Followers Drag ‘Golden Bachelor’ Mel Owens For ‘Ageist’ Remarks: ‘Recast Him’

Mel Owens is moving into the highlight as the latest star of “The Golden Bachelor,” however his latest feedback about age and relationship have many followers questioning if he’s the best man for the job.

The 66-year-old former NFL participant, who will lead the second season of ABC’s senior relationship spinoff, sparked backlash because of latest feedback.

Mel Owens opened up about what he’s on the lookout for in girls who’re contemplating showing on his season, and he admitted he isn’t keen on relationship girls his age or older.

He went on to share that he instructed producers from the start that he most popular girls between the ages of 45 and 60. “Simply being sincere,” he added.

Owens recalled a dialog with “Golden Bachelor” govt producers, saying, “We had lunch with the chief producer. I mentioned, ‘In the event that they’re 60 or over, I am slicing them.’ [They said], ‘Oh no, you’ll be able to’t. This isn’t ‘The Silver Bachelor,’ it’s ‘The Golden Bachelor.’ He goes, ‘However they’re gonna be scorching, don’t fear about it.’”

The candid remarks didn’t sit effectively with followers of the franchise, who took to X (previously Twitter) to precise their frustration.

“Beginning to clarify why he’s 66 and single,” one consumer posted.

One other added, “Mel Owens & @ABCnetwork @GoldenBachABC can take their ageist BS & shove it!”

Others known as out the double commonplace. “Wow, what an a–. Hopefully, nobody will watch. Jogs my memory of those latest males who weren’t scorching, complaining to me that girls don’t age effectively,” a 3rd fan wrote.

“He doesn’t look like the sort for ‘in illness and in well being,'” one other X consumer mentioned as somebody requested ABC to “recast Mel Owens instantly.”

Owens is able to commerce the courtroom for candlelit dates and roses as he was formally introduced as the subsequent “Golden Bachelor” earlier this 12 months throughout Hulu’s “Get Actual Home” presentation.

Owens, who hails from a close-knit Midwestern household in Detroit, turns into the second lead within the senior spinoff of “The Bachelor,” following within the footsteps of Gerry Turner.

The 66-year-old isn’t any stranger to chasing goals and catching them. He performed soccer on the College of Michigan earlier than being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams because the ninth decide within the 1981 NFL Draft. He went on to have a profitable NFL profession earlier than pivoting to regulation.

Now primarily based in Orange County, California, Owens has spent years representing shoppers in sports-related harm circumstances.

However regardless of a life stuffed with athletic accolades and authorized victories, Owens’ proudest function has been fatherhood.

He shares two sons together with his “past love” and, after the passing of his father and the tip of his marriage, poured himself into being one of the best dad attainable, teaching sports activities groups and displaying up for each milestone.

Now, he’s shifting focus to discovering a associate to share life’s subsequent chapter with. ABC describes Owens as somebody on the lookout for “the straightforward joys of companionship, sharing life’s on a regular basis moments, planning for the long run, and rising stronger collectively as a pair.”