Golden Bachelor Bear hits back at rumours about his relationship history
Golden Bachelor Bear hit back at recent tabloid reports about his past in a new interview alongside his winner, Sunny.
Golden Bachelor Barry ‘Bear’ Myrden hit back at recent tabloid reports about his past in a new interview alongside his winner, Sunny Long.
In a new video and interview published by TV Week, Bear, who chose Sunny over runner-up Janette during Sunday’s Golden Bachelor finale, addressed recent reports suggesting he hadn’t been upfront about his relationship history since the passing of his wife 14 years ago.
Woman’s Dayclaims Bear had been seeing Sydney resident Jo Kinghorn – an heiress and daughter of finance tycoon John Kinghorn – for a number of years before his stint as The Golden Bachelor.
The outlet reported that the pair were even engaged before eventually ending the relationship.
The Daily Mail alleged Bear had had two long-term relationships since his wife’s passing and his decision to sign up for Nine’s dating show.
But speaking to TV Week, Bear said he’d never claimed he had been single that whole time, but kept details of the relationships quiet out of respect for the women involved.
“From the beginning, I said that I wasn’t celibate for 14 years. I did have relationships. I didn’t want to make them public out of respect for what we had with the ladies, with the two ladies,” he said, with new love Sunny by his side.
“But I certainly didn’t keep it secret. I said I was in a relationship, or two different relationships, long term. They didn’t work out. I took blame for that because I think I wasn’t ready at the time. But I certainly didn’t keep it secret.”
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One secret Bear and Sunny have had to keep for the past seven months since filming wrapped on The Golden Bachelor: That they are still together.
“It was hard keeping separate for the last seven months. That was a bit bizarre. Knowing you’re in a loving and beautiful relationship, but we couldn’t be seeing it together,” he said. “But the outcome is well worth it.”
And the pair aren’t hiding their relationship anymore: They were spotted this week having a date night in Sydney’s CBD, looking smitten as they walked through the city hand-in-hand.
During Sunday’s finale, Bear described Sunny as “accomplished, driven … she’s a force of nature. I didn’t think it was possible to fall in love again.”
“When I think about the future, I can’t imagine doing it without you. I love you,” he told her.
But that wasn’t before he copped a few parting shots from his runner-up Janette, who stopped him as he tried to let her down gently by insisting he had also developed strong feelings for her.
“Don’t disrespect Sunny by saying anything like that. I hope you’re very happy, both of you,” she said before making a hasty exit.
It wasn’t until she was in the safety of her car that Janette let her emotions show.
“I feel like a fool. I thought he was going to choose me,” she said.
Originally published as Golden Bachelor Bear hits back at rumours about his relationship history
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