After facing persistent rumors that their long-distance relationship had quietly dissolved, The Golden Bachelorette star Joan Vassos has set the record straight with a resounding “OF COURSE WE ARE STILL TOGETHER!” She made the announcement while preparing for a major relationship milestone, officially confirming she and her fiancé, Chock Chapple, are spending an entire month together in New York City.
Joan DECLARED that the purpose of this extended trip—which involves moving her belongings from Maryland—is explicitly to TEST THE WATERS and see if they should permanently move in together and finally secure a shared apartment in the Big Apple.
The New York Milestone: Testing the Waters
The couple, who got engaged in the show’s finale, have maintained separate homes in Maryland (for Joan) and Kansas (for Chock) while frequently traveling to New York City to search for a shared “love nest.” Following fan speculation that the distance and lack of a shared home were tearing them apart, Joan confirmed their new, decisive step.
“We decided that we just wanted to be there to start the whole month of December because it’s just so magical in New York City,” Joan stated in a recent interview.
Crucially, she revealed that she is moving from Maryland with “all [her] stuff” to New York and confirmed their intention to stay there until early January. This extended, temporary residency is the ultimate stress-test: DECLARING the purpose of the trip is to TEST THE WATERS for a permanent move-in.
The Permanent Move: Setting The Stage
Joan admitted the delay in moving was due to underestimating the challenges of renting in New York and their busy post-show schedules. However, she believes the December stay will resolve their ongoing housing search and solidify their future.
“We’re going to be total New Yorkers. We’re just going to walk a lot, we’re gonna go to Central Park… That’s kind of our point of going there, because we want to see if we wanna live there,” Joan explained. “Maybe we’ll find a place.”
This month-long commitment directly addresses the key friction point of their long-distance relationship, signaling a serious and mature move toward combining their lives, but only after ensuring they are compatible in the same city full-time.
Squashing the Rumors: “Of Course We Are Still Together!”
Joan also used the announcement to emphatically squash the recent breakup rumors that ignited after she failed to mention Chock specifically in a Thanksgiving social media post.
“It’s ridiculous. Of course we’re together! We’re going to be together the whole month of December,” she stressed, confirming that she considers Chock “family” and their enduring engagement is stronger than ever.
The couple is intentionally taking their relationship slowly, having already dealt with the devastating split of the first Golden Bachelor couple, Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist, and are prioritizing authenticity over rushing down the aisle.
Joan and Chock are using the magic of the holiday season to find out if their golden romance can survive the ultimate test of full-time, big-city living.
