Mel Owens, aged 66, made his debut on “The Golden Bachelor” during its premiere on September 24. As the lead of this season, Mel opened up about his past, revealing that his ex-wife filed for divorce in 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic after falling in love with someone else. Reflecting on this challenging period, Mel maintained a positive outlook, expressing that while the situation was painful, he respected her pursuit of happiness. “Life is short, and if you’re in love with somebody else, that’s fine,” Mel shared, showcasing a mature approach to moving forward.
Mel and his ex-wife, Fabiana Pimente, share two sons and were married for nearly 18 years. Despite the difficult separation, Mel emphasized the importance of living in the moment and prioritizing his children during the transition. In discussing his former spouse’s potential interest in his reality TV journey, Mel humorously acknowledged that although his sons mention she won’t watch, everyone is curious.
As “The Golden Bachelor” progresses, Mel encourages viewers to meet the women participating in this season, describing them as intelligent and full of passion. Host Jesse Palmer also praised Mel, highlighting their shared experience as former NFL players and praising Mel’s charm and intelligence. Jesse advised Mel to embrace the experience by being authentic and showing vulnerability, which would set the tone for his interactions with the contestants.
“The Golden Bachelor” airs on ABC on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET, promising audiences a season filled with engaging personalities and heartfelt moments.