette) came forward to address the filing with a lengthy statement onInstagram.

“I would like to respond to articles about a personal matter from 2021,” he wrote “This was an unfortunate situation that occurred during an incredibly stressful time for me and my former spouse and was ultimately resolved when she voluntary [sic] dismissed her request for a protective order. Together we crafted a resolution that was agreeable to both parties.”

He concluded: “The past few years have caused me to conduct a deep personal evaluation, and I will always continue to work to improve myself. I am so appreciative ofThe Golden Bacheloretteand Bachelor Nation as well as my family, who have been exceptionally supportive during the most difficult times of my life. I am eternally grateful for them.”

O’Gara also spoke out in a statement to PEOPLE at the time, saying: “After years of marriage, Guy and I share four amazing children and a new grandson. While our divorce was very difficult, to protect our family’s privacy and to move forward, we reached a mutual resolution and have chosen not to comment about it publicly.”

ABC has not publicly commented on the situation involving Gansert, but a source close to the production ofThe Golden Bachelorettetold PEOPLE that they “learned from Gansert during our vetting process that an application for a Temporary Protective Order was filed against him from his ex-wife after a disagreement."

The source noted production then “confirmed that it was never granted, as Gansert’s ex-wife voluntarily dismissed the application shortly after the filing. Therefore, he was cleared to continue through the casting process.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The Golden Bacheloretteairs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

source: people.com