Taylor Hill/FilmMagic New Golden Bachelor Mel Owens speaks out about his controversial comments about not dating women over 60 Owens previously shared that he hopes to find a partner who is between the ages of 45 and 60 and likes to "work out, stay fit, eat, have fun, be energetic and live life" The comments sparked an outcry from Bachelor Nation fans, including Chrishell Stause New Golden Bachelor Mel Owens is addressing his controversial comments about the age range of women who will compete for his heart. Two months after the retired NFL player-turned-lawyer, 66, said on theMGoBlue Podcastthat his "preferences" for dating were between the ages of 45 and 60 (which caused a stir among Bachelor Nation fans), Owens is apologizing. He toldGlamourthat he realized his comments — he also said he'd told an executive producer of the show, "If they're 60 or over, I'm cutting them" — were inappropriate after a 65-year-old longtime friend called him out. "She said, 'What you said was insensitive, and it's just not who you are.' My reference of dating was 39, 40 years old. I hadn't dated in 26, 27 years. That's what I told her," he said. "She goes, 'It doesn't matter. You've said some things that are just incredibly wrong.' And I go, 'I've got to apologize.'" "I didn't know anything about theGolden Bachelorages," he admitted. Disney/Maarten de Boer "I didn't know the age range because I wasn't watching it. I'm thinking, to me, the age range was 45 to 60. That's my age range. I'm thinking that's the gold years for me. My reference, again, was when I was dating at 39, 40. I hadn't dated in 26 years, so I had no clue. And that's why I said that comment." Owens also said he "didn't know that [Gerry Turner] gotmarriedand thendivorced" on the show's first season. "I didn't know any of it." "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. I want to earn it back. Just give me the chance,'" he told the outlet. https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf He also revealed that several of the contestants on his season have spoken to him directly about his comments. "During our one-on-ones, 12 or 15 of them said, 'We appreciate the apology, and it meant a lot to us.'" The women also got the chance to let their feelings be known during a date that included a comedy roast. "One of the dates was a roast. It was brutal. They were killing me," he said. "One said, 'Oh, when Mel was walking with me, he was using me as a cane.' And I'm from Detroit, right? One said, 'Like a Detroit pizza, he's doughy, squishy, square, and crusty.'" "It was good because I earned that, and I took it and I deserved it, and it landed squarely on me. They were throwing haymakers. It was good." The reality star told host Jon Jansen he was looking for someone who is "fit because I'm staying in shape and work out and stuff." Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty "And I told them, 'Try to stay away from the artificial hips and the wigs, you know, that kind of stuff, right?'" he said on the June podcast episode. Owens also hoped that his new leading lady would be a "lifetime learner," who likes to "work out, stay fit, eat, have fun, be energetic and live life." Selling SunsetstarChrishell Stauseresponded on her Instagram Stories on June 26, writing, "We love theGolden Bachelorbecause of how wholesome it is. This type of energy will ruin it," perParade. "That kinda negates the 'golden' part. Sounds more like middle-aged bachelor," one fan shared onX. Anotheradded, "It's fine, but just because men think it, do they have to say it? It's so cringe." The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! On April 22, ABC announced Mel Owens would be the new lead when the ABC series returns this fall, following in the footsteps ofGerry Turner, who served as the inaugural Golden Bachelor in 2023. Following the announcement, Owens told hostJesse Palmerthat he wants to find "someone that's honest, charming, loving, fit. Someone full of life because it's go time." Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The Golden Bacheloris set to return this fall on ABC. Read the original article onPeople
