People love a good comeback story. When ABC announced that former NFL linebacker Mel Owens would lead the second season of The Golden Bachelor, the internet went into a bit of a tailspin. We were all used to the wholesome, "high school sweetheart" energy of Gerry Turner. Mel was different. He was a retired athlete, a lawyer, and—most notably—not a widower. He was a divorcé with a backstory that felt a little more like a gritty drama than a Hallmark movie.
If you’ve been following the show, you know the name Mel Golden Bachelor ex wife is basically synonymous with Fabiana Pimentel. Their split wasn't exactly a quiet "conscious uncoupling." It involved a four-year legal battle, some pretty blunt public statements, and a massive settlement that had fans clutching their pearls.
Who is Fabiana Pimentel?
Honestly, she’s a powerhouse in her own right. Originally from Brazil, Fabiana has lived in the States for over two decades. She’s not just "the ex-wife." She’s a hospitality executive and a business owner. She co-founded an organizing business called Final Touch Organizing and even has a master’s degree in marketing from UCLA.
She met Mel back when he was building his career as a sports attorney after leaving the gridiron. For a long time, they were the ultimate power couple in Orange County. They were married for nearly 20 years—some sources say 18, others say they were together for 25. Either way, it was a lifetime. They raised two sons, Lucas and Andre, who are now young men.
But then, 2020 happened.
The Breakup No One Saw Coming
Divorce is never easy, but Mel described his split as "the toughest thing I’ve ever gone through." While most of us were figuring out how to use Zoom in 2020, Mel was dealing with the death of his father and a sudden divorce filing.
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Mel dropped a bombshell during the season premiere. He claimed that Fabiana had fallen in love with someone else. He was shocked. He told the cameras he would never get in the way of someone's happiness, but you could tell it left a mark. It’s one thing to lose a partner to time; it’s another to lose them to another person.
The Legal War
The divorce wasn't finalized until December 2024. That’s a long time to be in legal limbo. It got messy. Court documents revealed some pretty heavy numbers.
- The Settlement: Mel was reportedly ordered to pay nearly $1 million in a divorce settlement.
- The Assets: There was a lot of back-and-forth about their multimillion-dollar home in Orange County.
- The Timeline: They separated in February 2020, but the ink didn't dry on the papers until right before he started filming.
There’s also some internet chatter—mostly on Reddit—about unpaid support and disputes over expenses. While we have to take anonymous rumors with a grain of salt, the public court records don't lie. It was a grind.
What the Ex-Wife Thinks of the Show
If you were expecting Fabiana to be Mel's biggest cheerleader, think again. When the Daily Mail caught up with her in 2025, her response was short, sharp, and kinda hilarious.
"Good luck," she said. "I mean, it’s going to be bad. But anyway, I don’t want to be involved in this."
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Ouch.
That’s a far cry from the supportive family vibes we saw during the first season of the show. It added a layer of realism, though. Not every 60-something entering the dating pool has a "perfect" past. Mel’s history is complicated. His sons even told him their mom wouldn't be watching, though Mel joked that "everybody’s peeking."
The Age Gap Controversy
One thing that really got people talking about Mel and Fabiana was their age difference. Fabiana is about 19 years younger than Mel. This became a huge talking point when Mel initially told producers he didn't want to date women over 60.
He caught a lot of heat for that. People called him ageist. His neighbors even leaked stories saying he was a "dick" who only liked younger women. Mel eventually apologized, saying his comments were just "NFL talk" about "cutting" players, but the damage was somewhat done. It made people wonder: Is he actually looking for a "Golden" love, or is he just looking for a younger version of what he had?
Real Lessons from Mel’s Story
What can we actually learn from the Mel and Fabiana saga? First, "Golden" love isn't always about finding a replacement for a lost spouse. Sometimes, it’s about healing from a betrayal.
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Mel’s approach on the show has been surprisingly calm. He uses his football background to stay level-headed when things get emotional. He says that in football, people are always trying to trick you, so you have to stay quiet to make good decisions.
Whether he finds his "person" with someone like Peg Munson (who spoilers suggest he ends up with) or Cindy Cullers, his journey shows that baggage doesn't disappear just because you’re over 60.
What to Watch For Next
If you're following Mel’s journey, keep an eye on how he talks about his kids. Everything he does seems to be filtered through his role as a father. He spent the years following his divorce focusing entirely on Lucas and Andre, which is probably why he’s so rusty in the dating department.
If you're going through a late-life split yourself, take a page out of the "patience and understanding" book Mel mentioned. Even if your ex thinks your new venture is "going to be bad," your happiness is still yours to find.
Check the latest court filings if you’re into the legal drama, but if you’re here for the romance, just watch how Mel handles the women who are in his age bracket. It’s a masterclass in growth—or at least, a very entertaining attempt at it.