Michael Owen has addressed his fascination with killer whales in his new Amazon Prime documentary, Meet the Owens, claiming Instagram has turned him into an “orca pervert”.
Owen's Orca Obsession
The show offers a look into the lives of the former Premier League striker, his wife Louise, and their four children. In one episode, Owen tells his son James: “I watched an Orca documentary last night and it’s so good. I’m fascinated by the way they hunt. They are the cleverest animals, so clever.”
He explains how his Instagram feed became filled with orca content. “At some point, I’ve looked at a clip of an Orca, really thought, ‘Oh my god, that’s cool,’ and watched the next one that cropped up, and the next one. Now, because I watch everyone, loads of Orca things come down on my feed. So despite you lot taking the mick out of me, it’s only Instagram that’s shoehorned me into being an Orca pervert - and you know I’m afraid of the sea.”
His family is seen placing an orca decoration on their Christmas tree. His daughter says Michael has a “weird obsession with orcas”, but she does not understand why.
Viral 1999 Video Explained
Owen also clears up a viral video from 1999 in which he celebrated after scoring against a 13-year-old goalkeeper on a Soccer Skills video alongside Everton legend Neville Southall. In the clip, Southall says, “Well done, he’s 13.”
Speaking on the documentary, Owen says: “My agent signed me on a soccer skills video and that’s gone viral as well. They put a kid in goal and I score a few goals past him and they’re like, ‘Stop being so wooden, you have to try and celebrate’ and so I did… [then everyone is saying] 'Oh well done, beating a kid that’s 13 years old.”
He adds: “Bear in mind I was only a baby myself. Brands would throw me in front of a camera and go ‘Say this, do that,’ whatever.”
Pet Hates and Reputation
Owen also elaborates on his pet hates, particularly Christmas hampers. He says: “You know what the worst thing about everything is? Hampers at Christmas. They give you s**t in them. Olives? Nobody likes olives. All these s****y things are all hampers. If it’s a hamper with nice stuff in it its fine but most got like, tea.” His family then informs him they have purchased him a Christmas hamper.
Addressing his reputation for being “a boring p***k”, Owen says: “Even my kids say, 'Dad, everyone sees you as dead boring.” He adds: “That’s cool. The vast majority of people who laughed at it just don’t get it and that’s why they’re b****y muppets. Probably still living in their mum and dad’s house at 40 years of age, who’s a***d?”
Meet the Owens premieres on Prime Video on Thursday, August 28.
