Despite the strip tease, romantic one-on-one dates, and hopeful ending, The Golden Bachelorette Episode 4 was full of drama, heartbreak, and emotional goodbyes.
During her hardest rose ceremony yet, Joan Vassos eliminated not one, not two, but FOUR Golden Guys, including the debut season’s most controversial contestant, along with two fan-favorite national treasures who will be terribly missed by members of Bachelor Nation.
If you’re looking for a detailed Golden Bachelorette Episode 4 recap, Decider’s got you covered. In there, you’ll also learn that frontrunner Chock Chapple headed home in Episode 4 following the devastating news that his mother died. He shared a tearful goodbye with Joan, but because he surprised her by returning ahead of the rose ceremony, we left him off the list of people who headed home for good.
Joan started Episode 4 with 11 spunky suitors and ended it with just seven Golden Guys. So who went home? And who will be back next week for another shot at finding lasting late-in-life love? We’ve got answers. Without further ado, here’s everything to know about the four men who went home on The Golden Bachelorette Episode 4.
Dan Roemer
Photo: Disney/Ricky Middlesworth
First on the chopping block? Dear old Dan, a 64-year-old private investor from Naples, Florida. When Dan hopped out of the limo on Night 1 he made quite the impression by dropping his glasses down and exclaiming, “Dang, girl! Look at you!” Throughout the premiere, we saw Dan open up about his two daughters (who signed him up for the show) and discuss life as a single dad for 14 years. His official bio described him as “a handsome catch with a big heart,” which we saw as his journey progressed.
During Episode 2’s talent show date, Dan shared with cameras that he was self-conscious about his hand tremors. When it came time to pick the perfect talent, however, he leaned into what set him apart from the group of guys, and did a ribbon dance to make perfect use of his shaking. Joan loved Dan’s ability to have fun and be vulnerable, so he won the competition and got to spend extra time with her on a dinner date. During his alone time with Joan, Dan opened up about his struggle with diabetes and other health issues, which got so bad that his organs started to fail and his doctor told him he had six months to live. Dan explained that he left work and focused on his health, got educated, saw excellent doctors, and found his way out of the near-death danger zone. “I still have diabetes, and I have to manage that. But all those other problems are basically gone,” he told Joan, sharing that he’s been cautious of dating because of his health and if it’s too much for her to deal with he fully understands.
Joan gave him a rose, and though he didn’t get a ton of screen time in Episode 3 and Episode 4, he had fun on his group dates and made lasting connections with the guys. When Dan was eliminated, he said, “I’m a little choked up because I’ll miss everybody, and that’s the emotional part right now. It’s not just Joan. It’s everybody and everything here.” Overall, he was a wholesome girl dad who will be missed!
If you want to stay up-to-date with Dan outside of The Golden Bachelorette, you can follow him on Instagram at @droemergsb.
Gil Ramirez
Photo: Disney/Ricky Middlesworth
Next up, Gil Ramirez, whose elimination is…complicated. From what viewers saw of Gil on the Golden Bachelorette‘s season, the 60-year-old educator from Mission Viejo, California was perfectly nice and got along fine with Joan and the guys. But ever since news broke that Gil had a restraining order filed against him just days before production began, members of Bachelor Nation have longed for the day that this man would no longer be on their TV screens. (Especially after the troubling revelation that Jenn Tran’s ex-fiancé Devin Strader had a temporary restraining order granted against him in 2017.)
So how did Gil get cast? Well, per People, a source close to The Golden Bachelorette confirmed that Gil passed the franchise’s background check, but the restraining order was filed “in the brief period between completion of our thorough background investigation and exhaustive vetting process, and the beginning of production.”
After news of the restraining order against him came to light, Entertainment Weekly revealed that a source close to the show alleged the Golden Bachelorette “further edited his already limited screen time and minimized him in promotional assets moving forward.” Despite those claims, when members of Bachelor Nation tuned in to The Golden Bachelorette‘s second episode on September 25 and beyond, some were disappointed to see quite a bit of Gil. He landed a group date rose in Episode 3, but in Episode 4 his screen time was chopped (we didn’t see him in the strip show or one-on-one time during the group date) before he was eliminated.
For now, Gil’s Golden Bachelorette days are done, but stay tuned to see if the show addresses the casting controversy at some point during the Men Tell All or live finale event.
Gary Levingston
Photo: Disney/Ricky Middlesworth
Also eliminated during Episode 4 is THAT GUY, Gary Levingston, aka the legendary Tina Turner’s godson. Since the moment Gary hopped out of the limo and grabbed Joan Vassos’ hands to dance in the driveway, we knew this absolute catch had a sparkling personality. As Night 1 progressed, Gary whipped out two telephones to have a charming chat with Joan, and when he wasn’t getting to know his Golden Gal, he was adorably saying things like “Oh my goodness gracious!” “Joan is absolutely stunning!” and “Are you kidding me?!” to the camera.
Gary’s official Golden Bachelorette bio says he “has a zest for life that lights up every room he enters!” And we’re here to officially co-sign. In Episode 2, he dazzled in gold and busted some serious moves on the group prom date. And just when you thought he couldn’t get any more wholesome, he headed to the pharmacy with Charles L. in Episode 3 to buy their sleepless brothers melatonin, ear plugs, blankets, and eye masks. He helped his team win the group date kickball game as well as extra time with Joan, and she even dubbed him the MVP of the game.
Throughout his time on The Golden Bachelorette, Gary was mostly all smiles, high spirits, dancing, and immaculate vibes. In one of his most memorable moments, however, he showed just how big his heart is by writing and framing a get well prayer to Joan’s sick mom, Mary. In Episode 4, he FaceTimed his son to wish him a happy birthday and showed his striping skills as The Nutty Professor. And though hee wasn’t the guy for Joan, before Gary left, he said, “I am such a better man than I was.” Awww. Don’t worry Gar, we’re already shipping you with another Golden Gal on Golden Bachelor in Paradise.
If you want to stay up-to-date with Gary outside of The Golden Bachelorette, you can follow him on Instagram at @gllevingston.
Charles Ling
Photo: Disney/Ricky Middlesworth
Last but absolutely never least, Bachelor Nation reluctantly said goodbye to National Treasure, the star of the season, and the most wholesome contestant this franchise (or any reality show) may ever see: Charles L.
In the premiere, Charles shared that he’s a Girl Dad to two daughters, and that over the course of the past six years he’s gotten very lonely because his wife of 36 years died suddenly from a brain aneurysm. Charles described his late wife as his “first and only love,” but because his daughters want to see him happy, he decided to put himself out there again. Though Charles took a step to regain control of his life, he made it clear to Joan on Night 1 that “Charles not in charge,” which had Bachelor Nation swooning. During the premiere, we also saw him hilariously explore the Bachelor Mansion, marvel over all the meat in the freezer, slap the counter tops in approval, and “wow” over the stove and fireplace.
In Episode 2, Pascal helped the precious Charles look “a little bit handsome” in a bow tie and baby blue suit, but cameras caught him sitting alone on the bleachers because “prom is a little bit new to me.” Charles opened up to Joan about his wife’s unexpected death, and after admitting the prom date was the happiest day of his life since she passed, Charles called his daughter on speaker phone to share his happiness. After his adorable pharmacy run in Episode 3, the 66-year-old retired data analyst from Pennsylvania stole hearts again when he sat down with ER doctor Guy to ask questions about his wife’s death that had been haunting him for six years.
Charles slayed at kickball despite never having played, taught his pals tai chi by the pool, and absolutely owned his strip tease on Episode 4’s group date. When his name wasn’t called during the rose ceremony, I actively yelled in agony at my TV screen. But like the class act he is, Charles wished Joan good luck and positively reflected on his journey. “I came in and arrived at the mansion with sadness. Missed my wife. After several weeks here at the mansion it really helped me pull myself out from the hardship that I experienced,” he said. “The remaining friends we bond together, opened our hearts, helped each other. They are all gorgeous people. It’s a successful journey for me, hanging out with my friends. It’s a different form of love. I did find it.” BRB, SOBBING! Protect this angel baby man at all costs.
Before Charles left, another Class Act, Mark Anderson, came out to hug him, which is further proof that he’s a good one. The guys chanted “Charles in charge!” to bid him farewell, and I’m not sure I’ll ever miss a contestant on my TV screen more.
If you want to stay up-to-date with Charles L. outside of The Golden Bachelorette, you can follow him on Instagram at @charles__ling.
Who’s Moving On To The Golden Bachelorette Episode 45
Need a refresher on which seven Golden Guys will be returning next week on The Golden Bachelorette Episode 5? Here’s the list of Joan’s remaining men:
Chock, 60, an insurance executive from Wichita, Kan.
Guy, 66, an ER doctor from Reno, Nev.
Jonathan, 61, a shipping consultant from Oakland, Iowa
Jordan, 61, a sales executive from Chicago, Ill.
Keith, 62, a girl dad from San Jose, Calif.
Mark, 57, an Army veteran from Leesville, La.
Pascal, 69, a salon owner from Chicago, Ill.
New episodes of The Golden Bachelorette premiere Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC with next-day streaming on Hulu.
