What did Mel Owens say about age and appearance that angered ‘Golden Bachelor’ fans? Details explored

The Golden Bachelor's newest bachelor, Mel Owens, is facing some heat from fans after his recent appearance on the In the Trenches podcast. The former NFL linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams is being criticized for his comment regarding the age of women he is looking forward to meeting and willing to date on the show. In Owens' words, he said:

"They ask me, 'What’s your preference?' So I just said [ages] 45 to 60, just being honest... And then we had lunch with the executive producer. I said, You know, if they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them."

ABC producers have tried to explain to Owens that he simply cannot eliminate the contestants based on their age alone. However, Mel stood firm on his choice and continued to explain the reason for his preferences. The 66-year-old former NFL football player said:

"This is not 'The Silver Bachelor,' this is 'The Golden Bachelor.'

He added:

"They've got to be fit, because I stay in shape and work out and stuff. And I told [producers] to try to stay away from the artificial hips and the wigs."

Fans were furious about Mel Owens' ageist comments.

Who is Mel Owens?

Mel Owens is a former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams from 1981 to 1989. He also played college football at the University of Michigan from 1976 to 1980. Growing up, Owens' father was a professional baseball player who played for the Detroit Stars and coached high school students.

However, Mel did not follow in his father's footsteps but decided to forge a different path for himself in football. At the end of his college football career, Mel Owens had 125 solo tackles, 79 assists, and 3 interceptions.

After his college years, he went on to sign a three-year contract of about $175,000 per season with the Los Angeles Rams. However, he did not solely focus on his football career but branched out into different ventures while he was playing for the Rams.

He founded a fashion company called "Evolution Wear" and was involved in the food business as well. He had a nationwide restaurant reservation hotline called "1-800-LETS-EAT."

After Mel Owens retired from football, he went on to pursue a career in law. He first worked as a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch & Co. After clearing the bar exams, he became the founding partner of Namanny, Byrne & Owens in Laguna Hills, California. Mel has represented over 250 football players with workers' compensation claims for injuries they got while playing football.

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Mel Owens' latest stint is being the bachelor on The Golden Bachelor. He is the second bachelor in the spin-off, after Gerry Turner. The show is still in the works and is set to air in the fall of 2025. Watch this space for more updates on the premiere date.

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