Mel Owens Defends Golden Bachelor Remarks in Light-Hearted Exchange on Live with Kelly and Mark

Mel Owens found himself in a playful but pointed moment on Live with Kelly and Mark on Wednesday, as the new Golden Bachelor faced questions about his past remarks on women over age 60 in The Golden Bachelor. The exchange came after Owens, who leads this season of ABC’s aging-hero dating series, acknowledged online criticism of a podcast remark that he would be “cutting” women older than 60 from the show.

During a Glamour interview, Owens described the comments as unfair and insensitive, and he said he had apologized to the women competing on the program. When Kelly Ripa brought up the topic during their discussion on Live, she reminded Owens of the controversy around that line. “I don’t want to call it controversial, but you made the controversial statement—and again, I don’t think it’s controversial—that you didn’t want to date anyone over the age of 60,” she said, prompting a lighthearted back-and-forth. Owens replied with a playful admission, saying, “Well, I didn’t say I didn’t want to…” Ripa shot back, “You just said you refused.” The studio audience greeted the moment with laughter as Owens added, “Touché.”

Ripa pressed for clarity, and Owens explained that his reference stemmed from not having dated in 25 years due to his long marriage. “I was married for 25 years and hadn’t dated for 25 years,” the 66-year-old explained. As the conversation continued, Ripa teased him again, asking whether he would “go to that age.” Owens clarified his point, noting that he hadn’t meant to imply a blanket stance on dating anyone in a specific age bracket. “We smoothed everything out,” he said, and the moment remained cordial, with Ripa assuring him that the exchange was all in good fun.

In addition to navigating the headline moment, Owens shared his general impression of the season’s dating pool. He described the experience as “great,” highlighting common interests and a wealth of life experience among the contestants. “There’s a lot of common interest and a lot of life experiences,” he said, praising the women for being “great and sophisticated, and well-accomplished, and fun, and funny.” Owens added that the cast had posed a strong representation of the kind of partners the show aims to spotlight, and he commended the production for assembling a compelling lineup.

Host Mark Consuelos weighed in with a wider view of the cast dynamics, noting that “every woman on the show is 60 or older except for one,” a fact Owens said he hadn’t realized before he began filming. “I didn’t know that because I didn’t ask and nobody told me,” he admitted, prompting a quick quip from Consuelos, who called it “Smart.” The moment underscored ongoing conversations about age and dating norms in the franchise, as well as the broader audience appeal of The Golden Bachelor.

Owens echoed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the series and expressed optimism about how the season would be received. He emphasized that the viewing experience revolves around genuine connection, not age alone, and said the show’s producers did a strong job presenting a diverse and engaging group of women. While the on-air exchange with Ripa drew attention, Owens framed the episode as an example of the lighthearted, candid moments that can occur in high-profile television appearances, even when provocative topics are involved.

Live with Kelly and Mark airs on weekdays, and the hosts routinely prompt guests to reflect on recent headlines and cultural conversations surrounding entertainment. The segment with Owens reflects how celebrity interviews can intersect with fan reactions to reality programming, especially as audiences parse past comments against the evolving framing of dating shows that center on longevity, age, and life experience. As The Golden Bachelor continues to unfold, viewers will weigh Owens’ perspective against the feedback from viewers and contestants alike, watching to see how the season navigates romance, maturity, and the public conversations those elements inevitably spark.