Golden Bachelor Mel Owens Slammed After Sending Home Woman Who Opened Up About Ex’s Death

Fans are calling out Golden Bachelor lead Mel Owens after the 66-year-old former NFL player sent home contestant Debbie Siebers during the show’s Wednesday, October 22 episode — after she opened up about the devastating suicide of her ex-partner.

As Us Weekly reported, the emotional hometown episode showed Siebers’ heartfelt confession about losing her ex after his battle with depression. Despite the moving exchange, Owens chose contestants Peg Munson and Cindy Cullers for his final two, sending Siebers home in tears. The decision immediately sparked backlash online.

One X user vented, “Mel is a terrible Bachelor. He’s a cold fish — no emotion, sense of humor, affection. No wonder his wife left him! All he wants to do is watch football!”

Another agreed, “My thoughts exactly! He shows no emotion whatsoever.”

Another viewer simply called the entire season “a sham.”

The hits keep coming for Owens.

Star readers will recall that the criticism follows earlier controversy over Owens’ comments about only wanting women between the ages of “45 to 60,” which some fans saw as dismissive of older contestants.

And as Star has reported, the show’s second season has seen viewership drop by more than half compared to Gerry Turner’s headline-making premiere in 2024.