Golden Bachelor Lead Mel Owens Fired Over Ageist Remarks

Mel Owens, the 66-year-old lead for The Golden Bachelor Season 2 and retired NFL linebacker, has sparked controversy following his comments on a podcast where he stated he would only date women aged 45 to 60 and would cut any women over 60 from the show. These remarks led to widespread backlash from fans and accusations of ageism and misogyny. Rumors quickly emerged that ABC had fired Owens due to the negative publicity, with prominent spoiler Reality Steve reporting his removal and an imminent announcement of a replacement. However, sources including The U.S. Sun have contradicted these reports, revealing that ABC has not officially fired Owens but acknowledged internal concerns over the tone his comments set. Gerry Turner, the 72-year-old star of the show's first season, criticized Owens' ageist stance, emphasizing the importance of being open-minded about age and condemning Owens' rejection of women with artificial hips or wigs. Despite the controversy, production on The Golden Bachelor Season 2 is expected to proceed with Owens as lead, though the situation remains under scrutiny.