Bachelor in Paradise season 10 and Golden Bachelor season 1 star Kathy Swarts doesn’t believe that Golden Bachelor season 2 star Mel Owens really meant his ageist comments about women over 60, but she’s wrong. Kathy first appeared in Gerry Turner’s Golden Bachelor season, during which she established herself as a Bachelor Nation legend.

When eventual winner Theresa Nist kept telling Kathy details about her relationship with Gerry, Kathy infamously told her to “Zip it.“ Although this briefly made her into a villain, she quickly became a fan favorite, along with her best friend, Susan Noles. After the show, Kathy and Susan became the hosts of the podcast, Bachelor Happy Hour: Golden Hour.

Kathy and Theresa eventually became friends too, and Kathy even served as one of the Gold Carpet Correspondents at Gerry and Theresa’s Golden Wedding. Now, Kathy is a Bachelor in Paradise season 10 contestant. In the aftermath of the fallout of Mel’s ageist comments, Kathy shared her opinion about the new lead’s preferences.

What Did Golden Bachelor Mel Owens Say About Women Over 60?

On the In the Trenches podcast, Mel, a 66-year-old NFL player-turned-lawyer, and divorced father of two teenage sons, made some controversial comments about the women of his season. He revealed that, before he was cast, he told The Golden Bachelor season 2 producers that he’d only date women aged 45 to 60, and that he’d “cut” anyone over the age of 60.

Mel also stated that he didn’t want anyone with artificial hips or wigs to join his cast. He faced fierce backlash for these ageist comments, with many Golden Bachelor fans demanding that he be fired from the show. They felt that his demands didn’t match the spirit of The Golden Bachelor, which is to help people in their senior years find love.

Reality Steve had reported that there were rumors that Mel was going to be replaced as the Golden Bachelor lead, but nothing has been announced so far. Many fans have vowed to boycott the show if Mel continues as the lead because, while he has the right to date women of any age in real life, the whole point of The Golden Bachelor is for him to date older women, and not women in their 40s or 50s.

In an interview with EW, Kathy, who’s now 72 years old, made light of Mel’s ageist comments, even joking that he’d change his mind if he met her. She quipped, “I think that if Mel Owens met me — and I’m over 70 — that line would just not even be in his mouth. It’d be like, ‘Whoa, I never knew someone could be this fabulous over 60, over 70.'”

I think that if Mel Owens met me — and I’m over 70 — that line would just not even be in his mouth. It’d be like, “Whoa, I never knew someone could be this fabulous over 60, over 70.” I think he’s going to be just fine… 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. I think it’s going to be a great season. I personally can’t wait — unless I swoop in and take him away. In which case, show over!

Kathy also stated that she didn’t think that Mel really meant what he said about not wanting to date women over the age of 70. She said, “I think he’s going to be just fine… 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.”

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Kathy also predicted that Mel’s Golden Bachelor season would be a success, and even joked that she might try to join the cast and win. She said, “I think it’s going to be a great season. I personally can’t wait — unless I swoop in and take him away. In which case, show over!”

While Kathy might believe that she could change Mel’s mind about older women, it’s very apparent that he knows exactly who he wants to date. If he was open to dating women over 60, then he wouldn’t have alienated women in that age group by mocking them. Kathy is wrong, and it won’t be a great season because so many people have so much resentment towards Mel.

Kathy Is Wrong About Mel

Mel Shouldn’t Be The Golden Bachelor

Although it’s possible that Kathy is right and Mel didn’t fully think through his comments, it’s much more likely that he meant every word that he said. The tone that he used when he talked about not wanting to date women over 60 seemed like he had his mind made up. Even if he’s changed his mind and is now open to dating older women, there’s no excuse for the way that he spoke about them in his interview.

Mel goes against everything that The Golden Bachelor is about. The show highlighted women over the age of 60, who are often invisible in society. The series broke new ground and showed just how vibrant senior women can be. Mel reinforced all of the negative stereotypes about older women that have caused people to write them off for so long.

The Golden Bachelor season 1 only cast women aged 60-75, and Kathy was one of the seven women aged 70 or older. She was 70 at the time. She witnessed firsthand how vivacious women such as Ellen Goltzer, 71, and Sandra Mason, 75, were. Sandra even won a pickleball tournament with two artificial knees. In addition, 70-year-old Theresa won The Golden Bachelor over women who were ten years younger than her.

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It’s shocking that Kathy would defend Mel by saying that he didn’t mean what he said, and that she even joked more than once about wanting to date him, when the show should’ve immediately recast the lead. Kathy is such a strong woman, so it’s disappointing that she wouldn’t condemn Mel for ruining The Golden Bachelor season 2 before it starts.

Kathy should stop making excuses for Mel and other people like him, and realize that he meant every word he said. His ex-wife is 46, which means that she’s twenty years younger than him, proving that he likes younger women. This is fine in the real world, but not when someone is the lead of a show whose premise is dating in one’s golden years.

The Golden Bachelor season 2 will most likely be a failure due to the fact that so many fans vowed not to watch because of Mel. It’s ironic that, as Kathy is continuing to break stereotypes on Bachelor in Paradise season 10, she’s defending someone who believes in them. The Golden Bachelor should recast its lead before it’s too late.

Sources: In the Trenches, Reality Steve/Instagram, EW

Bachelor in Paradise

Release Date

August 4, 2014

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  Chris Harrison

  Self – Host

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  Jesse Palmer

  Self – Contestant