Former football player Mel Owens faced controversy before even starting his journey on The Golden Bachelor Season 2. His comments sparked backlash from fans, leaving many to question why confident senior women would want to date him on the show.
Three of Owens’ contestants spoke about how his remarks personally impacted them.
Owens, 66, sparked controversy in June when he told the In the Trenches podcast with Jon Jansen that his preferred age range for contestants was 45 to 60, adding bluntly, “If they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them.”
He also said his contestants needed to be “fit” and that he wanted to “stay away from the artificial hips and the wigs.”
Social media backlash was swift, with fans accusing Owens of undermining the spirit of The Golden Bachelor, which they had embraced since Gerry Turner’s first season.
Criticism intensified because Owens’ ex-wife, Fabiana Pimentel Owens, is 19 years younger than him.
Rumors circulated that he might be replaced as the show’s second Golden Bachelor, but Owens remained in the role, with the controversy taking center stage during the season premiere on September 24.
Owens apologized on camera to the 23 women dating him on night one, saying, “It was insensitive, unfair…I hope you forgive me and let me earn it back.”
While the contestants graciously accepted his apology on camera, it wasn’t easy for some behind the scenes.
Yoga instructor Nicolle Kate, 64, explained her reaction, saying, “I consider myself an ageist activist. I want to inspire women in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s to stay vital, beautiful, and sexy—more than ever before. So of course, I was offended and had a little guard up about continuing this journey.”
Beautiful blonde Nicolle shared, “Right from the start, when we first met him, he addressed it directly, took full responsibility, and apologized. That’s all anyone can do. I decided to give him a second chance, and so far, he’s shown himself to be a real gentleman. He even said, ‘You guys have really proven me wrong,’ and he seems genuinely grateful to be here with all of us.”
Retired firefighter and bomb tech Peg Munson said Owens’ podcast explosion also gave her pause, snapping, “I think it’s bullshit. I think he opened his mouth and inserted his foot. Are you kidding me?”
Owens’ offhand remarks almost ended Peg’s Golden Bachelor experience. She said, “I almost did not come here because of that. Two days before arriving, I thought, ‘I can date that all day long.’ He’s a dime a dozen—like many other [assholes].
“I had to take a moment and suspend judgment,” she continued. “I said, ‘Let me just give this guy a chance to explain himself,’ because social media had absolutely torn him apart—which was fair, because what he said was extremely insensitive and rude. I don’t want to date that. If that’s who he is, I’m out.”
However, as viewers have seen, Peg, 62, was satisfied with Owens’ explanation and has since built a connection with him on the show.
Celebrity fitness trainer Debbie Siebers, 65, the only contestant of Owens who has never been married, felt sympathy for him from the start.
She explained, “When I first heard about the controversy, my immediate thought—and I even reached out to the producers was to see how he was handling it. Being in the industry, I understand how social media can blow things out of proportion and take comments out of context.
Before knowing all the details, I asked the producers, ‘How’s Mel handling this?’ and they said, ‘That’s really kind.’ I replied, ‘No, because he probably just wasn’t thinking it through. He was talking to his buddy and said some off-color things, but of course he knew he’d be meeting women over 60 on this show.’”
Debbie continued, “Of course, my family and friends kept sending me news updates, but I told them, ‘I appreciate your concern, but I want to form my own opinion about this guy.’ Did it make me a little hesitant? Yes. I wondered how I would feel knowing the things he had said, especially with all these other women competing for his affection when he seemed to prefer a 40-year-old.
“That’s been my biggest concern, because every man I’ve been interested in, especially since moving to Denver, is my age or older. They may enjoy my company, but often they want a younger woman. I worried, ‘Why would I set myself up for that?’ But I’m so glad I came, because I did get to meet the real Mel.”
New episodes of The Golden Bachelor air Wednesday nights on ABC.