*Mel Owens, a 66-year-old former NFL player turned lawyer, is stepping into the spotlight as the star for the second season of ABC’s “The Golden Bachelor.”
As Deadline reports, the Detroit native, who played for the Los Angeles Rams, has already stirred conversation with his blunt preferences for the women he hopes to meet on the show. During an appearance on the MGoBlue Podcasts with Jon Jansen, Owens was candid about his dating criteria. When asked by producers about his ideal age range for contestants, he responded, “45 to 60, just being honest.”
Over lunch with a producer, he doubled down, declaring, “If they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them,” emphasizing, “This is not The Silver Bachelor, this is The Golden Bachelor.” The producer reassured him, saying, “But they’re going to be hot. Don’t worry about it, don’t worry about it.”
Owens, who has no control over casting, also shared specific requirements, noting that contestants “have to be fit, because I’m staying in shape and work out and stuff.”
He urged producers to “try and stay away from artificial hips and the wigs.”
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New ‘Golden Bachelor’ Mel Owens, 66, faces backlash after saying he’ll cut women over 60: ‘Just being honest’ https://t.co/Pi0J5IMGdS pic.twitter.com/MT6oNAvnY9
— New York Post (@nypost) June 27, 2025
Following in the footsteps of Gerry Turner, the 72-year-old star of the show’s first season, Owens aims to find love after personal challenges, including the loss of his father and the end of his marriage. Turner’s brief marriage to Theresa Nast ended in divorce in 2024, just months after their wedding, following his cancer diagnosis.
Owens, a father of two, is ready to open his heart again, and viewers are eager to see how his firm stance on age and fitness will shape his journey to find love on “The Golden Bachelor.”
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