what did golden bachelor say on podcast

The Golden Bachelor, Mel Owens, addressed his past controversial comments on a podcast during the premiere episode of his season. He apologized sincerely for stating on the "In the Trenches" podcast that he would "cut" any female contestants aged 60 or older. Owens admitted he "messed up" and regretted those remarks, asking the women on the show for a chance to earn their forgiveness. He acknowledged that many people have negative perceptions of him because of those comments, but insisted that's not who he really is. During the premiere, he apologized multiple times to the contestants both in group settings and individually, which many of the women appreciated. Owens explained his preference had been for women aged 45-60 and that he also wanted them to be fit, but after meeting all the contestants, he emphasized that age wasn’t what mattered to him—chemistry and feelings were most important. He said he felt deeply touched by the connections he formed, and he hoped the women could move past his earlier remarks. Owens also made the difficult decision to send home ten women early on but expressed he felt the right partner might be among the rest. In interviews outside the show, Owens described his experience preparing for the series, his NFL background, and life as a father, sharing how this new chapter in his life came about. He seems committed to following the show's program and advised future Golden Bachelors to do the same. These remarks and actions were part of Owens' effort to address backlash from the podcast comments and show growth and sincerity in his quest to find love on "The Golden Bachelor" season 2.