Peg Munson has confirmed her separation from Mel Owens, the former NFL linebacker whose final rose she received on The Golden Bachelor last year.
Munson, 63, announced the breakup in an Instagram post on Wednesday, revealing that she had made the difficult decision to end their relationship.
The retired Las Vegas firefighter also apologised for not addressing the split sooner, explaining that the past 30 days had been particularly difficult for her.
Munson Says She Is Focusing on Healing
In her statement, Munson reflected on her experience on the reality dating show, saying she had entered the programme hoping to find love and was grateful that she had achieved that goal.
However, she acknowledged that the relationship had not worked out as she had hoped.
“Sometimes even when there’s love, it just doesn’t turn out the way we hoped,” she said.
Munson added that she was concentrating on healing emotionally, prioritising her health and preparing for the next chapter of her life.
She also wished Owens well and expressed gratitude for the experience and the memories they had shared.
In the caption accompanying her announcement, she thanked supporters for their kindness and reassured them that the breakup did not mark the end of her story.
Owens Faced Backlash Over Comments About Women Over 60
Owens, 67, attracted widespread criticism before his season of The Golden Bachelor aired in 2025 after revealing his dating preferences during an appearance on the MGo Blue podcast.
At the time, the former Los Angeles Rams linebacker was 66 and said he preferred women aged between 45 and 60.
Recalling a conversation with an executive producer of the programme, Owens said he had made his position clear about prospective contestants aged 60 and above.
“If they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them,” he said, adding that he did not want the programme to become what he described as “The Silver Bachelor” rather than The Golden Bachelor.
He also said he wanted contestants to be physically fit, noting that he exercised regularly.
His remarks about older women, including comments about artificial hips and wigs, prompted angry reactions on social media.
Some viewers called for the season to be cancelled, but the programme went ahead.
Munson Received the Final Rose After Another Contestant Walked Away
Munson, who was 62 when she appeared on the show, ultimately became Owens’ chosen partner when the season concluded in November 2025.
She secured his final rose after fellow finalist Cindy Angelcyk Cullers ended her relationship with him over his reluctance to commit to a marriage proposal within a short period.
Cullers said Owens was not interested in making a commitment for several years and explained that she did not want to put her life on hold at the age of 60.
Owens said he was shocked by her decision to leave.
He subsequently gave Munson his final rose, accompanied by a 3.5-carat Neil Lane diamond commitment ring rather than an engagement ring.
Owens Was Previously Married for 18 Years
Before appearing on The Golden Bachelor, Owens was married to Fabiana Pimentel, 47, from 2002 until their marriage ended in 2020.
The former couple have two sons, Lucas, 21, and Andre, 19.
When approached for comment after Owens was announced as the star of the reality dating programme, Pimentel expressed reservations about his participation.
“Good luck. I mean, it’s going to be bad. But anyway, I don’t want to be involved in this,” she said.
Golden Bachelor Couple Faces Another Relationship Breakdown
Munson and Owens’ separation comes two years after the highly publicised split between Gerry Turner and Teresa Nist, the couple who found each other during the inaugural season of The Golden Bachelor in 2023.
Turner proposed to Nist at the end of the season, and the pair subsequently married.
However, their marriage ended just three months after they exchanged vows.
The former couple’s separation continued to attract attention the following year when Turner discussed their relationship while promoting his memoir, The Golden Years.
Turner, who is now engaged to retired teacher Lana Sutton, suggested that Nist had not participated in the programme for the right reasons.
Asked whether he was concerned about Nist reading his autobiography, Turner responded that he was not worried and believed she should be.
He also criticised disagreements over Nist’s decision to continue working in finance, despite what he said had been an earlier indication that she would be willing to retire for a relationship.
Turner explained that he had expected them to travel and pursue shared adventures, but said Nist’s desire to remain in her career after the show created what he described as an impossible situation.
