ABC’s new “Golden Bachelor” Mel Owens, 66, is in hot water for some controversial remarks he made about dating older women.
On the University of Michigan Athletics’ podcast “In the Trenches,” the former NFL star, who played college football at the university, revealed what he’s looking for in a partner and said he’s not interested in dating someone his own age.
“They asked me, ‘What’s your preferences?’ So I just said, ’45 to 60,’ just being honest,” he recalled. “And then the process went and I was selected and then we had lunch with the executive producer. I said, ‘You know, if they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them.’”
Owens said the executive producer of the show told him not to “worry” because all the women would be “hot,” but that he should be careful about the language he uses.
“So he goes, ‘You can’t use the word cut.’ I go, ‘Well that’s an NFL term,'” he said.
Owens then touched on the selection process for the women on the show and said he has “no say” in who’s chosen to be on the series. Although he’s confident that the women are “going to be beautiful,” he said he does have a few more preferences when it comes to dating.
“They got to be fit because I’m staying in shape and work out and stuff. And I told them, ‘Try to stay away from the artificial hips and the wigs,'” he shared.
Other than looks, Owens said he enjoys a woman who’s a “lifetime learner” and likes to “work out, stay fit, eat, have fun, be energetic and live life.”
TODAY.com reached out to Warner Bros. and ABC for comment but has not heard back yet.
After hearing about his dating preferences, social media users said they’re not interested in watching the new season of “The Golden Bachelor.”
The show’s inaugural season saw then-72-year-old Gerry Turner find love with contestant Theresa Nist, whom he later divorced after the show.
“Ok thanks #TheGoldenBachelor and ABC for the heads up so I know NOT to watch this loser on TV,” one person wrote on X in regards to Owens.
Another said, “The new ‘Golden Bachelor’, age discriminates!! He is 66 years old, but says any woman over 60 will be cut!!! I won’t be watching him.”
A third said, “Mel Owens & @ABCNetwork @GoldenBachABC can take their ageist BS & shove it! #BoycottABC “
A fourth added, “The new Golden Bachelor sounds like a real piece of…work.”
However, some people defended Owens and said it’s OK to have preferences when it comes to dating.
“What’s the problem? He’s not supposed to have preferences in a mate?” one person asked.
Another said, “Men who are 66 date women in their twenties to forties. That’s reality. If you ask single women in their sixties — do you want another husband? Most of them will tell you, ‘Absolutely not!'”
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