In an exclusive interview with Glamour, the 66-year-old opens up about the backlash to his ageist and sexist comments on a recent podcast. “It was unfair and insensitive, and I have to earn [the trust] back.

The Bachelor franchise began in 2002 and was recently renewed for its 30th season. There have been many spinoffs, including the popular The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise. The Golden Bachelor is only on its second season. Mel was announced as the new lead for the ABC series on April 22. The Golden Bachelor is set to return this fall on ABC.

"Golden Bachelor" star Mel Owens has acknowledged that his recent comments about only dating women younger than him were "insensitive." The former NFL player turned lawyer and star of ABC's forthcoming sophomore season of "The Golden Bachelor" came under heavy fire in late June when he went on a sports podcast and said he told "Bachelor" producers that he only wanted them to find women between the ages of 45 and 60.