The reality star says he didn't realize his comments were hurtful and that he apologized to the bachelorettes on the first night.The Golden Bachelor star Mel Owens is addressing the controversial comments he made about not wanting to date women over 60 on the reality dating show.

Mel Owens apologizes in his first interview since his viral comments had fans campaigning to get him fired as the 'Golden Bachelor’ season 2 lead.

Mel Owens is correcting his recent fumble. The former NFL star, 66, revealed that while filming this season of “The Golden Bachelor,” some of the contestants confronted him for his ageist remarks. Owens had said in June that he refuses to date women over the age of 60.