A hometown date on Golden Bachelor Australia turned dramatically awkward when contestant Barry 'Bear' Myrden bluntly declared he was not a feminist, causing immediate outrage and threatening his relationship with frontrunner Sunny.
A Tense Family Dinner
The 58-year-old real estate professional had initially enjoyed a round of golf with Sunny before meeting her daughters, Chloe and Penny, and Chloe's boyfriend, Brendan. However, the mood shifted when Bear jokingly remarked that Sunny was 'jumping the gun' by calling him her boyfriend. When probed about how many girlfriends he had on the show, he quipped that Sunny was merely 'the one for today,' raising eyebrows around the table.
Sunny, a confident CEO, had already confessed to falling for Bear, but her daughters were determined to protect their mother from potential heartbreak. Their questioning quickly turned serious, with Chloe asking Bear to reveal his biggest flaw. He honestly admitted that he often compares new relationships to the one he shared with his late wife, Audrey.
The Dealbreaker Question
As dinner progressed, the daughters revealed that their mother's strength and success had intimidated previous partners. Bear was quick to assure them that Sunny's personality was 'not a problem.' Then came the pivotal question from Chloe: 'Would you call yourself a feminist?'
Without a moment's hesitation, Bear replied, 'Am I a feminist? No.' The blunt answer instantly soured the atmosphere. Chloe later reflected, 'The fact that he answered so confidently - it tells a lot about who he is as a person. This is an absolute dealbreaker. I'm not a fan of him anymore.'
A Revealing Clarification
In a startling revelation during a piece-to-camera, Bear confessed he didn't actually know what the word 'feminist' meant. 'I come from a family of all boys, raising all boys,' he explained. 'So I have no idea what being a feminist means.'
After Chloe clarified that feminism simply advocates for equal opportunity between men and women, Bear immediately changed his stance. 'Oh, well then yes,' he said. 'I one hundred per cent believe in equal opportunity.'
This clarification eased the tension, and the daughters gave the couple their cautious, albeit reluctant, blessing. Chloe conceded, 'I think maybe it's a generational thing. But if Mum's happy, then I'll support it.'
Sunny herself brushed off the drama, expressing her joy at finding love later in life. Despite the hiccup, the pair left the date stronger, though viewers are left wondering if Bear's blunder will resurface at the final rose ceremony.
