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The Golden Bachelor Season 2 premieres on September 24, but it’s already fans give it the thumbs-down. It comes after ABC and host Jesse Palmer’s confirmation of Mel Owens as the next lead. Certainly, they haven’t forgotten his controversial interview. Read on for more details.
Why Is Mel So Unpopular?
Former NFL player and lawyer Mel Owens gave an interview after his announcement as the lead. Initially, he told Jesse Palmer at an ABC/Hulu event that he seeks a partner who is “charming, loving, fit, and full of life.” However, that’s not what caused the backlash.
The 66-year-old later appeared on the In the Trenches With Jon Jansen podcast, where he upset many Golden Bachelor fans by saying that his contestants should be younger than him, declaring, “If they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them.”
Fans also learned he was previously married to and divorced from Fabiana Pimentel Owens, with whom he shares two children. Yet, the primary issue for many folks is the accusation of ageism.
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A Hard No From Fans
On Monday, ahead of The Golden Bachelor premiere, the official account @goldenbachabc Instagram account shared a photo of Jesse Palmer standing next to Mel Owens.
The caption read, “Football players…Bachelors.”
In the comments, Jesse added, “One. More. Sleep.” along with a rose icon. However, before he could hand out a single rose on the show, fans rushed to the comments to criticize Mel. It appears he gets a hard “No” from a large part of the audience.
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The Reactions Are Not Encouraging
One critic said in the comments, “Sorry Dark Lord Palmer, passing on this one, this guy this the worst.”
Here are a few similar responses to Mel Owens:
- Yeah I won’t be watching because you need to listen to your fan base. We don’t want an ageist bachelor like Mel.
- Hard no.
- It’s ABC and he’s against dating someone his age. The audacity. Not watching.
- He needs to go on the regular bachelor. Ageist T**l.
Some folks rushed to defend the new lead, with several attempting to stop the negativity. One follower wrote, “Gosh, all the women whining here. And most are older women, you’d think they’d act like grown women lol.” Notably, they also dissed those who slammed ABC and want to boycott the show because of Jimmy Kimmel’s firing.
Of course, some people also feel very irritated with the first lead, Gerry Turner. Remember, he proposed to Theresa Nist, married her, and then filed for a quick divorce just three months later. Even before Mel Owens was announced, some viewers claimed they wouldn’t watch the next season of the show.
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below, and check back often for all your Golden Bachelor news and updates.