Former England footballer Michael Owen has revealed that he has never verbally told his four children that he loves them, citing difficulties in expressing his emotions.
Owen, 46, shared these insights during an appearance on Jamie Laing's Great Company podcast and in his new fly-on-the-wall docuseries, "Meet The Owens." He stated that while his children are "the dearest things to him," he is not inclined to express "soft love."
"I never ever tell my kids I love them. I don't say anything like that," Owen admitted. "I just assume my actions would show them that I love them. It's a bad thing. I think most of us are like that."
He elaborated on his approach, suggesting he prefers "tough love" and questioned the sincerity of constant affirmations. "But if you say it all the time, does it mean anything?" he asked. Owen expressed a desire to be more outwardly affectionate, adding, "I'm not trying to condone it, because I would love to be a bit soft." He believes this may change with age, as he gets "better when you're old, you've got time to think a bit more and you realise the true meaning of things."
Personal Habits and Public Perception
During the same podcast appearance, Owen also confessed to a strong aversion to watching films, calling those who do "weirdos." He stated, "I can't watch films. What are you doing with your life if you're just watching fakeness? Sorry 99.9999% of the population. You're all weirdos."
This is not the first time Owen's candid remarks have garnered attention. In 2023, he became the subject of widespread online mockery after recounting a story about building his confidence as a child by risking throwing an apple core into a bin at home. The comments quickly went viral, leading to numerous social media parodies.
In the "Meet The Owens" series, Owen addressed the viral meme, expressing frustration that many who laughed "don't get it" and are "bloody muppets." He suggested these critics might be "still living in their mum and dad's house when they're 40 years of age."
His parents, Terry and Jeanette Owen, commented on the incident within the series, noting that "people twist things." They recalled his competitive nature from childhood, with his mother mentioning that "Life was a competition, he always liked to win everything... and I would go mad because it would hit the wallpaper!"
Additionally, it was revealed in 2023 by his friend Peter Crouch that Owen has never consumed tea or coffee, disliking hot beverages. Owen himself noted in 2018 that while he had never drunk tea or coffee, he had "just learnt how to make one."
"Meet The Owens" Docuseries
"Meet The Owens" is a six-part docuseries produced by Whisper, which follows Michael, his wife Louise, and their four children—Gemma, James, Emily, and Jessica—over the course of a year. The series captures them balancing their horse racing business with their home life.
The series also touches upon their transition to becoming empty nesters. Youngest daughter Jessica aspires to be an Olympic showjumping champion, while Emily, 18, aims to be the first in the family to attend university. James is reportedly considering joining the family business.
All six episodes of "Meet The Owens" are available to stream exclusively on Prime Video as of August 28, 2026.