‘The Golden Bachelor’ Lead, Mel Owens, Booed During a One-on-One Date
When The Golden Bachelor season 1 premiered in 2023, fans were thrilled to see a dating show centered around older daters. While Gerry Turner didn’t turn out to be the prince he was marketed as, the series still felt wholesome and fun. That wholsomeness followed through on The Golden Bachelorette, which found 25 men vying for the attention of Joan Vassos. Season 2 of The Golden Bachelor is slated to start next month, but it promises to be more controversial than the previous season thanks to Mel Owens. Mel Owens, the lead, made some terrible comments back in June, and fans have not forgiven or forgotten. Spectators booed Owens when he appeared on stage during a field one-on-one date recently.
Mel Owens was booed off stage during a recent one-on-one date
Last week, people at the Orange County Fair made their feelings about The Golden Bachelor abundantly clear. While witnessing a surprise reality TV show moment would make most people happy, fans at the fair were anything but happy when Mel Owens walked on stage to give his date, Peg, one of his roses. Owens’ appearance, in the middle of a KC and the Sunshine Band performance, was met with jeers and boos. Reality Steve obtained video of the incident from a spectator. In the video, you can hear the stage area fill with boos as Owens presented a rose to a woman who, while older than Owens insisted he was willing to date, looked 20 years younger than him.
@realitysteve20 (GOLDEN BACHELOR SPOILER): More from Mel’s 1-on-1 date at the Orange County Fair Thursday night. KC & The Sunshine Band brought them on stage…to quite a few boos. Peg accepted the rose. #thebachelor #goldenbachelor #spoilers #TheBachelor #Bachelor ♬ original sound – RealitySteve
The boos were widely interpreted as a reaction to Owens’ prior comments about his dating preferences. That has not been confirmed. The comments, made during a podcast appearance in June, were perceived as sexist and ageist. During the chat, Owens stated he’d “cut” any woman over 60. He revealed he would prefer contestants aged 45 to 60. Owens, who is 66, didn’t make the situation better by attempting to address the scandal months later.
Owens issued an explanation, which he called an apology, via Glamour this month. He told the publication that he didn’t know his comments were offensive. Owens went on to explain that a friend had to inform him that what he said was ageist. He insisted he was going to “make it right,” but viewers found the explanation a bit insincere.
When will Mel Owens’ season of ‘The Golden Bachelor’ premiere?
Mel Owens remains a controversial pick as the second golden bachelor. Still, ABC is sticking with him, despite early rumors that they were planning to swap him out for someone more likable. Filming on the season is officially underway, with Owens spotted multiple times on dates. Filming began in late July and is expected to run through late August.
While Mel Owens is still currently dating a batch of eligible bachelorettes, ABC has already set a premiere date. The Golden Bachelor Season 2 is set to debut with a two-hour special on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at 8 p.m. After that premiere event, episodes will air at 9 p.m. on Wednesdays. Previous iterations of the dating competition aired in the same timeslot.
