Golden Bachelor stars future on the show amid | TV Shows

The new series of the Golden Bachelor has hit issues before it’s even aired, with a major change potentially in the works.

The dating show was due to start filming its second season, but has now been hit with rumors that it’s replacing its main man Mel Owens after alleged ageist remarks. Mel, 66, has been hit with backlash from Bachelor fans for comments he made in a recent interview where he candidly revealed he wouldn’t date a woman over 60.

The NFL star’s comments have outraged fans of the show so much that they’ve called for him to be fired and replaced for the upcoming season.

According to Bachelor blogger Reality Steve the ‘negative publicity’ after the interview has seen the network call for him to be taken off before filming commences, and for a replacement drafted in. However the rumors might not be true, as according to DailyMail.com Mel hasn’t been fired or dropped, and is still planning to film the second season. 

The comments made by Mel were as he appeared on the MGoBlue podcast. He told listeners, “They ask me, ‘What’s your preference?’ So I just said [ages] 45 to 60, just being honest.”

Yet he then added a later comment where he said, “You know, if they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them.”

The former NFL star was then reminded that the name of the show was The Golden Bachelor, where he was reportedly told, “You can’t use the word cut.”

He replied, “I go, “Well, that’s an NFL term.”

He also revealed other demands he made for the women and potential love interests, as he shared, “They asked me, ‘What is my profile?’ Well, [the women] have got to be fit because I’m staying in shape and work out and stuff. And I told them, ‘Try to stay away from the artificial hips and the wigs, you know, that kind of stuff, right?'”

Fans of the show have hit back after Mel’s comments were made public, with some even stating they would ‘boycott’ the show when it airs. One person wrote on social media, “Based on his podcast interview I won’t be watching or supporting. We need to stop supporting men who think they’re so great that they won’t date women their own age. This dude needs to go back home.”

Another added, “This is so sad. I can’t believe [producers] knew this man didn’t want a golden lady and cast him anyway.”

The Golden Bachelor team has been contacted for comment.