“Twist of the Season”: Signs Point to Golden Bachelor Mel Owens Falling for His Most Controversial Castmate, Sending Shockwaves Through Fans and the Franchise

Mel Owens might have been hit with some serious karma after leaving a rocky first impression as the second ever Golden Bachelor.

The 66-year-old former linebacker seems smitten with a woman who is being dubbed this season’s villain after an October 8 episode revealed that she seems to be more focused on getting social media followers than finding love with Mel.

Nicolle Kate, who made a strong impression early in the season when she made out with Mel in a pool in front of the other women, revealed her ulterior motives in a conversation with some of the other women while Mel was out on a one-on-one date with Peg.

“I’ve told myself from the beginning, I’m not dating Mel – I’m dating America. I’m dating everybody watching, and not watching. That gives you exposure like you’ve never had,” Nicole, 64, declared.

Nicolle doubled down, saying the stars could get “Housewives status” when Robin, 63, asked what everyone was hoping to get out of the show.

Then, Nicolle delivered another major blow as she hit out at the cast of Gerry Turner’s season of The Golden Bachelor. “If they’re smart in the way the publicity goes, with our beautiful [cast] — I’m sorry, but the last cast? They weren’t so great-looking,” Nicolle said. The yoga instructor added that she wants to “become more of an influencer” after the show.

However, with Mel remaining unaware of Nicolle’s motives, their romance doesn’t show any signs of slowing down just yet. Could Mel pick Nicolle as his winner?

The season lead continued to build his connection with Nicolle later in the episode, despite a warning from Robin that some of the women aren’t being “completely authentic.”

“I think people are self-serving. Because, potentially, they have an opportunity to promote whatever they’re trying to promote [by being on the show],” Robin told Mel who seemed to brush off her cautionary statement.

“It makes me pause, but she didn’t name names, so we really don’t know,” Mel said in a confessional. “I think everybody’s here for the right reasons, but I appreciate her telling me that, and that’s her opinion. Overall, I think it’s a genuine bunch of women.”

Later, after getting some alone time with Nicolle at the house, Mel is still none the wiser to her comments and says that he can’t “resist” her, because Nicolle is “all about me, and I like that.”

Nicolle also lasted through another rose ceremony, getting Mel’s final rose while Robin, who tried to warn Mel, got sent home along with Roxanne and Gerri.

Mel’s burgeoning connection with Nicolle might seem like karma to Bachelor Nation fans who are struggling to warm to this year’s Golden Bachelor after a few pre-season hiccups.

Fans were left heartbroken when the show deviated from its usual format by picking Mel, who was not previously attached to the franchise, to lead the season instead of some beloved former contestants of Joan Vassos’ The Golden Bachelorette season. (Yes, we were rooting for Charles Ling too!)

Then, Mel rubbed fans the wrong way with comments made on the In the Trenches podcast in June. Mel said he told producers that his preferences are women aged 45 to 60, not even breaking into “golden years” territory.

“You know, if they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them,” he said. Mel later apologized for these comments in the premiere of this season.