After the Golden Bachelor season two leading man admitted he was hoping for contestants who are between the ages of 45 and 60, the season one star reacted to his successor’s comments.
"I think it would be unfortunate and I really think he will have a change of heart in this,” Gerry told Fox News Digital in an interview published July 22. “I think he will see the grace and the charm of women who are over 60 and the confidence they carry, and I think he'll have a change of heart.”
After all, Gerry, 73, gave his final rose to Theresa Nist, 71, at the end of his season. (The couple divorced last year, and the former restaurateur has since begun dating a woman named Lana.)
“The people that I met in my season, I go through them, and it's like, they're all a gift,” he continued. “To have gotten to know them… Each and every one of them [brought] some unique characteristics to the show, unique characteristics to life.”
His advice for Mel, 66, when he makes his debut, is simple: “The age thing… ignore the number, deal with the person.”
"If he treats each and every one of them with courtesy and respect and is a good listener,” he added, “pays attention to them and so forth, and ignores their age number, I think it'll be fine.”
Gerry’s reaction comes one month after the Los Angeles Rams alum said on the MGoBlue Podcasts With Jon Jensan of the contestants, “If they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them.”
Although he noted that a producer discouraged him from using the term “cut” in front of his prospects, he emphasized that it's an “NFL term.”
But age isn’t the only parameter the former athlete has. He also believes that having a “fit” love interest is a non-negotiable.
"I stay in shape and work out and stuff," he said, adding that he told producers to "try to stay away from the artificial hips and the wigs."
Meanwhile, season one contestant Kathy Swarts, who was eliminated in week four, weighed in on the comments, giving him the benefit of the doubt.
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“I think Mel is a guy looking for love,” she told Entertainment Weekly earlier this month. “I think he said something without really thinking about it. I don't think he meant it. I think it's going to be a great season.”
“I think that if Mel Owens met me—and I'm over 70—that line would just not even be in his mouth,” she teased. “It'd be like, 'Whoa, I never knew someone could be this fabulous over 60, over 70.'
And although Kathy can’t wait to watch Mel’s season, she’s open to another idea. “I swoop in and take him away,” she teased. “In which case, show over.”
