Bachelor Nation was formally launched to Mel Owens — and received some perception into his previous — on the Wednesday, September 24, episode of The Golden Bachelor.
The 66-year-old lead notes throughout the premiere that his ex-wife filed for divorce throughout the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 — after falling in love with another person.
“Nicely, it’s by no means good, proper?” Mel instructed Us Weekly solely on Wednesday when requested in regards to the state of affairs. “However, you understand, I’m by no means going to get in the best way of somebody’s happiness. If you wish to discover any person else in a distinct section in your life — it hurts — however I can’t get in the best way of your happiness. And what’s your happiness will not be my happiness. That’d be an actual battle — you possibly can’t cease any person, say, ‘I’m over right here now.’ You’ll be able to beg and plead, however I’m superb. Life is brief, and if you happen to’re in love with any person else, that’s superb.”
Mel and ex Fabiana Pimente, who share two sons, had been married for almost 18 years.
“You reside within the second,” he continued to Us about how he coped with the break up. “Plus, I had youngsters, so I had to consider them earlier than me. In order that was the primary focus. And there have been youthful youngsters on the time — not infants, however youngsters. I let issues work itself out, and it did. And have persistence and understanding.”
When requested whether or not his former partner can be watching his actuality TV debut, Mel stated he thinks she would possibly catch at the very least a scene or two.

Mel Owens. Disney/Stewart Prepare dinner
“I don’t know, however my boys instructed me, like, ‘Oh, she’s not gonna be watching.’ However all people’s peeking,” he stated. “I’d be watching [if it was her]! All people’s peeking.”
Mel later gushed in regards to the contestants on his season, encouraging the viewers to look at and get to know them.
“The ladies are nice, and also you’re going to see that they’re nice,” he stated. “They carry the present. They’re great, and so they’re feisty and sensible, and really, you’re going to see the fervour from them. It’s an ideal, nice present. Tune in and also you’re going to see a number of good issues.”
Host Jesse Palmer has additionally spoken to Us about Mel, noting that the 2 former NFL gamers (turned Bachelors) had so much in frequent.
“I assumed the very same means as Mel did again once I was the Bachelor years and years and years in the past. Once you’re taking part in soccer, you’re simply at all times training, you’re lifting weights, you’re watching movie, so you possibly can go execute on sport day,” Jesse stated whereas on set with Us throughout the first group date of the season. “However telling Mel, ‘Look, there’s nothing you are able to do that’s going to arrange you for being the Golden Bachelor, and also you simply must be your self. You need to present the ladies the great, the not excellent, and you need to put your partitions down as early as you possibly can, as a result of the ladies are those which can be going to comply with your lead. And the earlier you do this, the earlier they’ll do this as nicely.’”
For extra from Mel, watch the video above. The Golden Bachelor airs on ABC Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET.