“The Golden Bachelor” is trending right now because the new lead, Mel Owens, was called out for ageist things he said on a podcast and then had to apologize for them on the show’s premiere.

Below is a quick, SEO‑friendly breakdown of what the Golden Bachelor said , how he tried to fix it, and how fans are reacting.

What Did the Golden Bachelor Say?

The Controversial Comments

On a podcast before his season aired, Mel Owens (66) described the kind of women he wanted to date, and several remarks were slammed as ageist.

Key things he reportedly said:

  • He didn’t want to date women over about 59 or 60, even though the show presents itself as a 60‑plus love story.
  • He joked about wanting to avoid “artificial hips” and wigs, implying he preferred women who didn’t show signs of aging.
  • He emphasized that women on his season “got to be fit,” which some people read as shallow or appearance‑focused for a show supposedly celebrating later‑life romance.

In some coverage, one line that stuck out to viewers was essentially: aside from “no artificial hips or wigs,” here were the qualities he wanted in a partner. That phrasing ignited a lot of forum and social media backlash, with many fans feeling it undercut the spirit of the franchise’s “Golden” concept.

“Aside from no artificial hips or wigs…” – this kind of line is what people are quoting and debating in forums right now.

How He Addressed It on the Show

When the season premiered, Mel directly acknowledged that his earlier comments were hurtful and tried to reset the narrative in front of the women.

What he said in his on‑camera reflections

  • He admitted he was nervous the women would have the wrong idea about him because of those remarks.
  • He said some version of: “I messed up. I was wrong. Age doesn’t matter. When they walk out, I’m not thinking about age.”
  • He framed it as something he regrets and keeps replaying in his mind, saying he apologizes for “everything” he said on the podcast and that those comments don’t represent who he is.

What he said directly to the women

During limo entrances and later in a group setting at the mansion, he apologized more explicitly.

He told them things along the lines of:

  • “I sincerely apologize. It was insensitive, unfair, and unkind.”
  • “I know what a lot of people are thinking about me, but that’s not who I am.”
  • “It’s truly a privilege for me to be the Golden Bachelor. I hope you forgive me and let me earn it back.”
  • “Age is really just a number, and spirit has no age.”

One contestant, Diane (71), confronted him right away, essentially asking “what the puck” that podcast interview was about, and he reiterated that he was sorry and had been unfair. Another contestant jokingly slapped him with a puppet, underscoring how the controversy was very much on everyone’s mind.

Fans’ and Viewers’ Reactions

Reactions are mixed, which is why “what did the Golden Bachelor say” is trending in searches and forum threads.

Critical viewpoints

  • Many older viewers and fans in Bachelor forums saw the “no artificial hips or wigs” and age‑cutoff talk as classic ageism, especially painful on a show that is supposed to uplift seniors.
  • Some think his apology sounds polished but question his sincerity, especially when they notice that women who more visibly appear their age (such as those with gray hair) were among the first to be sent home.
  • Commenters also argue that obsessing over “fitness” and avoiding visible signs of aging reinforces unrealistic standards for older women.

Supportive or sympathetic viewpoints

  • Others believe people can say clumsy, insensitive things and then genuinely learn from the backlash, and they see his repeated apologies as a sign he’s trying to grow.
  • Some fans appreciate that the show didn’t ignore the controversy and instead let both the women and Mel address it openly on camera.
  • A segment of Bachelor Nation is choosing to “wait and see” whether his actions across the season match his new message about age not mattering.

Short “Golden Bachelor” Quote Recap

Here’s a compact look at what people most often mean when they ask “what did the Golden Bachelor say”:

  • On the podcast: comments about not dating women over about 59–60, wanting to avoid “artificial hips or wigs,” and focusing heavily on fitness.
  • On the premiere:
    • “I messed up. I was wrong. Age doesn’t matter.”
* “I sincerely apologize. It was insensitive, unfair, and unkind.”

* “It’s truly a privilege for me to be the Golden Bachelor. I hope you forgive me and let me earn it back. Age is just a number; spirit has no age.”

Quick HTML Table of Key Lines

[4][3][5][1] [10][4][1] [3][1] [5][1][3] [9][1][5] [7][1][3][5] [1][5] [10][3][1]
Context What he said (paraphrased/quoted) Why it’s trending
Pre-show podcast Didn’t want to date women over ~59–60; wanted to avoid “artificial hips” and wigs; women had to be “fit.”Seen as ageist and shallow, clashing with the show’s message about celebrating older love.
Premiere voiceover “I messed up. I was wrong. Age doesn’t matter. When they walk out, I’m not thinking about age.”Shows him trying to walk back the earlier comments and stress connection over age.
Talking to contestants “I sincerely apologize. It was insensitive, unfair, and unkind… I hope you forgive me and let me earn it back.”Central to whether viewers accept his apology or see it as damage control.
His broader message “Age is really just a number and spirit has no age.”Intended as a positive slogan for the season, but critics compare it to his earlier age‑limit remarks.
**TL;DR:** When people ask “what did the Golden Bachelor say,” they’re usually referring to Mel Owens’ pre‑show comments about not dating women over ~60 and avoiding signs of aging, followed by his on‑screen apology where he says he “messed up,” was “insensitive and unfair,” and now claims that age doesn’t matter and that “spirit has no age.”

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.