"The Golden Bachelor" Gets Official Season 2 Renewal, Sets New Leading Man
by Katie Campione
April 22, 2025


"The Golden Bachelor" has officially been renewed for a second season at ABC, and the network has already revealed its next leading man.

Mel Owens, a 66-year-old NFL veteran-turned-lawyer, will be the latest golden man looking for love on this iteration of the expansive franchise. Born and raised in Detroit, Owens attended the University of Michigan before being drafted to the L.A. Rams in 1981.

Upon retirement, Owens moved to Orange Country, CA, to practice law. He has two sons from his first marriage and, “while life took an unexpected turn with the passing of his father and the end of his marriage,” he’s ready to open his heart again.

https://deadline.com/2025/04/the-golden-bachelor-renewed-season-2-lead-1236374094/

Mel Owens, 66, ABC’s new Golden Bachelor, told producers only cast women who are “45 to 60” years old... (https://x.com/MikeSington/status/1938533581988811141)

...adding “if they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them”.

He also said “I told them to stay away from the artificial hips and the wigs”.

Mel Owens, 66, ABC’s new Golden Bachelor, told producers only cast women who are “45 to 60” years old... (https://x.com/MikeSington/status/1938533581988811141)

...adding “if they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them”.

He also said “I told them to stay away from the artificial hips and the wigs”.

The Golden Bachelor alum Gerry Turner calls out successor Mel Owens for his "60 or over" bachelorette ban (https://decider.com/2025/07/01/gerry-turner-new-golden-bachelor-mel-owens-cutting-contestants-huge-mistake/)

Turner weighed in on the controversial list of demands ABC’s new Golden Bachelor Mel Owens recently shared, saying it’s “fair game” to criticize the new bachelor as he would be making a “huge mistake” with this approach.

Mel Owens, 66, ABC’s new Golden Bachelor, told producers only cast women who are “45 to 60” years old... (https://x.com/MikeSington/status/1938533581988811141)

...adding “if they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them”.

He also said “I told them to stay away from the artificial hips and the wigs”.

The Golden Bachelor's Mel Owens apologizes (https://nypost.com/2025/08/01/entertainment/golden-bachelor-mel-owens-confronted-after-his-age-remarks/)

“I apologized to the women on the show. When I first walked in, I addressed it. I apologized to them. I said, 'It was unfair, insensitive.

The Golden Bachelor Season 2 Cast Revealed After Mel Owens Backlash (https://screenrant.com/the-golden-bachelor-season-2-cast/)

After facing backlash over his ageist comments, Mel Owens’ cast of women who will vie for his heart on The Golden Bachelor season 2 has been unveiled.

The Golden Bachelor unveils a cast of women ages 58 to 77 after Mel Owens said he would "cut" women over 60 (https://decider.com/2025/09/04/the-golden-bachelor-season-2-cast-mel-owens-women-ages-names/)

The Golden Bachelor's second lead, who is 66, will have to choose from a group of 23 golden bachelorettes that includes one woman under 60, 18 women in their 60s and four women in their 70s. They include a former model, a yoga instructor, a vineyard owner and a casino VIP host. Owens apologized (https://www.glamour.com/story/the-golden-bachelors-mel-owens-knows-bachelor-nation-is-angry-i-deserved-it) last month for saying of his bachelorettes, "if they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them (https://decider.com/2025/06/27/new-golden-bachelor-mel-says-cutting-women-60-or-over/). This is not The Silver Bachelor, this is The Golden Bachelor." In an interview with Glamour, Owens said he addressed his controversial remarks on the first night of filming. "I apologized to the women on the show," he said. "When I first walked in, I addressed it. I apologized to them. I said, ';It was unfair, insensitive. I want to earn it back. Just give me the chance.' And hopefully, these last two weeks I earned some of that back." The Golden Bachelor premieres Sept. 24.