Bachelor Nation is no stranger to controversial casting. And the franchise’s Golden Bachelor spinoff is no exception. Last month, Golden Bachelor season 2 lead Mel Owens came under fire for saying that he wouldn’t date any women over 60—despite being 66 years old himself—causing many to doubt his future on the show. One person who’s not convinced it should cost him the lead spot, however, is speaking out. Golden Bachelor alum Kathy Swarts is defending Mel, saying in a recent interview that she thinks he’s in it for the right reasons.
Kathy, who can currently be seen frolicking poolside on Bachelor in Paradise, isn’t taking Mel's comments too seriously. “I think that if Mel Owens met me—and I’m over 70—that line would just not even be in his mouth,” she told Entertainment Weekly. “It’d be like, ‘Whoa, I never knew someone could be this fabulous over 60, over 70.’”
She continued, “I think Mel is a guy looking for love and I think he said something without really thinking about it. I don’t think he meant it.”
Despite reports that Mel had been fired from Golden Bachelor, no official announcements have been made, so for now, he remains the lead. And while many in Bachelor Nation might not be inclined to tune in to support a man so blatantly ageist, Kathy said she’ll be watching. “I think it’s going to be a great season,” she said. “I personally can’t wait—unless I swoop in and take him away. In which case, show over!”
In case you forgot, during a June 4 appearance on the In the Trenches with Jon Jansen podcast, Mel said that he specifically told producers that he preferred women aged 45 to 60, adding, “I said, ‘If they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them.’” According to him, producers pushed back, appeasing him with, “They’re gonna be hot, don’t worry about it.”
His other non-negotiables? He expects the contestants on his Golden Bachelor season to “be fit” and says he told producers, “Try and stay away from the artificial hips and the wigs.” How charming.
