Golden Bachelor Mel Owens' Controversial Dating Rule Will Ruin Season 2

The Golden Bachelor 2 hasn't even filmed yet, but lead Mel Owens is already putting the season at risk. Mel, a 66-year-old former NFL linebacker turned lawyer, was announced as the second Golden Bachelor on April 22, 2025, following a successful career with the Los Angeles Rams. During a recent podcast appearance, Mel said some things he probably wishes he could take back.

Excitement was high when Mel was announced as The Golden Bachelor 2, but he recently sparked controversy with comments about the kinds of women he wouldn't date. The comments, deemed ageist by some, led to backlash, with calls for his recasting. There's considerable concern that Mel's too closed-minded to find love on the show.

Mel's Shocking Comments Explained

"If They're Over 60, I'm Cutting Them"

During a recent appearance on MGoBlue Podcasts with Jon Jansen, The Golden Bachelor 2 lead made some shocking comments about women he's open to dating. He says that when the producers asked him about the age of the women he'd like to date, he told them, “45 to 60, just being honest.” This isn't a good sign for the new season.

“If they’re 60 or over," Mel went on to say, "I’m cutting them.” Understandably, these comments angered the show's fans, who are outraged by Mel's ageism. However, the comment shouldn't come as a surprise. For 25 years, he was married to Fabiana Pimentel, who is 20 years younger than he is. He has always preferred younger women, which could doom the season.

According to Mel, the show's producers didn't accept his age limitations. "This is not The Silver Bachelor," he alleges they told him. "This is The Golden Bachelor.” He insists they promised him the women would be attractive, though.

Mel wasn't finished, going on to say the women he dated had “to be fit, because I’m staying in shape and work out and stuff. "And I told them [to] try and stay away from artificial hips and the wigs,” Mel said. The women of The Golden Bachelor 1 were beautiful older women, so there's no reason for Mel to expect otherwise.

Mel Is Biting The Hand That Feeds Him

ABC Must Deliver On The Show's Premise

Mel's stance undermines the core premise of The Golden Bachelor, which celebrates love among seniors. By excluding women his own age, Mel risks alienating the show’s audience and defeating its purpose of showcasing meaningful connections among older adults. His ageist comments contradict the show’s mission and may mean he's not doing the show for the right reasons.

Age-gap romances are a longstanding Hollywood tradition. TV and film often portray older men with younger women, but The Golden Bachelor is supposed to be about matchmaking two older singles. The show resonates because it explores the notion of a second chance at love. The show's fanbase aren't interested in watching a former pro footballer look for his much younger trophy wife.

Mel is Buying Into Stereotypes

He Has Outdated Ideas About Older Single Women

As the old saying goes, the heart wants what it wants. Like anyone else, Mel is entitled to his personal preferences. However, when he signs on for a show about older singles finding love in their golden years, his preferences take on more significance. The fact that he was so vocal about his preference makes him seem closed-minded.

It's possible that Mel has an outdated idea of women his age. Perhaps he's convinced himself that only a much younger woman can make him happy. The Golden Bachelor season 2 cast will likely include multiple women in their 60s. It'll be interesting to see if he gives any of these women a chance, or discriminates against them.

Mel Is Making Himself A Villain

It's Hard To See How He Can Possibly Redeem Himself

Mel isn't the first time a Golden Bachelor has turned into a villain in the eyes of the show's fans. The inaugural season of The Golden Bachelor introduced 72-year-old Gerry Turner to 22 single Golden women ranging in age from their 50s to 70s. Fans loved Gerry at first, and women rushed to apply to be on the show.

After it was revealed that Gerry misrepresented himself and his romantic past, his popularity sunk like a stone. Still, when Gerry gave his final rose to 70-year-old Theresa Nist, fans rooted for the couple. They were quickly married in a lavish Golden Bachelor wedding that aired on ABC just a few short weeks after their engagement aired.

The optimism was high when Gerry and Theresa rode off into the proverbial sunset, but all hopes were soon dashed. The Golden Bachelor season 1 couple announced their divorce after just three months of marriage. They never lived together during their marriage, and rarely saw each other. It was later revealed that Gerry was battling a rare form of cancer at the time.

There was some expectation that Mel would reverse the villainous Golden Bachelor trend, but it seems unlikely. It's hard to imagine what he could possibly do to win back the audience he alienated. Though Gerry eventually became the bad guy, that was months later. Mel is starting off that way, and that can't possibly end well for The Golden Bachelor.

The Golden Bachelor can be streamed on Hulu.