Girl, if you go on The Golden Bachelor, the contestants are not gonna be 25. The “golden” is kind of a key word. How was Mel Owens not aware of this vital piece of info before he signed up for the gig? The NFL player-turned lawyer is finding himself in a serious controversy after he made some remarkably dumbass comments about his expectations for women on the show. Specifically, he vowed to “cut” anyone over 60… despite the fact that he’s literally 66. In fact, he’s most interested in women two decades younger than him. SMH. Congrats to Mel for being exactly like every other toxic straight male on the planet, IG!

Naturally, Bachelor Nation was not thrilled about these wildly ageist comments, and lots of fans want him off the show —immediately. On July 2, Reality Steve (the No. 1 source for reality TV news, honestly) claimed that Mel is being replaced. So, was Mel Owens fired from The Golden Bachelor? Is he being replaced as we speak? Here’s a full breakdown of the Mel Owens Golden Bachelor drama.

Mel Owens Golden Bachelor Drama, Explained

Mel Owens Controversial Podcast Comments

The drama started when Mel appeared on the In the Trenches podcast on June 4. (That’s apparently a University of Michigan sports podcast.) Speaking about the future women cast members, he told host Jon Jansen: “It’s blind up until they get out of the limo. But [the producers] asked me, ‘What’s your preferences?’ So, I just said 45 to 60, just being honest.” Hey, Mel, you’re ageist and annoying… just being honest!

The former football player also recalled a convo he had with the executive producer of the show. “I said, ‘You know, if they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them,’” he revealed. He was then told, “Oh Mel, you can’t, you know, this is not the Silver Bachelor. It’s the Golden Bachelor. But they’re going to be hot, don’t worry about it.”

Of course, Mel also has lots of criteria for the women beyond their age. “Well, they got to be fit because I stay in shape, should work out and stuff,” he declared on the podcast. “And I told them, you know, try to stay away from the artificial hips and the wigs, you know, that kind of stuff, right.” Ah yes, god forbid a woman needed hip surgery or prefers to wear a wig.

“I know there’s amazing women out there,” Mel added. He explained that he’s looking for someone who’s “a lifetime learner, enjoys to love life and work out and stay fit and eat and have fun and be energetic and live life.” Good luck with that if you’re fired <3.

Was Mel Owens Fired From The Golden Bachelor?

In a July 2 tweet, Reality Steve claimed that Mel is being replaced following those comments. “I’m hearing that Mel Owens is OUT as the Golden Bachelor due to recent negative publicity surrounding his June 4th podcast appearance,” the tweet reads. “Expect an announcement soon incl who is going to replace him. Haven’t heard a name yet on who that is.”

While this would be exciting news, other outlets have yet to confirm that it’s true. So, it’s just a rumor for now. And with filming starting later this summer, it’d be a pretty tight timeline. But stay tuned for updates!