Mel Owens, the 66-year-old heartthrob from “The Golden Bachelor,” made waves this week. His ageist remarks made earlier this year stoked palpable anger. On a recent episode of his “In the Trenches” podcast, he said his ideal contestants would be women in the 45–60 range. On women, he went a step further — announcing that women over the age of 60 would not be considered. This caused a huge outcry, which led to Owens sitting down with a number of them to hear their concerns first-hand.
During the podcast, Owens stated, “You know, if they’re 60 and over, I’m cutting them,” which many listeners found offensive. In response to the backlash, he made a public apology, saying he regretted what he had said. “I was wrong. I replay it in my head a lot. I have regrets and I’m sorry for all the things I said in the podcast,” he acknowledged in a recent interview.
Owens’ time on “The Golden Bachelor” hit a critical inflection point. He gave the first impression rose to Gerri, a spunky 64-year-old contestant from Rockville, Maryland. This decision appeared to mark a turning point in his view on age and relationships. In a meeting with several women from the show, he listened to their stories and concerns, which led him to reflect on his comments more deeply.
I failed on migration,” Owens said at the meeting. He reiterated his hope for a do-over so he could prove that he prioritizes connection over the age. The women he met with shared their own experiences, with Carla stating that they are “to break all of your stereotypes about women over 60.” Alexandra added, “We (are) showing the world that people over 60 can continue being fun and funny and have fire inside.”
Diane, one of the women who confronted Owens, told me that she was particularly saddened by his comments on his podcast. “What the puck was that interview on that podcast?” she questioned. Yet, she acknowledged his efforts to address the situation by saying, “I loved the way Mel addressed the podcast. He not only owned it, he owned it upfront.”
One player who has been particularly outspoken throughout this controversy has been Mel Owens. He’s passionate about the idea that age should not be a defining factor in meaningful relationships. “When they walk out, I’m not thinking (about their) age. I’m looking and feeling for connection. It’s the chemistry,” he remarked.
Owens’ season of “The Golden Bachelor” airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. It has a wonderfully diverse lineup of contestants, from Gerri and Diane to Alexandra. The show aims to highlight love and relationships among older adults, challenging societal stereotypes about aging.
