ABC officially introduced Mel Owens as the next Golden Bachelor—a 66-year-old former NFL linebacker turned lawyer. The network’s announcement video called him “single for now” and “a proud father.” However, online, Bachelor Nation had mixed feelings about him.
Initial reactions poured in from fans across Reddit and TikTok. While some were excited by the fresh face—“Ok Mel, I’m in!” and “I love this for him!”—others questioned why yet another ex-athlete was chosen. “Why do they always cast former NFL players? We. Do. Not. Care.” one Redditor vented. Another wrote, “Does Bachelor Nation only accept sports players now? Joey, tennis. Grant, basketball. Mel, football. What’s next?”
The reveal immediately invited comparisons to former Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner. “Why does he remind me of Gerry Turner?!” one TikToker asked. Others went even further. “He looks like he just stepped out of an episode of NCIS,” a Reddit comment quipped. “This is not Build-A-Man Workshop 🧸,” another user joked.
The Golden Bachelor: From “He Looks MAGA” to “Where’s the Diversity?”
Controversy soon overshadowed the excitement. Users began to speculate about Owens’ politics and personal history. “He’ll obviously be MAGA,” a Redditor wrote bluntly. “But if that’s a problem, don’t watch.” ABC offered no comment on Mel’s political leanings, but that didn’t stop the online sleuthing. “I googled him. These images do not give me good vibes,” admitted one skeptical commenter.
The criticism also turned toward the franchise’s ongoing diversity issues. “So they’ll just never have an Asian bachelor, huh?” asked one Reddit user, while another added, “They can find obscure white men a dime a dozen. Never an NBA Black man. Never an MLB Latino.” This reflects a wider feeling that The Bachelor mainly serves a Midwest-white audience. It often overlooks its more diverse fans in urban areas.
Even Mel’s ex-wife became a talking point. “Here’s an interesting tidbit,” one user posted. “His ex-wife is 20 years younger than him.” That detail raised worries about past actions and future fit. Contestants likely want stability, not red flags.
He’s 66 and single — for now. Meet Mel Owens, a former NFL player-turned-lawyer, proud father, and your next Golden Bachelor. 🌹 pic.twitter.com/hRqA3UIY6L
— The Golden Bachelor (@GoldenBachABC) April 22, 2025
Bachelor Nation Wonders: “Why Not Someone from Joan’s Season?”
One surprising thing about Mel’s casting is that he wasn’t picked from Joan’s season of The Golden Bachelorette. That season got a lot of praise for its charming and diverse cast. “Why not pick one of the men from Joan’s season?” one viewer questioned. Another added, “They did an incredible job casting her season. So odd to not pick someone from there.”
Reddit users guessed that producers either couldn’t find a willing contestant or wanted a certain story. One user suggested, “I think Pascal was the top pick but pissed them off or likes to date younger.” Others believed Mel was simply easier to package as a classic, All-American lead. “He looks like the pissed-off dad trying to play boss man on a bad reality show,” read a brutally honest comment.
The Golden Bachelor: Mel’s Bachelor Era Begins with Skepticism
Despite the official announcement being only hours old, skepticism has already taken root. “I can’t wait to be disappointed by this man eventually!” one Redditor posted, summing up the general mood. Another responded, “I’m already disappointed.” Several compared him to past leads who started with high hopes only to fall from grace by After the Final Rose.
And the gossip? It’s already swirling. One TikTok commenter, who claimed their father knew Owens from college, offered a hint of past indiscretions: “Age-wise, he would’ve been a better match for his mother-in-law than his wife.” Another user joked, “He’s very Henry Winkler-esque. Somebody write a Fonzie Bachelor fanfic, please.”
Still, a few loyalists remain cautiously optimistic. “Seems like a decent man,” someone commented with fingers crossed. And for those still curious, the network teased the upcoming season as “coming soon,” urging fans to “get hyped.”
Share your thoughts in the comments!
