Mel Owens’ time as the season 2 golden bachelor may have been short-lived. According to the iconic spoilers creator, Reality Steve, Owens is out, and a replacement has already been tapped. The network must not have had to look far, considering how quickly they have reportedly replaced Owens. There might be a reason for that. Joan Vassos casually revealed the former NFL star and lawyer was a last-minute pick. She made the comment before his controversial remarks came to light.

Joan Vassos said Mel Owens was a last-minute pick

ABC surprised fans of Bachelor Nation when they announced Mel Owens as the upcoming golden bachelor back in April. The pick came out of the blue, leading many fans to assume ABC had Owens picked out for a long time. Joan Vassos revealed that the assumption was absolutely not true.

During an appearance on Bachelor Happy Hour, Joan Vassos and her fiancé, Chock Chapple, weighed in on the casting of Mel Owens. Vassos, at the time, was happy with the pick, claiming that, while she hadn’t met Owens yet, he seemed charming. She went on to reveal that he was a “last-minute pick.” Joan said she found it strange considering his credentials and good looks. Vassos didn’t elaborate on how she knew he was a last-minute pick.

Why is Mel Owens being ousted from Bachelor Nation?

Mel Owens became a controversial member of Bachelor Nation even before his season of The Golden Bachelor got underway. Last month, Owens appeared on a University of Michigan podcast to discuss his involvement in the upcoming sophomore season of The Golden Bachelor.  

During the appearance, Owens admitted that he had no plans to keep any woman over the age of 60 on his season of the show, no matter how beautiful she might be. Owens went on to say that he would prefer women who are 45-60. Additionally, he wants to avoid anything that might be associated with senior citizens, like “artificial hips and wigs.” Fans were deeply troubled to hear the upcoming lead be so brazenly ageist. It hit especially hard considering he’s connected to a show whose entire premise focuses on older women being sexy, vibrant, and worthy of love.

ABC has not yet announced the former NFL player’s ousting. Still, Reality Steve claims the network acted fast to send Owens packing. If Reality Steve is right, they had someone waiting in the wings to take his place.

Who could replace the former NFL star on ‘The Golden Bachelor’ season 2?

A long audition process could turn out to have been a blessing in disguise for casting agents if they do, in fact, have to go back to the drawing board. If Mel Owens is really out as the next golden bachelor, who could replace him? Fans of the golden franchise are hopeful that ABC will focus on one of the men who competed for Joan Vassos’s heart in The Golden Bachelorette last year. We hope for the same.

So, who would be a top contender? While several golden contestants are busy with Bachelor in Paradise, there are plenty of good options left. Jordan Heller is a possible pick. He was a fan favorite during Joan’s season and has maintained an active social media presence since the end of the series. He didn’t throw any red flags, remains a family man, and already has a built-in fan base. ABC could see him as a safe bet after sidestepping a potential disaster.

Charles Ling is an even safer bet in regard to potential controversy. Ling was one of the most likable reality TV personalities we have ever seen. Fans wanted to see him as the second Golden Bachelor, but he’s largely disappeared from social media since the end of the show. Frankly, Charles might not have what it takes to carry an entire show on his own, although we would love to get an update from him.