It’s that time of year again. Networks and streaming service providers are shoring up their fall schedules and announcing premiere dates. Earlier this week, Netflix dropped information about several upcoming and returning series. Now, ABC is doing the same. The network has officially set the premiere date for The Golden Bachelor season 2. While fans are excited for the show, they aren’t enthusiastic about the man who is reportedly still leading the season.

ABC sets a premiere date for season 2 of ‘The Golden Bachelor’

Season 2 of The Golden Bachelor, starring 66‑year‑old former NFL linebacker turned lawyer Mel Owens, is officially set to premiere on Wednesday, September 24. The season will kick off with a two-hour special, which will end with the very first rose ceremony of the season. The show will then move to the 9 pm slot on Wednesdays thereafter.

ABC has yet to reveal the golden women who will be vying for the affection of a 66-year-old lawyer. Contestants probably won’t be revealed until a few weeks before the premiere, but rumors suggest they’re all heading to the Bachelor mansion this month to begin filming. Filming the season usually takes place over a six-week period. While the first season ended with a quick marriage and even quicker divorce, we don’t have high hopes that Mel Owens will find his perfect match. He’s already too controversial.

Fans aren’t so sure they want to see Mel Owens find love

While the season’s premiere date is still two months away, viewers are already debating whether they will boycott the season. Mel Owens, the 66-year-old former NFL linebacker and current lead of Season 2 of The Golden Bachelor, is highly controversial, and ABC’s decision to seemingly stick with him feels nonsensical.

Owens triggered backlash in early June after he made comments about his dating strategy during an appearance on the In the Trenches podcast. Owens said he only wanted to date women aged 45 to 60, and stated he would “cut” any contestant 60 or over. Fans were quick to lambast the new lead, who is 66 years old. Even Bachelor Nation alums weighed in.

Owens never apologized for his comments, but his ex-wife did step forward to shed further doubt on Owens’ readiness to lead such a series. His ex, a woman nearly 20 years his junior, wished the contestants luck, but suggested she didn’t have much hope for those going into the season looking for love.