"I think he'll have a change of heart" - Former Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner reacts to new lead Mel Owens' controversial age preference

Gerry Turner, 73, who starred in the inaugural season of The Golden Bachelor, while speaking to Fox News Digital recently, reacted to new lead Mel Owens' controversial age preference in the show's forthcoming second season.

"I think it would be unfortunate, and I really think he will have a change of heart in this. I think he will see the grace and charm of women who are over 60 and the confidence they carry, and I think he'll have a change of heart."

He also had some advice for Mel Owens from his own experience on the show in 2023.

"The age thing... ignore the numbers, deal with the person."

He also added that if Owens "treats every one of them with courtesy and respect and is a good listener" who "pays attention to them and so forth," he thinks "it'll be fine." Turner also allegedly noted that Mel Owens has a "shallow perspective."

"(Owens) comments about anybody that's had a hip replacement or has a wig or anything like that, I really don't believe that the ABC producers in casting, particularly casting that I have a high level of confidence with. I don't think they would be casting a person who has that shallow of a perspective."

What did Mel Owens say about The Golden Bachelor

During a June 4 episode of MGoBlue Podcasts with Jon Jansen, 66-year-old Mel Owens claimed that he would be eliminating any women who are over the age of 60.

"If they're 60 or over, I'm cutting them."

He also revealed that he specifically told the producers of the ABC dating show, he only wanted women between the ages of 45 to 60.

"This is not The Silver Bachelor, this is The Golden Bachelor. But they're gonna be hot, don't worry about it. 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 wigs."

He also noted that he wants his potential partner to be a "lifetime learner" who likes to "work out, stay fit, eat, have fun, be energetic, and love life." The Golden Bachelor is a dating reality show and a spin-off of The Bachelor. It features senior contestants.

Trending

After Owens' statement on his age preference went viral on the internet, netizens were quick to criticize the former NFL player, noting that his words contradict the entire point of the show.

The Golden Bachelor's second season is slated to premiere on September 24 on ABC.

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