Former NFL linebacker Mel Owens opened the second season of The Golden Bachelor by addressing criticism over past comments about women’s ages. Owens, 66, who played for the Los Angeles Rams before becoming a lawyer, was unveiled as the show’s new lead in April. Soon afterwards, he came under fire for remarks made on a podcast in which he stated he would not date women over 60, and insisted his preference was for contestants aged between 45 and 60.
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During Wednesday’s season premiere, Owens acknowledged the backlash directly in a voiceover, saying he hoped the women would not judge him solely on what they had heard, but admitted they likely would. The new series introduced 23 women vying for a second chance at love, 22 of whom are over 60, with the remaining contestant in her 50s. Several women referenced Owens’s earlier comments in their opening exchanges with him, some opting for humour.
Diane, a 71-year-old librarian and keen hockey player, teased him with: “What the puck was that interview about on that podcast?” Owens apologised immediately, while Diane said in her introduction that she hoped to demonstrate that “attractiveness and spunk don’t end at 60.” Carla, 62, a former model, echoed that sentiment, declaring she was there to “break [his] stereotype.” Another contestant, Peg, also 62, a retired firefighter and bomb technician, showed off her rollerblading skills in her introduction video, joking: “No fake hips here.”
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Later, addressing the group as a whole, Owens apologised again and admitted his earlier remarks were “insensitive.” His candour appeared to resonate, with one contestant praising him for “owning it upfront.” The second season of The Golden Bachelor continues on ABC, airing weekly on Wednesday evenings.
