The Golden Bachelor is back for a second season, and this time former NFL player Mel Owens will be looking for love at 66. The first season was a hit, and ABC has picked up the show again. It will start airing on September 24, 2025. While fans are excited about Mel’s search for romance, not many know about his past marriage, divorce, or some controversial comments he recently made.
Mel was previously married to Fabiana Pimentel Owens, who is 19 years younger than him. She works as a marketing director for Preferred Hotels & Resorts. The couple tied the knot in 2002 and lived in California. Fabiana also worked part-time at Mel’s law firm from 2007 to 2016. They have two sons together, Lucas, 20, and Andre, 18.
Fabiana filed for divorce in February 2020 after about 18 years of marriage. She cited irreconcilable differences in court documents. However, the divorce was only finalized in December 2024 after a long five-year legal battle. Reports say the court ordered Mel to pay nearly $1 million to cover unpaid child and spousal support, property division, and attorney fees. Mel claimed he only earned $1,000 per month, yet he retained assets worth more than $2.75 million, including their Orange County home valued at over $2 million.
After being announced as the lead on The Golden Bachelor, Mel made some controversial remarks. On Jon Jansen’s podcast, he said he did not want to date women over 60, even though he is 66 himself. He said his preference was for women between 45 and 60. He explained that when producers asked about his preferences, he told them honestly, and they warned him, saying, “This is not The Silver Bachelor, it’s The Golden Bachelor.”
Mel also added that he wanted the women to be in top physical shape. He said he preferred women who worked out and was not interested in those with artificial hips or wigs. His comments sparked some backlash online, adding another layer of drama to the upcoming season.