Golden Bachelor Mel Owens To Be Replaced After Making SHOCKING Demands – Replacement Already Lined Up
Mel Owens, the newly announced star of The Golden Bachelor Season 2, is drawing swift criticism after revealing a strict age-and-fitness criteria for his contestants — a standard many argue contradicts the heart of the senior‑dating series.
In a June 4 appearance on the MGoBlue podcast, Owens candidly stated he would only date women aged 45–60, saying, “just being honest.” He then escalated his directive when producers questioned his cutoff:
“If they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them.”
He added: “They’ve got to be fit…try to stay away from the artificial hips and the wigs.”
According to reports, producers reminded him:
“This is not The Silver Bachelor, this is The Golden Bachelor.”
They also allegedly warned him against using football terms like “cut” about eliminating contestants. Still, Owens reportedly stood firm
Fans React With Outrage
Social media response was swift.
On X:
- @BachelorABC should recast Mel Owens immediately. We want Charles L for Golden Bachelor! But if that’s not possible, at least someone who actually appreciates women 60+.”
- “I hate it when people say, ‘I’m just being honest’ to explain away they’re really just being an asshole…”
On Instagram, one user declared:
“I’m done with this franchise if you move forward with him. Have some respect for women of a certain age.”
Reddit users voiced similar dismay. One shared:
“Joan [Vassos] had some genuinely kind and decent men, I can’t believe they passed them over… may skip the show if this is the tone the lead is setting.”
Even Selling Sunset alum Chrishell Stause criticized Owens on Instagram Stories:
“We love the Golden Bachelor because of how wholesome it is… This type of energy will ruin it.”
The Golden Bachelor, a Bachelor spinoff launched in 2023, brought together older adults seeking love. The first season, led by Gerry Turner (72), featured contestants aged into their 70s and struck a chord with viewers. The new age prescriptives have blindsided fans invested in the show’s original premise.
ABC has already found a replacement for Mel Owens and has quietly removed all promotional materials and teasers featuring him from their official website and social media platforms, signaling a swift pivot in response to the public backlash.
