The problem with shows like The Golden Bachelorette is that you get attached to a lot of people, but only one can make it to the end. That holds as true for Joan Vassos as it does for us. And Charles L. was one of those contestants fans fell in love with right away due to his sense of humor and his endearing positivity. That wasn’t enough to win Joan’s heart, however, and he was eliminated in Week 4.
But Charles L. won the hearts of Bachelor Nation, and even impressed host Jesse Palmer, who described Charles L. as “legendary” and a “national treasure.” The 66-year-old retired financial analyst from Pennsylvania might now be out of the show as Vassos continues on her search for love, but that doesn’t mean he’s ruling out finding his own love story in the future. And hey, they haven’t announced the new Golden Bachelor yet.
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What has happened in Charles L.’s life since Joan Vassos gave him a hug goodbye and told him “You changed my life?” Where is Charles L. now?
As of mid-October 2024, Charles L. was traveling in China. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Charles L. shared that he was in Suzhou near Shanghai, China, which he called “a great place.” He also referred to the outpouring of love he has received from Bachelor Nation, saying, This is really beyond my imagination. I’m grateful to the fans. Maybe there’s a message there. A lot of things, what I did or what I said, I guess related to themselves or related to their relatives. Or maybe they just want to see a world where people really care for one another rather than fight.”
Related: Which couples are still together from The Bachelorette?
He also spoke about how his approach to dating has changed since The Golden Bachelorette, telling the outlet the show helped him a lot, “I would say it has changed a lot. Before the program, I was kind of in a mood of being sad, also being not sure what to do, and also worried what my family or friends would think of me if I move in that direction. However, during the program, when I had a lot of conversations with Joan and other people in our group, we all feel like it’s okay to be sad, but also, it’s okay to get out of your boundary and move on with your life. We deserve to seek our happiness ourselves.”
This kind of outlook explains why Charles quickly became a fan favorite, and why fans of the show would really love to see him have a chance to find love for himself on screen in the next season of the show. However, Charles L. didn’t know much about the next Golden Bachelor, or at least tried to play coy when questioned about it, saying, “Oh, boy. It is a new idea to me. Let me see. If the opportunity knocks on my door, I’ll consider.”
