You probably saw him for all of five seconds. Or maybe you missed him entirely while reaching for the popcorn. On the premiere of The Golden Bachelorette, a 60-year-old educator named Gil Ramirez walked up to Joan Vassos, tossed her a baseball, and told her she was a "great catch." It was the kind of cheesy, harmless dad-joke energy the show thrives on. Joan laughed. She gave him a rose. He was in.
Then everything changed.
The internet has a way of digging up things people want to stay buried. Before the second episode even hit the air, court documents surfaced that turned the "sweet educator" narrative on its head. It turns out, ABC had a massive vetting problem on their hands—again.
The Shocking Restraining Order Against Gil Ramirez
The headlines started hitting right as the season was taking off. A woman who had previously dated Gil filed for a temporary restraining order (TRO) in June 2024. If you're keeping track of the timeline, that was just days before filming actually started.
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This wasn't just some minor legal misunderstanding. The allegations were heavy.
According to the documents obtained by PEOPLE, the woman alleged a "two-week period" of intense harassment. She claimed that despite telling him to leave her alone, Gil made "25 attempts daily" to contact her through phone calls, texts, and videos. She even alleged that he would show up at her house and places she frequented, even though he lived an hour away.
Think about that. Twenty-five times a day. That is a level of persistence that crosses the line from "romantic pursuit" into something much more concerning. She specifically cited "harassment – emotional" in her filing. While she noted there was no physical injury, the psychological toll of that kind of alleged stalking is massive.
Why the Background Check Failed
You'd think a multi-million dollar franchise like The Bachelor would have the best private investigators in the business. They do. But they were beaten by a calendar.
A source close to production explained that the filing happened in a tiny window of time. Basically, Gil had already passed his "thorough background investigation" and "exhaustive vetting." The restraining order was filed after the check was finished but before the cameras started rolling.
A Timeline of the Legal Case
- June 11, 2024: The temporary restraining order is granted by a judge.
- June 20, 2024: Production on The Golden Bachelorette begins.
- July 2, 2024: A scheduled court hearing is postponed because Gil hadn't been served yet.
- July 24, 2024: The case is dismissed "without prejudice for lack of prosecution for lack of service."
Basically, because the order couldn't be served to him—likely because he was off filming a reality show—the legal process stalled out and was eventually dropped. But the damage to his reputation was already done.
The "Invisible" Edit on The Golden Bachelorette
Once the news broke, ABC found themselves in a PR nightmare. They had already faced backlash for Devin Strader’s past coming to light during Jenn Tran’s season. They couldn't afford another "villain" that wasn't just a TV villain, but a real-life legal liability.
The solution? The "ghost edit."
Producers moved quickly to minimize Gil Ramirez’s screen time. They didn't just cut his confessionals; they practically erased him from the background. If you watched the subsequent episodes, you might have caught a glimpse of his shoulder or the back of his head during group dates, but he was never given a speaking part again.
He was still there in the house, which makes the editing even more impressive. Imagine having to cut around a guy who is physically present in almost every wide shot.
Why This Keeps Happening in Bachelor Nation
Honestly, it’s getting hard to defend the casting department. Between Gil Ramirez and the Devin Strader situation, fans are starting to ask if the vetting process is actually as "exhaustive" as the show claims.
There’s a systemic issue here. Most background checks look for past criminal convictions or long-standing public records. They aren't necessarily designed to catch a legal filing that happened yesterday. However, when the daughter of the alleged victim starts posting on social media that the show is "protecting a stalker," the legal jargon doesn't matter anymore. The audience loses trust.
We’re seeing a shift in how these shows are watched. The "fourth wall" isn't just broken; it's gone. Fans are doing their own detective work on Reddit and TikTok before the premiere even airs.
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What Happens Next for the Franchise
If you're a fan of these shows, you've probably noticed a darker tone lately. It's not just about "finding love" anymore; it's about surviving the public scrutiny that comes with it.
The move to edit Gil out was a reactive one. Moving forward, the franchise has to be proactive. We are likely going to see even more rigorous social media deep-dives and perhaps a second "last minute" background check conducted the day before filming starts.
For Gil, the road back to normalcy is probably non-existent in the public eye. While the case was dismissed, the details of the 25 calls a day and the alleged stalking are what people remember.
Next Steps for Concerned Viewers:
- Check the Source: When rumors break during a season, look for verified court documents rather than just "tea" accounts on Instagram.
- Follow the Timeline: Realize that what you see on TV was filmed months ago. The producers are often reacting to news at the same time you are.
- Demand Transparency: Support voices calling for better contestant vetting to ensure the safety of the leads, like Joan Vassos, who are putting their hearts (and lives) on the line.
The era of the "perfect" contestant is over. Now, we’re just hoping for contestants who don't have a fresh court date waiting for them back home.