Mel Owens had some explaining to do in the Sept. 24 premiere of The Golden Bachelor.
As the leading man, 66, kicked off season 2 of the ABC dating show, he was faced with several questions about a controversial appearance on the MGoBlue Podcast where he said his "preferences" for dating were between the ages of 45 and 60.
Mel explained that he "messed up" and hoped the 23 women vying for his heart could give him "a chance to redeem" himself.
"I have anxiety," the NFL player-turned-lawyer admitted on his way to the Bachelor mansion for night one. "It's sort of overwhelming. Age doesn't matter. When they walk out, I'm not thinking age. I'm looking at feelings for connections. It's the chemistry. I hope these women don't judge me on what they heard, but they probably do."
"It doesn't matter how old you are," he said at the start of the episode. "Falling in love never stops being magical."
Several women confessed they were "offended" and worried they were "wasting my time" after hearing what Mel said, so they decided to confront him. "Just because someone might be 50 doesn't mean they are more attractive than someone who is 62," Carla, 62, told cameras.
Cindy, 60, was the first to step out of the limo, and she walked into things with an open mind.
"I know he said those things on the podcast, but in my opinion, he deserves a second chance to prove himself to me," she said. "We have so many other things to connect on. It's just the beginning."
When women's hockey player Diane, 65, approached Mel, she jumped right to the chase.
"I gotta ask you -- what the puck was that interview about on that podcast?" she declared, making a play on words to reveal her hockey background.
"I sincerely apologize," Mel replied. "It was unfair, unkind. Will you give me a second chance and let me earn it back?"
She nodded and walked inside, but noted: “I’m here to prove that attractiveness and spunk doesn’t end at 60.”
That wasn't the end of it. When 71-year-old Terri introduced herself, she used a puppet to ask the hard questions: "I bet you weren't expecting all these women over 60 to look this hot, right?"
"Correct," Mel affirmed. "I'm so wrong and so apologetic."
Then came Carla, who stated that she was there "to break all of your stereotypes about women over 60."
"People that are in their 60s are having sex, they are having orgasms," she said in her confessional. "They're doing some things. Mel's got his hands full for sure."
Alexandra, 67, even teased Mel. "Can you handle me?" she quipped before planting a kiss on his lips.
After meeting all women Mel gave a toast, where he asked for forgiveness from the whole group.
"This has exceeded my expectations," he began. "Every one of you ladies is wonderful, and some of the questions were about the podcast that I did. I sincerely apologize. It was insensitive, unfair. It's truly a privilege for me to be the Golden Bachelor, and I hope you forgive me and let me earn it back. Age is really just a number, and spirit has no age."
The ladies appreciated how Mel "addressed the elephant in the room," with Diane saying "you could almost hear a collective sigh."
After a night of one-on-one conversations -- and a few kisses -- Mel gave his first impression rose to Gerri, 64. The pair bonded over their dedication to parenthood and finally putting themselves first.
"It's our time," she said as she accepted the rose.
That night, Mel sent home six women: Maia, 58; Susie, 62; Lily, 72; Andra, 77; Lisa, 66; and Tracy, 62.
Following a romantic first one-on-one date with Cheryl, 66; a group date cheer competition hosted by Paula Abdul (after which Cindy snuck in three kisses with Mel in the stands); and a pool party, it was time for another rose ceremony.
The episode ended with Mel saying goodbye to four more women, including three who pushed him on his age comments during their intros: Alexandra, Carla and Diane, along with Mylene, 61.
"Saying goodbye to any of them is tough," Mel acknowledged before adding, "But the group of women that I have left is just spectacular. They're all beautiful and they're all smart. Is my wife here? Yes. I feel it in my heart."