The Golden Bachelor, Mel Owens, addressed controversial ageist comments he made on a podcast before the show. He apologized during the season premiere, saying, "I messed up. I was wrong. Age doesn't matter," and asked the women if they could forgive him and let him earn back their trust. Owens acknowledged his past remarks where he said he preferred women under 60, criticized women who wore wigs or had artificial hips, and said contestants had to be fit. He called those comments unfair and unkind and expressed regret. He emphasized that age is just a number and spirit knows no bounds. The women on the show confronted him about his podcast comments on arrival, and Owens personally apologized to them both individually and collectively, hoping to move past the controversy. Despite this rocky start, Owens said he felt the right person might still be among the remaining contestants after initial eliminations. Many of the women appreciated his sincere apology during the premiere episode.