Golden Bachelor Alum Gerry Turner Responds to Controversial Age Remarks from New Lead Mel Owens
In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly in April, Jesse Palmer, the host of the popular reality TV show 'The Golden Bachelor', spoke about the show's new lead, Mel Owens. Palmer expressed his confidence in Owens' ability to excel in the role, highlighting Owens' physical attractiveness, charm, intelligence, and success.
Owens, a former professional football player, transitioned into another field before being announced as the next individual to take over the mantle of the Golden Bachelor by ABC in April. However, his tenure has already been met with controversy, as Owens expressed a preference for women aged 45 to 60, with a stated disdain for women with 'artificial hips' or wigs.
This preference has caused a stir, especially given that the executive producer of the show selected 23 senior women aged between 58 and 77 for the cast of the second season. Despite this, the final cast includes women even older than 60, leading to speculation that Owens may have had a change of heart.
Gerry Turner, the inaugural Golden Bachelor, has expressed his disagreement with Owens' strict age range for contestants. Turner, who was briefly married to season 1 winner Theresa Nist, believes that Owens' comments may have been taken out of context. Turner advised Owens to 'ignore the number' and instead focus on 'the person' in front of him, expressing hope that Owens will reconsider his perspective on casting.
The executive producer advised Owens that he cannot eliminate a woman solely based on her age, and Gerry Turner praised the contestants he met during his season, highlighting their unique characteristics. Despite the controversy, the premiere date for The Golden Bachelor season 2 has not been announced.
Mel Owens' controversial casting comments have not been further addressed, leaving fans and viewers eagerly awaiting the start of the new season. Only time will tell if Owens will stick to his age preferences or if he will adapt to the diverse cast of women he will be meeting in the upcoming season.
