A brand new season of Bachelor in Paradise is simply days away from its premiere on the 2025 TV schedule, and The Bachelor has formally been renewed for a milestone thirtieth season in 2026. Amidst the joy for what’s to return, nevertheless, hassle has struck Bachelor Nation once more. A month after The Golden Bachelor Season 2 lead Mel Owens made some controversial feedback on a podcast, Jesse Palmer has damaged his silence, as has Season 1 lead Gerry Turner.
Jesse Palmer Responds To Mel Owens Saying He’s ‘Reducing’ Any Girl Over 60
ABC and 66-year-old Mel Owens (pictured above) are beneath hearth following feedback he made on a podcast in June, wherein the brand new Golden Bachelor mentioned he most popular thus far ladies between 45 and 60. He went on to say he would get rid of anybody over that age vary instantly and requested producers to “steer clear of the substitute hips and the wigs.” The Bachelor franchise host Jesse Palmer addressed the state of affairs, telling US Weekly:
I’ve seen the headlines, clearly, as a result of I’m on social media. I’ve not heard the podcast. We haven’t began filming Golden but, so I haven’t spent a ton of time with Mel. The small period of time I’ve spent with him, he looks like a superb man. However I do know I’m gonna get to spend so much extra time with him fairly quickly. I’m positive that’s one thing we’re going to speak about.
Jesse Palmer remained fairly diplomatic in regards to the discourse surrounding The Golden Bachelor, saying that he’ll possible focus on the problem with Mel Owens when filming begins. That undoubtedly makes it sound — at the least so far as Palmer is aware of — like ABC is shifting ahead with the NFL star-turned-lawyer as its lead.
There have been conflicting experiences because the podcast feedback went viral that The Golden Bachelor was recasting its Season 2 lead. Actuality Steve posted on X that he heard “Mel Owens is OUT” and to anticipate an official announcement quickly. Nonetheless, that story was refuted by The Solar, which reported that ABC is sticking with Owens. On his July 4 podcast, Actuality Steve walked again his preliminary assertion however maintained that it’s not a performed deal, saying:
The state of affairs continues to be fluid, and so they haven’t 100% made the choice. It’s nonetheless doable that Mel will likely be The Golden Bachelor, and it’s nonetheless doable they’ll recast him.
Whereas we watch for any official phrase from ABC, one other related member of Bachelor Nation additionally gave his ideas on the state of affairs.
Former Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner Weighs In On Mel Owens Controversy
The primary-ever Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner is not any stranger to controversy, as many in Bachelor Nation turned in opposition to him when his marriage to Theresa Nist ended after simply three months. Whereas he can come on the state of affairs from a spot of empathy, even Turner reportedly known as Mel Owens’ feedback a nasty look.
He allegedly instructed TMZ that it will be a mistake for Mel Owens to shut himself off to courting ladies of all ages. Gerry Turner mentioned he additionally gave producers an age vary, with 65 being the minimal age for the septuagenarian, however they requested him to maintain an open thoughts to courting ladies as younger as 60.
After all, convincing Gerry Turner thus far youthful ladies is a totally totally different state of affairs than convincing Mel Owens thus far older. However Turner factors out that issues like age and synthetic hips shouldn’t matter — he mentioned he has a pickleball good friend with a faux hip who smokes him on the court docket.
It’ll be fascinating to see if and the way The Golden Bachelor addresses this example and if Mel Owens does certainly proceed to guide Season 2. Within the meantime, you’ll be capable to catch a few of your favourite Golden alumni on Bachelor in Paradise Season 10, which premieres at 8 p.m. ET Monday, July 7, on ABC and streaming with a Hulu subscription.