Golden Bachelor star Mel Owens says he’ll cut women over 60 as ABC stays quiet on Season 2 premiere date and contestant details.
ABC’s The Golden Bachelor is already heating up before the first rose is handed out—thanks to its new leading man, Mel Owens. The 66-year-old former NFL linebacker-turned-lawyer is sparking backlash after admitting he plans to “cut” any contestant over the age of 60, even though The Golden Bachelor is supposed to spotlight love in life’s later years.
In a June 4 interview on the In the Trenches podcast, Owens explained that while he hadn’t seen any of the women yet, he told producers his preferred age range was 45 to 60. “If they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them,” Owens recalled telling an executive producer. The reaction? A reminder that “this is not the Silver Bachelor.”
Owens also made it clear that physical fitness is a top priority, noting that he asked for women who “stay in shape,” “work out,” and don’t have “artificial hips and the wigs.” He elaborated further, saying he wants someone who’s energetic, fun, and a “lifetime learner” who embraces all that life has to offer.
While ABC hasn’t revealed a premiere date yet for Season 2, Owens was announced as the franchise’s new lead in April, following the headline-making breakup of Season 1 couple Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist, who split just months after their televised wedding.
Owens, who played nine seasons for the Los Angeles Rams after being drafted in 1981, now works as a lawyer in California specializing in sports injuries. A widowed father of two, he says he’s finally ready to find lasting love again after focusing for years on raising his sons.
“I’m looking for someone that’s honest, charming, loving, fit, someone full of life,” Owens shared. “Someone to make plans for the future, and grow stronger together as a couple.”
With The Golden Bachelor returning soon and Owens at the helm, fans are already debating whether this season will bring romance—or just more controversy.
