The love story that captivated audiences on Channel Nine's The Golden Bachelor continues to blossom off-screen, with Barry 'Bear' Myrden and Sunny Long proudly displaying their status as a happy, blended family.
A Family Affair
Their domestic bliss was recently showcased in a series of intimate Instagram snaps and videos shared by Sunny's daughter, Chloe. The centrepiece was a selfie taken by Bear himself, capturing the entire family gathered around the dinner table. The photo featured the 62-year-old infrastructure engineer alongside his chosen partner, 58-year-old Sunny, her daughter Chloe, and Bear's sons, Jack and Charles. Two unidentified girls, thought to be partners or friends of the sons, also joined the celebration.
In one particularly sweet clip, the couple were seen packing on the PDA, with Sunny perched on Bear's lap as they shared a kiss for the camera. The scene was set for a belated birthday celebration for Bear, complete with a cake decorated with candles. Another tender moment showed Sunny playing the piano while a guest sang Elvis Presley's classic, Can't Help Falling in Love.
Spoiled on His Special Day
Adding to the personal gallery, Sunny posted a carousel of images from the dinner, cementing the family's celebration of the Golden Bachelor's 62nd birthday. One photo showed Bear surrounded by a pile of beautifully wrapped gifts, clearly spoiled by his leading lady. Another captured a beaming Sunny posing happily with Bear and two of his sons, a visual testament to their newly formed family unit.
Fans have watched Sunny and Bear’s love story unfold since the tense finale of the dating series, where Bear ultimately chose the CEO as his partner. However, their journey has not been without public scrutiny.
Hitting Back at the Critics
Since the show's conclusion, Sunny has openly addressed the naysayers who have criticised the manner in which she won the heart of the inaugural Australian Golden Bachelor. According to Yahoo Lifestyle, some commentators suggested that Barry only chose Sunny because she spoke about sex too often.
Sunny has labelled this claim a 'double standard', pointing out that young people on reality TV shows like Love Island speak candidly about intimacy without facing similar judgment. 'We were on a show to find love, and as my feelings for him grew, I wanted to understand his feelings around intimacy,' she explained. She firmly stated that desiring a physically intimate relationship is normal and that it's 'a perfectly valid thing for a woman to care about.'
Addressing the underlying criticism, Sunny added that there 'is still a lot of s***-shaming out there' towards women who are open about their desires. Defiant and self-assured, she concluded: 'I refuse to be ashamed of that. I won't apologise for being honest about who I am and what matters to me!'
