Overview

• ABC confirmed 66-year-old Mel Owens as the lead for the fall season of The Golden Bachelor, with casting now under way and no premiere date announced.
• Owens told producers he would only consider women aged 45 to 60 and asked to avoid contestants with artificial hips or wigs based on his fitness preferences.
• An executive producer pushed back on his demands, noting that the show’s format accommodates a broader age range and promises contestants who meet his appearance standards.
• Former Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner publicly urged Owens to keep an open mind on age, warning that strict cutoffs could cause him to miss meaningful connections.
• Social media users have echoed Turner’s concerns, framing Owens’s stance as dismissive of the show’s mission to celebrate senior daters of all backgrounds.