Channel Nine is facing significant backlash from viewers over its decision to film the emotional finale of The Golden Bachelor at the foot of a mountain range in South Africa, with fans complaining the location was far too windy and made the romantic moment appear awkward.
Spectacular Backdrop Turns Windy Nightmare
While the Twelve Apostles mountain range in Cape Town provided a spectacular backdrop for Barry 'Bear' Myrden and Sunny Long to declare their love for one another, online critics quickly pointed out that the spot was excessively windy. Social media clips showed high winds playing havoc with Sunny's hairstyle and Bear's jacket, distracting from what should have been an emotional high point for the couple.
One frustrated viewer commented on Instagram: "Surely they could have relocated to a less windy area ffs," while another simply added, "So awkward." The challenging conditions led to some unintentional humour when Bear told Sunny "You blow me away" - with one fan noting: "She is actually freezing, poor thing."
Cape Town's Reputation as the Windy City
A follower familiar with the area explained the production team's dilemma, stating: "They filmed the finale in Cape Town. There's never anywhere that isn't windy there. We call it the windy city." This local knowledge suggests that Channel Nine may have underestimated the challenging weather conditions that are characteristic of the region.
The 61-year-old engineer ultimately gave his heart to 58-year-old CEO Sunny Long in the dramatic conclusion, with the couple confirming they have maintained their relationship in the months since filming ended through a series of secret hookups.
Secret Meetings and Future Plans
In a revealing interview with Woman's Day, the couple disclosed they had kept their romance alive through clandestine Airbnb meetings where they had to arrive separately and avoid windows. Sunny described the experience as "a bit of fun sneaking around" and compared their dynamic to "Mr Bond and his Bond girl."
In a surprising development, Bear hinted that marriage might be in their future, telling the publication: "We've got a lot of things to discuss" regarding a potential engagement. However, Sunny confirmed they're taking things slowly, saying: "Both of us want to see our love grow organically, so we're going to take it one step at a time."
Despite the challenging filming conditions, the finale featured genuinely heartwarming moments, including Bear's emotional declaration to Sunny: "You amaze me with your resilience. You blow me away. You're a force of nature. You deserve somebody to lift you up and never clip your wings. When I think about the future, I can't imagine doing it without you."
Sunny responded through tears: "For me, my dark days are gone and bright days are here because of you. I can't wait to go on this journey with you in life." The couple's genuine connection ultimately shone through, even if the windy conditions threatened to steal the spotlight.
