Now that the women of The Golden Bachelor conquered their roast of lead Mel Owens, it’s host Jesse Palmer’s turn.
“Mel Owens — the man hit harder on the field than his fashion sense ever hit on The Golden Bachelor,” Jesse, 46, told Entertainment Weekly after the Wednesday, October 1, episode, referring to the current franchise lead’s football past and a pair of orthopedic sneakers he wore on the show. “Those black shoes don’t help him move any better either — he moves around like a fax machine trying to load in 1979.”
During Wednesday’s episode, Mel, 66, took most of the women on a group date moderated by comedian and Bachelor superfan Jared Freid. The contestants were then instructed to write and perform a series of jokes about Mel, which meant many went after his pre-show comments about casting age requirements. (Ahead of filming, Mel caught flak for saying on a podcast that he wanted to cut any woman who was over the age of 60 or had artificial joints. He has since apologized for the remarks.)
While Nicolle Kate’s roast captured Mel’s heart and earned a one-on-one date, it was Amy Kaplan who had Jesse in stitches.
Why Mel Owens Was Named the Next Golden Bachelor
“Amy’s monologue was hilarious, it was entertaining, and it was also completely confusing,” Jesse told EW. “There was a moment where she was only wearing one shoe. I don’t think there was one actual joke aimed at Mel or any of the other women. In fact, I think she roasted herself multiple times!”
Shortly before Mel’s Golden Bachelor season premiered, he hinted that the roast was “brutal” to watch.
“They were killing me. I can’t remember all of them, but one said, ‘Oh, when Mel was walking with me, he was using me as a cane,’” Mel told Glamour in a profile published in August. “And I’m from Detroit, right? [Another woman] said, ‘Like a Detroit pizza, he’s doughy, squishy, square and crusty.’ It was good because I earned that.”
He continued, “I took it and I deserved it, and it landed squarely on me. They were throwing haymakers. It was good.”
After meeting the women, Mel told Us Weekly that he changed his tune about only dating much-younger individuals.
Golden Bachelor Mel Owens Breaks Silence on Backlash to Age Comments
“The women are great, and you’re going to see that they’re great,” Mel exclusively told Us last month. “They carry the show. They’re wonderful, and they’re feisty and smart, and truly, you’re going to see the passion from them. It’s a great, great show. Tune in and you’re going to see a lot of good things.”
According to Mel, he “didn’t give [fan criticism] too much thought” and was ecstatic that ABC didn’t either.
“ABC and Warner Brothers believed in me, and I’m glad they did, and it’s going to be a great season,” he told Us. “When I stopped dating [after I got married], I was 39. Now, I’m 66 — it’s been 25 years in between. These women [are] all accomplished, and they’re all funny and witty and smart, and we have shared experiences of the same age, which I found very refreshing.”
Mel was previously married to Fabiana Owens for 17 years before she filed for divorce in 2020. The now-exes share two sons.
The Golden Bachelor airs on ABC Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
