‘Golden Bachelorette’ star speaks out about ex-wife’s restraining order request

Guy Gansert, one of Joan Vassos’ remaining suitors on “The Golden Bachelorette,” spoke out after his ex-wife’s previous restraining order request recently came to light.
On Wednesday, The Sun revealed Gansert, a 66-year-old emergency room doctor from Reno, Nevada, was the subject of a temporary restraining order request in 2021, soon after his and ex-wife Heidi Seevers O’Gara’s divorce was finalized.
According to court documents obtained by USA TODAY Thursday, in October 2021 O’Gara filed an application for a protection order against domestic violence in Nevada family court. Three weeks later, O’Gara requested to withdraw the application, and as a result the judge denied her petition for a temporary restraining order.
In an Instagram post Thursday, Gansert wrote, “I would like to respond to articles about a personal matter from 2021. 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 dismissed her request for a protective order. Together we crafted a resolution that was agreeable to both parties.”
“My ex-wife and I recently asked the court to seal her application for the protective order as we had hoped to maintain privacy for our family. But, I know that with being in the public eye comes responsibility,” his statement continued. “My ex-wife and I were married for 34 years and in that time had four children who we raised together and deeply love. They are my greatest accomplishment. My divorce was extremely difficult for me and led me to a very low point in my life and as a result I acted in a way that does not represent who I am.”
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Gansert 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 of The Golden Bachelorette and 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.”
A representative with knowledge of the situation but unauthorized to speak publicly said the “Golden Bachelorette” production “learned from Mr. Gansert during our vetting process that an application for a Temporary Protective Order was filed against him from his ex-wife after a disagreement but confirmed that it was never granted, as Mr. Gansert’s ex-wife voluntarily dismissed the application shortly after the filing.
“Therefore, he was cleared to continue through the casting process.”
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According to the former couple’s joint emergency motion to seal records, filed Sept. 30, they asked the court to seal the docket and documents in their case from public view due to the risk of “exposing their personal information, and in particular information which would tend to embarrass or unnecessarily expose their families to unwanted public attention, harassment, and/or personal harm.”
Gansert is “a successful and well-respected medical doctor in Reno, Nevada,” and O’Gara, formerly the Republican state Senate minority leader in Nevada, is “a retired high-ranking Nevada politician.”
“Dr. Gansert is participating in a nationally syndicated television show which may cause greater attention to be drawn to this matter than previously anticipated. As such, the Parties both desire that the contents of the TPO – either in their entirety or in part – be sealed to protect their families from potential unwanted public attention,” the filing reads.
They noted that regarding O’Gara’s Oct. 12, 2021, application, “The Court made no finding that the facts contained in the application for TPO were valid. Ms. O’Gara voluntarily dismissed her application, and the Parties have since reached a mutual resolution as to their relationship. Moreover, the parties memorialized his understanding in their confidential divorce proceedings.”
On Oct. 4, the court denied the motion because it “does not present any compelling legal authority tosupport a ruling granting the requested relief.”
Another legal complication:Gil Ramirez’s temporary restraining order revelation prompts show removal
In her hand-written October 2021 application, O’Gara detailed her request for protection from Gansert for 45 days.
She explained an alleged incident in which his ex-husband allegedly “placed something under my rear driver’s tire” while she was at a fitness club with her sister-in-law. When she confronted him about it, she wrote, “he pointed his finger like a gun then ‘shot’ at me.” She claimed he was “extremely unstable” while allegedly taking sleep medication.
O’Gara claimed this was “the first time he physically tried to threaten me” after several months of sending her “stacks of text messages.”
This is not the first time the inaugural “Golden Bachelorette” season has faced controversy regarding a contestant’s past alleged misconduct. In late September, it was revealed that a women had filed a request for a temporary restraining order against Gil Ramirez – who left the show after failing to receive a rose from Vassos in Wednesday’s episode – in June, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY last month.
The temporary restraining order petition, which claimed Ramirez made “repeated unwanted contact” with the woman, her family and friends, was dismissed by the court in late July due to “lack of prosecution.”
A person familiar with the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly told USA TODAY the request was filed after the production completed a “thorough background investigation” and before filming. Though the show planned to edit down Ramirez’s screen time, he continued to make brief appearances in subsequent episodes and earned a group date rose last week.
Revelations of “Golden” contestants’ alleged misconduct have also come on the heels of a “Bachelorette” season that ended in disaster when lead Jenn Tran’s relationship with her final pick, Devin Strader, blew up prior to the finale’s airing.
Soon after the season ended, it was revealed that a temporary restraining order against Strader was granted to his ex-girlfriend in 2017, though Strader denied allegations of abusive behavior. Per court documents reviewed by USA TODAY, he’d pleaded guilty to charges of trespassing and simple criminal damage to property.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, The National Domestic Violence Hotline (thehotline.org) allows you to speak confidentially with trained advocates online or by the phone, which they recommend for those who think their online activity is being monitored by their abuser (800-799-7233). They can help survivors develop a plan to achieve safety for themselves and their children.