Mel Owens is facing the music — and he’s doing it in front of a camera crew and a mansion full of sharp, stunning, and very opinionated women.
As filming kicks off for Season 2 of The Golden Bachelor, Owens is already addressing the backlash that exploded online following a podcast interview in which he made shockingly ageist remarks about women over 60 — despite being 66 himself.
What He Said That Sparked a Firestorm
Back in June, Mel appeared on the In The Trenches podcast, where he said he preferred to date women between 45 and 60, adding that he told producers to avoid “artificial hips and wigs, you know, that kind of stuff.”
Yep, that comment didn’t age well — and neither did the public’s response.
Fans were furious, demanding ABC drop Owens from the show before Season 2 even aired. And Mel? At first, he didn’t get what the big deal was.
But according to a new Glamour interview published Friday, it took a call from a respected colleague to finally open his eyes to the tone-deaf nature of his words.
Mel’s On-Camera Mea Culpa
Mel told Glamour that on Night One of filming, he came in ready to own his mistake — face-to-face with the very women he offended.
“I apologized immediately to every woman,” Owens shared.
“And during one-on-ones, some told me they genuinely appreciated it.”
The moment didn’t go unnoticed by producers either — the season’s early episodes will apparently include a roast, where the women hilariously clap back. One even likened Mel to a Detroit-style pizza (we’re guessing that means deep, cheesy, and square?).
From Misstep to Mindset Shift
Owens now admits his comments stemmed from years of not dating and a completely outdated idea of what women in their 60s are like.
“I was honestly blown away,” he said.
“These women are brilliant. They’re active, working, vibrant — they totally changed my perspective.”
Mel’s willingness to admit he was wrong is earning him some early redemption points — but it’s clear he knows it’ll take more than a blanket apology to win back America’s trust.
“I hope people will give me a chance,” he told Glamour.
“I plan to earn back the audience’s respect — one episode at a time.”
Will Golden Bachelor Fans Forgive Him?
While the apology might smooth things over with the contestants, Bachelor Nation is a different beast. Social media remains split, with some saying Owens deserves a second shot — and others calling for a different lead entirely.
Here’s what fans are saying:
- “He should’ve never been cast after those comments.”
- “At least he’s owning it and learning — most men wouldn’t.”
- “Let’s see how he treats the women on screen before we decide.”
Final Thought: Redemption or Rejection?
Mel Owens is Golden Bachelor Season 2’s wildcard — a man whose old-school thinking collided with a very modern, empowered group of women. Whether he can rewrite the narrative remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: this season is gonna bring the drama, the growth, and the girl power.
Stay tuned, because this is not your average love story.
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