Mel Owens explains 'Golden Bachelor' age desire request for ladies 45-60

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Mel Owens , the brand new face of "The Golden Bachelor," is doing harm management.

The previous NFL linebacker turned actuality star discovered himself in sizzling water after he revealed he requested the individuals behind the truth present to current him with feminine contestants between the ages of 45 and 60.

After his remark sparked backlash, Owens, 66, addressed the controversy surrounding his remarks about courting preferences.

'GOLDEN BACHELOR' MEL OWENS SETS STRICT AGE LIMIT FOR CONTESTANTS DESPITE PRODUCER PUSHBACK

"Golden Bachelor" star Mel Owens is talking out in regards to the controversy surrounding his season, which remains to be at the moment filming. (John Nacion/WireImage)

When requested why he made the feedback, Owens replied in an interview with Glamour , "As a result of I didn’t know something about The Golden Bachelor ages. I didn’t."

He defined, "I had watched the primary present after I was youthful, when it first launched or one thing in 2002, till my son was born. However then when he was born, I didn’t watch it anymore. So when these individuals discuss, ‘Hey, this season and that season,’ I didn’t know the age vary as a result of I wasn’t watching it."

As a substitute, Owens stated his thought of the "golden" years was based mostly on his private body of reference — not the present’s legacy.

"I’m pondering, to me, the age vary was 45 to 60. That’s my age vary. I’m pondering that’s the gold years for me. My reference, once more, was after I was courting at 39, 40. I hadn’t dated in 26 years, so I had no clue. And that’s why I stated that remark," he admitted. "I didn’t know. I didn’t know. And I didn’t know that [Gerry Turner, the original Golden Bachelor] bought married and then divorced . I didn’t know any of it."

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Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist finalized their divorce lower than six months after their TV wedding ceremony. (Getty Photos)

Owens, who’s at the moment filming the upcoming season set to premiere in September, stated he confronted the difficulty head-on the second cameras rolled .

"Once I first walked in, I addressed it. I apologized to them. I stated, ‘It was unfair, insensitive. I wish to earn it again. Simply give me the prospect,’" he continued to clarify. "And hopefully, these final two weeks I earned a few of that again."

Nevertheless, not everybody was fast to forgive — particularly throughout one specific group date.

"One of many dates was a roast. It was brutal. They have been killing me," Owens confessed. "They’re sensible. It’s surprising how sensible they're."

Reps for Owens didn't instantly reply again to Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.

GERRY TURNER WARNS NEW 'GOLDEN BACHELOR' HE'S MAKING A SERIOUS MISTAKE WITH CONTROVERSIAL AGE CUTOFF

Gerry Turner beforehand warned that Mel Owens was making a mistake together with his proposed age restrict. (Ben Hider/ABC by way of Getty Photos; Photograph by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)

The drama comes after Owens confronted criticism for opening up about his strict standards when it got here to selecting a life accomplice.

Whereas talking on the " In the Trenches " podcast, Owens didn’t maintain again, sharing that he had little interest in courting ladies "60 and over" and made it clear to producers he didn’t need anybody forged with "synthetic hips" or "wigs."

"It is blind up till they get out of the limo. However they requested me, 'What's your preferences?' So, I simply stated 45 to 60, simply being sincere," Owens stated. "After which the method went, and I used to be chosen, proper? After which we had lunch with the manager producer. I stated, 'You realize, in the event that they're 60 or over, I am chopping them.' 'Oh Mel, you possibly can't, you recognize, this isn't the 'Silver Bachelor.' It’s the 'Golden Bachelor.' He goes, 'however they are going to be sizzling, don’t fear about it. Don't be concerned about it.'"

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Mel Owens additionally confronted criticism for saying he did not need any contestants with "synthetic hips" and "wigs." (Monica Schipper/Getty Photos)

Owens added that he anticipated the contestants to all be in good condition.

"I had no resume, however they requested me, what's my, like, my profile?" Owens stated. "Effectively, they bought to be match as a result of I keep in form, ought to work out and stuff. And I instructed them, you recognize, attempt to avoid the synthetic hips and the wigs, you recognize, that sort of stuff, proper."

In a press launch for the present, producers revealed that Owens was previously married for 25 years and is a proud father of two sons.

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He hopes to discover a love "rooted within the easy joys of companionship — sharing life’s on a regular basis moments, planning for the long run and rising stronger collectively as a pair."

Stephanie Giang-Paunon is an Leisure Author for Fox Information Digital. Story suggestions will be despatched to stephanie.giang@fox.com and on Twitter: @SGiangPaunon.