Golden Bachelorette slammed for Joan Vassos’ ‘dangerous’ ice skating date that led senior suitor to take nasty fall

THE GOLDEN Bachelorette has been slammed for Joan Vassos’ ‘dangerous’ ice skating date that resulted in one senior suitor taking a nasty fall.

Producers were blasted on social media after Jordan Heller, 61, ended up falling flat on his back during the hazardous outing with lead Joan, also 61.

In scenes aired last night, the sales manager struggled with the challenge almost immediately, sparking concern from viewers who felt the activity was far too risky for contestants in their sixties.

Joan expressed her excitement before the date, asking: “So where do you think we're going?" during a car ride with her love interest.

Jordan correctly guessed: "Well, it's gotta be something cold. Ice dancing? Maybe we each get a chainsaw? I'm game for anything really. Let's just hope it's not ice skating because I don't really know how to ice skate."

But as the pair arrived at their destination, Jordan realised his hunch was right when he guessed the date’s icy theme.

Despite being greeted with a winter wonderland-themed spectacle, featuring fur trees and a wintry forest backdrop, he was visibly nervous, admitting: “I can't imagine anything that I'm worse at than ice skating.”

And, within minutes of stepping onto the rink, a "frightened" Jordan fell, landing hard on the ice.

Joan couldn’t help but laugh as she asked: “Are you okay?”

Jordan, taking it in stride, reassured her: “Yeah, I'm okay. That hurt. That's not going to be the only time.”

Joan ended up pulling Jordan along the ice to prevent further industry, with the father of three calling her the “best little tow wagon there is.”

She even said in a confessional: "I felt so bad, I couldn't help but laugh. It was literally five feet into the whole skate!"

Despite their playful tone, the risk of injury didn’t go unnoticed.

Social media lit up as the episode aired, with fans of the show calling out producers for what they saw as a reckless date choice for older contestants.

One tweeted: “I’m sorry, but whose bright idea was it to send 60somethings on an ice skating date? That could’ve ended way worse than it did.”

Another added: "Did the dumb producers just make old people get on ice skates and then he fell really bad? You looking for a lawsuit? Person should be fired for that date setup.”

Some joked about the potential consequences, with someone writing: “I wouldn’t suggest ice skating. Someone’s going to need a new hip.”

A fourth fumed: “What are the producers of The Golden Bachelorette thinking? The guy who fell could have broken a hip.”

ONE MORE SHOT

Fans have been looking forward to seeing Joan in action since she was announced as The Golden Bachelorette.

Many know her for her time on Golden Bachelor, where she signed up to find love with Gerry Turner.

Joan left the show to be with her daughter, who had just given birth at the time.

During a conversation with Gerry, Joan revealed he daughter was dealing with the aftermath of a difficult C-section.

"I got a text this morning and I think I need to go home and be a mom," she told him.

"So as much as I don't want to leave and I don't want to leave our journey, I've got to go home and be a parent."

Gerry was left in tears as he admitted he was "disappointed" to part ways with Joan.

"There's a moral compass that we both share, and sometimes the right thing to do is the hardest."