The Golden Bachelorette alum Charles Ling may not be off the market just yet — but he has received plenty of messages from women.
When asked by cohost Kathy Swarts on the Wednesday, February 19, episode of the “Bachelor Happy Hour” podcast if women were sliding into his DMs, Charles, 66, replied, “Yes. There are [a] lot.”
Kathy, 71, appeared shocked that Charles hadn’t acted on any of the correspondences. “I have not started it yet,” Charles said of communicating with the women.
“Well, what are you waiting for? The July 4th fireworks? I mean, let’s go!” Kathy quipped, to which Charles replied, “Actually, I was chatting with Chock [Chapple]. I’m pretty, kind of, slow in that aspect. For whatever reason. … Maybe I’m waiting for that right lady.”
Why Charles L. ‘Sensed’ His ‘The Golden Bachelorette’ Elimination
Charles suggested that Kathy and her cohost, Susan Noles, should “coach” him on “how to move forward” — which the Golden Bachelor alums were enthusiastic about. (Kathy and Susan, 67, both vied for the affections of Gerry Turner on season 1 of the Bachelor spinoff, but he ended the show engaged to Theresa Nist. After a few months of marriage, Gerry, 72, and Theresa, 71, announced they were getting a divorce in 2024.)
“Our first advice to you is, are you on dating sites?” Kathy asked, to which Charles replied, “No.” Susan, for her part, quipped, “He doesn’t even answer the DMs, we expect him to be on the dating sites?”
While Charles may not be utilizing dating apps to find The One, he said his friends are hoping to set him up on a blind date — but he hasn’t taken them up on their offer yet. “It’s been holidays, Christmas, New Year’s, I was traveling [to] New York,” Charles explained.
When asked whether he would be interested in a Golden spinoff of Bachelor in Paradise, Charles shared that his ideal world would involve a meet-cute with a woman while on a trip.
Golden Bachelorette: Men Tell All Interrupted by Charles L.’s ‘Biggest Fan’
“I would love to bump into [a] nice lady or a girl [on] a cruise,” Charles said, adding that it’s his “personal dream.”
Bachelor Nation met Charles when he vied for the affections of Joan Vassos on The Golden Bachelorette season 1. While Joan ended the season accepting a proposal from Chock, 61, Charles will always look back on his experience with the ABC reality dating show fondly.
Charles shared on an October 2024 episode of the “Bachelor Happy Hour” podcast that he credited the show and his cast members for helping him get candid about his “sorrows.”
“[They] say, ‘Charles, it’s OK, we know it’s sad. But it’s also OK to move on, when opportunity knocks on my door,’” Charles said.
Charles gushed that he also has gratitude for his friendship with Joan, 62. “We like each other, but as you know, like each other is one thing. To love each other is another thing,” he said. “I’m happy for Joan. She continues her journey to find the best one she really loves.”
