Scorned Golden Bachelor Mel Owens must pay nearly one million dollars to his ex. He has come under fire from fans and viewers for age discrimination. Therefore, it is unclear what his future with the show will hold. So, why does he have to pay up? Keep reading for more details.
Mel Owens Must Pay Nearly $1 Million To Ex
The inaugural season of The Golden Bachelor featured Gerry Turner but ended badly. Although he proposed to Theresa Nist at the end of their journey, their marriage lasted just a few months. It was scary when The Golden Bachelorette premiered, as viewers did not want Joan Vassos to suffer the same fate. She seems very happy, and fans have picked some men from her season to follow in Gerry’s footsteps. Yet, when casting began, many of the top men were spoken for. Enter Mel Owens, a former NFL pro and lawyer, who was cast for Season 2.
There were questions of whether he was the right choice, but at the end of the day, the show would go on. Unfortunately for Mel, he spoke out of line, which rubbed people the wrong way. He stated that he would not date anyone over 60 when he is 66. That has led to him possibly being axed, but at the same time, it has come out that he owes his ex nearly one million dollars. Mel was married to Fabiana Owens, 46, for nearly two decades, and then they split in 2020. Their divorce was finalized in 2024 after a long battle.
Since she is only 46, it makes sense that Mel has a very strict age restriction for The Golden Bachelor. However, it does not work for the show, the title, or the viewers to see how shallow he is. As for Fabiana, she declined any financial support from Mel. Yet, he was ordered to pay his ex, with whom he shares two children, $980K. This was to be paid “on or before February 28, 2025.”
Why This Amount?
If Mel Owens was not paying Fabiana Owens any alimony, what was with the high amount? Apparently, The Golden Bachelor has to pay nearly one million for back child and spousal support. Furthermore, the division of property and assets was also included in this amount. Now, the tricky part was how much the couple claimed to be making. Although Mel is a lawyer, he stated that his income was $1K per month. However, Fabiana allegedly raked in nearly $7K per month. Therefore, she was in a far better financial situation than he was, which is likely why he joined a reality television show. It seems the debt has been paid, but Fabiana will likely make it known if he owes any more.
Are you hoping that The Golden Bachelor is replaced, or do you want to see Mel Owens’ journey? Moreover, can you believe what he owed his ex, and do you feel he only makes $1K per month? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Amanda has been a professional freelance writer for over a decade, holding both a BA and an MA. Her passions include animals, iced coffee, gnomes, summer, music, and ‘Vanderpump Rules’.