Golden Bachelor Mel Owens' journey to find love will soon begin... but not everyone is happy about him taking on the coveted role.
The 66-year-old former pro football player, who was recently rumored to be replaced after sparking backlash for his ageist comments, is not getting support from his ex-wife, Fabiana Owens, whom he was married to for 17 years.
The Daily Mail confirmed that Owens has not been replaced due to 'negative publicity' and the season will go ahead as planned, with filming expected to commence later this summer.
When reached for comment about her ex becoming the next Golden Bachelor, Fabiana, 46, issued a stark warning.
She said told the Daily Mail, 'Good luck. I mean, it's going to be bad. But anyway, I don't want to be involved in this.'
Mel and Fabiana's divorce was just finalized in December 2024 after a four-year court battle, according to court documents exclusively obtained by the Daily Mail.
Golden Bachelor Mel Owens will begin filming his journey to find love soon, but not everyone is happy about him taking on the coveted role, especially his ex-wife Fabiana Owens
Fabiana shared her reaction with the Daily Mail: 'Good luck. I mean, it's going to be bad. 'But anyway, I don't want to be involved in this'
Fabiana filed for divorce in February 2020, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple got married in May 2002 and welcomed two children together: sons Lucas, 19, and Andre, 18.
Per the docs, they separated 20 days prior to the hotel marketing director filing.
The parents share joint legal and physical custody, meaning they share equal parenting time - despite the children no longer being minors (Andre turned 18 a month after the divorce was finalized).
Instead of paying for child support, Mel was ordered to pay his youngest child's high school tuition, fees, and costs of extracurricular activities until he graduates.
Although Fabiana had waived all rights to receive ongoing spousal support, alimony, and/or separate maintenance from Mel, the former athlete was ordered to pay his ex the sum of $980,000.
He was ordered by a California judge to pay this amount, nearly $1 million, 'on or before February 28, 2025.'
This amount was determined by support arrearage (unpaid child and spousal support that accumulated over time), potential child and/or spousal support owed after December 2024, the division of non-retirement community property assets and debts, prior monetary sanction against him by the court, and contribution to Fabiana's attorney fees and costs, as stated in the divorce settlement.
The support arrearage, alone, totaled $165,312, which includes past due and unpaid child support arrears in the amount of $81,629, plus $83,683 past due and unpaid spousal support arrears.
Mel and Fabiana finalized their divorce in December 2024 after a four-year battle in court
Owens was ordered to pay Fabiana $980,000 - part of this, $165,312, included support arrearage, which is past due and unpaid child and spousal support
Mel was awarded their marital home in Orange County (pictured) - a five-bedroom, three-bathroom home, which they purchased in 2008 for $840K
Mel was awarded their marital home in Orange County, which they purchased in 2008 for $840K. The five-bedroom, three-bathroom home, which has a pool in the backyard and built in barbecue, is now estimated to be worth over $2 million.
According to court docs, there was an outstanding balance in the mortgage loan in the amount of $430,531 as of April 15, 2024.
The sports injury lawyer was also awarded the 2011 Toyota Sequoia, while Fabiana was awarded her leased car. He also was awarded the bank accounts titled in his name and the name of his law firm, Namanny, Byrne & Owens (NBO) Law.
In Owens' income and expense declaration form, filed December 2024, the NFL star had reported that he was making $1,000 per month from his employer Namanny, Byrne & Owens. And that he estimated his ex was making $6,875 per month.
While it is unclear why he would only be making $1,000 per month, he did state that his assets from his checking, savings and other accounts totaled $250,000 and other real property totaled $2.5 million.
He also stated that his average monthly expenses totaled $15,400 - with $4,995 going towards his living expenses, $4,000 going towards his education (he still has $90,000 left to pay off his law school loan) and $1,200 on groceries and house supplies.
It is presumed that Mel has paid off the $980K by the February 2025 deadline since the final court documents state that, 'In the event that Respondent (Mel) fails to make timely payment of the $980,000, and Petitioner (Fabiana) requests that the Court vacate this Judgment on Reserved Issues, the marital residence shall be listed for sale immediately (as provided in the 9/10/2024 Stipulation and Order Thereon), and all prior orders in this matter shall remain in full force and effect.'
Their former marital home is currently not listed for sale.
Owens' recent ageist comments made on a podcast about how he would 'cut' any woman who was '60 or older' caused a lot of backlash from fans
Daily Mail confirmed that Owens has not been replaced due to 'negative publicity' and the season will go ahead as planned, with filming expected to commence later this summer
Fabiana was described as Mel's 'first love' in the April press release that announced the University of Michigan alum as the next Golden Bachelor, following Gerry Turner's season...which ended in divorce to winner Theresa Nist.
'While life took an unexpected turn with the passing of his father and the end of his marriage, Owens channeled his energy into being the best father he could be, focusing on raising his sons and coaching their extracurricular sports teams,' the release continued.
He's now 'ready to rediscover a love rooted in the simple joys of companionship' and he's 'eager to meet someone who shares this vision and finally find that perfect teammate he’s been waiting for in his golden years.'
Ahead of filming his season, Owens made ageist comments on the MGoBlue podcast last month, admitting that he plans to cut any woman who is '60 and over.'
He told the hosts about his requirements for the contestants, 'They asked me, "What's your preferences?" So, I just said 45 to 60, just being honest.
'And then the process went, and I was selected, right? And then we had lunch with the executive producer. I said, "You know, if they're 60 or over, I'm cutting them."'
When reminded that the name of the show was The Golden Bachelor, not the 'Silver Bachelor,' Owens said he was told, '‘You can’t use the word cut.’
He added that his ideal 'profile' of a woman would be 'fit' and no 'artificial hips and wigs.'
'"Well, they got to be fit because I stay in shape, should work out and stuff," Owens recalled his conversation with producers. 'And I told them, "Try to stay away from the artificial hips and the wigs, you know, that kind of stuff, right?"'
Numerous fans of the franchise have made their feelings quite clear about what Owens said. One person wrote, 'This is so sad. I can’t believe [producers] knew this man didn’t want a golden lady and cast him anyway.'
Another person commented, 'Based on his podcast interview I won’t be watching or supporting. We need to stop supporting men who think they’re so great that they won’t date women their own age. This dude needs to go back home.'
Even Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause weighed in on the drama.
'We love the Golden Bachelor because of how wholesome it is,' she wrote on Instagram, adding, 'This type of energy will ruin it.'
The Bachelor host Jesse Palmer recently weighed in on the controversial comments, stating, '“I’ve seen the headlines, obviously, because I’m on social media. I have not heard the podcast. We haven’t started filming yet, so I haven’t spent a ton of time with Mel. The small amount of time I have spent with him, he seems like a good guy.
'But I know I’m gonna get to spend a lot more time with him pretty soon. I’m sure that’s something we’re going to talk about,' he told Us Weekly.
Fans of The Golden Bachelor can catch up with their favorites from Gerry's season of The Golden Bachelor when they take part in Bachelor in Paradise, premiering on July 7, along with other fan favorites from the franchise.
DailyMail has reached out to Mel and Fabiana's attorneys for comment.
