Former England footballer Michael Owen has responded to widespread online mockery stemming from a story he shared about his childhood drive for success. The anecdote, where Owen described the bravery it took as a child to risk throwing an apple into a bin at home, knowing he might miss, went viral in 2023 and became a subject of internet memes.
In his upcoming reality series, "Meet The Owens," Owen addresses the backlash. "It became a meme and everybody laughed at it," Owen stated. "That's cool because the vast majority of people who laughed at it, don't get it. And that's why they're bloody muppets."
He further elaborated on his critics, suggesting they "probably still living in their mum and dad's house when they're 40 years of age." Owen's parents, Terry and Jeanette Owen, commented on the incident, noting that people often twist such stories. They explained that for Michael, "Life was a competition, he always liked to win everything." His mother recalled that he would aim for the bin, and if he missed, it would cause a mess.
Owen, who won the Ballon d'Or and scored 222 professional goals during his 17-year career for clubs including Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Newcastle, shared the origin of the apple story on "Upfront with Simon Jordan." He explained that he would eat an apple while watching television, with the bin approximately six meters away. He described his childhood attempts to throw the apple into the bin, stating he had the "bravery to miss and for there to be a stain on the wallpaper and my mum to absolutely scream at me." He sought his father's nod of approval for succeeding.
Beyond the viral story, "Meet The Owens" also explores Owen's transition into horse racing ownership after retiring from football in 2013. While he is reported to have a net worth of £54.4 million, he admitted to financial challenges in the horse racing business, which he calls "a bloody hard business" where he "can't keep haemorrhaging money." He highlighted the unpredictability and competition from those with "much bigger pockets."
Owen also reflected on his appearance on the 2022 television show "The Masked Singer," where he performed as 'Doughnuts.' He confessed that he participated primarily "for the money" but also expressed a sense of pride in the performance. His daughters noted his questionable singing but acknowledged he provided entertainment.
The six-part docuseries "Meet The Owens" follows Michael, his wife Louise, and their four children as they navigate the horse racing business and their family life. The series is set to stream exclusively on Prime Video starting August 28, 2026.