Latest news with #IntheTrenches
Cosmopolitan
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Is Mel Owens Still Golden Bachelor? Reality Steve Dishes the Latest
Another day, another update on what is going on with ABC's new season of The Golden Bachelor. To get everyone on the same page real fast, the show cast Mel Owens as their lead. And he wasted no time causing controversy by revealing his dating "cut off age." Speaking on the In the Trenches podcast, Mel said "It's blind up until they get out of the limo. But they asked me, 'what's your preferences?' So, I just said 45 to 60, just being honest. And then the process went, and I was selected, right? And then we had lunch with the executive producer. I said, 'you know, if they're 60 or over, I'm cutting them.' Oh Mel, you can't, you know, this is not the 'Silver Bachelor.' It's the 'Golden Bachelor.' He goes, but they're going to be hot, don't worry about it. Don't worry about it." Mel's comments caused a ton of backlash among fans calling for him to be replaced, and back in early July spoiler source Reality Steve said a recast was in the works. However, the longtime spoiler source just revealed that filming is about to begin on The Golden Bachelor amid the cast being revealed, and said it doesn't seem like Mel has actually been replaced. Also noteworthy? The entire cast is over 60—minus one woman who is 58. Per Reality Steve, "the fact that we got the women on Friday makes me believe that filming starts this week." He also notes that the show presumably decided not to recast Mel since "this would've made the news by now, or they would've come out and said they were recasting him." Looks like filming will be going down any moment now and we should know for sure about Mel then, so stay tuned...
Cosmopolitan
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Kathy Swarts Defends ‘Golden Bachelor' Mel Owens
Bachelor Nation is no stranger to controversial casting. And the franchise's Golden Bachelor spinoff is no exception. Last month, Golden Bachelor season 2 lead Mel Owens came under fire for saying that he wouldn't date any women over 60—despite being 66 years old himself—causing many to doubt his future on the show. One person who's not convinced it should cost him the lead spot, however, is speaking out. Golden Bachelor alum Kathy Swarts is defending Mel, saying in a recent interview that she thinks he's in it for the right reasons. Kathy, who can currently be seen frolicking poolside on Bachelor in Paradise, isn't taking Mel's comments too seriously. 'I think that if Mel Owens met me—and I'm over 70—that line would just not even be in his mouth,' she told Entertainment Weekly. 'It'd be like, 'Whoa, I never knew someone could be this fabulous over 60, over 70.'' She continued, 'I think Mel is a guy looking for love and I think he said something without really thinking about it. I don't think he meant it.' Despite reports that Mel had been fired from Golden Bachelor, no official announcements have been made, so for now, he remains the lead. And while many in Bachelor Nation might not be inclined to tune in to support a man so blatantly ageist, Kathy said she'll be watching. 'I think it's going to be a great season,' she said. 'I personally can't wait—unless I swoop in and take him away. In which case, show over!' In case you forgot, during a June 4 appearance on the In the Trenches with Jon Jansen podcast, Mel said that he specifically told producers that he preferred women aged 45 to 60, adding, 'I said, 'If they're 60 or over, I'm cutting them.'' According to him, producers pushed back, appeasing him with, 'They're gonna be hot, don't worry about it.' His other non-negotiables? He expects the contestants on his Golden Bachelor season to 'be fit' and says he told producers, 'Try and stay away from the artificial hips and the wigs.' How charming.
USA Today
09-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN flags Michigan football wide receivers as key concern for 2025 despite new additions
Michigan football finished the 2024 season about as good as any team (other than Ohio State, the eventual national champion) could, having beaten that same Ohio State team as well as Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl. But it was the defense and somewhat timely offensive production that carried those days -- not the offense as a whole. The Wolverines are hoping that the offense is a bit more consistent in 2025, with new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey leading the charge and with No. 1 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class, quarterback Bryce Underwood, likely to start as a true freshman. While the quarterback position was likely the biggest culprit in terms of the team's struggles a year ago, that's not the area of the offense that ESPN thinks could trip Michigan football up this season. It's the quarterback's targets. On Wednesday, ESPN revealed the weaknesses for each of the contending preseason teams in college football and surmises that wideout might be a bit of a question mark for the maize and blue. Area of concern: Wide receiver The Wolverines ranked 129th last season with just 1,678 passing yards. Quarterback play was part of the issue, as Michigan cycled through three quarterbacks (Davis Warren, Jack Tuttle and Alex Orji) in its first season after losing national champion JJ McCarthy. But Michigan's receivers collectively didn't make enough plays, as no wideout caught more than 27 passes or totaled more than 248 yards. The onus will be even greater on Michigan's receivers with tight end Colston Loveland -- the Wolverines' only reliable target last year -- now playing for the Chicago Bears. Instant impact from transfers Anthony Simpson (UMass) and Donaven McCulley (Indiana), combined with internal improvement from the likes of Fredrick Moore and Semaj Morgan, will be paramount if Michigan is going to threaten opposing defensive backfields in 2025 Appearing on In the Trenches in May, assistant wide receivers coach Soup Campbell noted that there's a lot of talent in the wide receiver room, even if it hasn't quite yet been maximized. "Talented group," Campbell said. "I think this group is a bunch of underachievers who the sky's gonna be the limit for them, and see how the season goes. And I think we have the talent to make some things happen." And wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy thinks big things are coming for the aforementioned Indiana transfer, Donaven McCulley, who has all of the requisites to be the next great Michigan football receiver. "He's the oldest guy in the room, has the most experience," Bellamy said in spring ball. "He's played over 1,000 snaps in his college career. So, quite naturally, you would think he would be the next guy on the room and on the wall. And that's what he's ascending to. "He's on track. I'll tell you what, he's on track to do that. He's got to keep attacking it and challenging himself every day, which, like I say, he's been a great addition thus far." Though the two transfers and Morgan and Moore are mentioned by ESPN, the Wolverines are also hoping to get some solid production from players such as true freshmen Jamar Browder and Andrew Marsh, as well as sophomore Channing Goodwin (who had the most targets in the spring game), and an emerging tight ends and fullback unit.
Cosmopolitan
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Mel Owens Reportedly Fired from 'Golden Bachelor'—Here's Why
Looks like Mel Owens may no longer be ABC's new Golden Bachelor. Longtime spoiler source Reality Steve reports that the burgeoning reality star is "out" after controversial comments he made about not dating older women on the show. "Mel Owens is OUT as the Golden Bachelor due to recent negative publicity surrounding his June 4th podcast appearance," Reality Steve wrote on Twitter. "Expect an announcement soon incl who is going to replace him. Haven't heard a name yet on who that is. Will update if/when I hear." In case you missed it and/or blocked it out, Mel (who is 66) revealed his "cut off age" during the In the Trenches podcast, saying "It's blind up until they get out of the limo. But they asked me, 'what's your preferences?' So, I just said 45 to 60, just being honest. And then the process went, and I was selected, right? And then we had lunch with the executive producer. I said, 'you know, if they're 60 or over, I'm cutting them.' Oh Mel, you can't, you know, this is not the 'Silver Bachelor.' It's the 'Golden Bachelor.' He goes, but they're going to be hot, don't worry about it. Don't worry about it." Mel's comments caused a lot of backlash, with many viewers insisting that he's recast. While ABC hasn't made a formal announcement, it looks like they're doing just that based on Reality Steve's reporting tuned. Oh, and for what it's worth, previous Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner was 72 when he was cast, and his winner, Theresa Nist, was 70.
Hindustan Times
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Who is Mel Owens? Golden Bachelor star, 66, sparks outrage for saying he will ‘cut' women over 60
Mel Owens, the newly announced lead of The Golden Bachelor Season 2, is under fire for controversial remarks about the age of women he's willing to date. Speaking on the In the Trenches podcast earlier this month, the 66-year-old said bluntly, 'If they're 60 or over, I'm cutting them.' Mel Owens is the new Golden Bachelor The retired NFL player-turned-lawyer added that he had been 'honest' with the ABC producers about his preferences. 'I only wanted women aged 45 to 60 … just being honest,' he said on the podcast. 'This is not The Silver Bachelor, this is The Golden Bachelor. They've got to be fit, because I stay in shape and work out and stuff. And I told producers to try to stay away from the artificial hips and the wigs,' Owens added, stating that fitness is a priority. Fans slam Mel Owens' comments as 'ageist' and 'superficial' The remarks quickly went viral on social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter), where users condemned the Golden Bachelor star for being ageist. Some called out the hypocrisy, noting that Owens himself is well past 60. Others compared him to men who expect youthfulness without offering it in return. ABC's Golden Bachelor faces new scrutiny after high-profile Season 1 breakup The backlash arrives just as the ABC franchise recovers from the high-profile split of Season 1 couple Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist. The pair, both over 70, got engaged during the show but announced their divorce in April 2024, only three months after tying the knot. 'Theresa and I have had a number of heart-to-heart conversations,' Turner said on Good Morning America at the time. Nist added, 'We want none of that [hope] to change for anybody.' Following the split, Nist told People that she's received direct messages from much younger men. 'They're so young that they're younger than my son,' she said. Season 2 of The Golden Bachelor is set to premiere this fall, but Owens' recent remarks have already clouded the show's next chapter. ALSO READ: Who didn't receive a rose and went home on 'The Golden Bachelor' week 5? FAQs: 1. What did Mel Owens say about dating older women? He said he would 'cut' any women aged 60 or older from consideration, sparking backlash for being ageist. 2. How old is Mel Owens? Mel Owens is 66 years old. 3. Who were the stars of Golden Bachelor Season 1? Season 1 featured Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist, who got married and later divorced. 4. When does Golden Bachelor Season 2 premiere? The second season is expected to air in fall 2025.
