Michael Owen brands his critics 'muppets who still live with their parents in their 40s' after being mocked over THAT childhood story about throwing apples in the bin

Michael Owen has addressed being the subject of widespread mockery after he told a bizarre story about building up his confidence. 

In 2023, the former England player became a meme after discussing his drive for success, saying he was 'brave' enough as a child to risk throwing an apple in a bin at his family home, knowing he might miss.

The comments instantly went viral, with many taking to social media to poke fun at the star, or recreate videos of themselves throwing apple cores in wastepaper bins. 

Now Michael, 46,  has addressed the backlash in his upcoming Prime reality series, Meet The Owens, which charts his new life as a race horse owner. 

On the show, Michael was heading to record a podcast episode with his pal Wayne Rooney, which led to him reflecting on his last ill-fated comments. 

'It became a meme and everybody laughed at it,' Michael sighed. '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.'

'Probably still living in their mum and dad's house when they're 40 years of age, it's like who's a***d?' he concluded with a wry smile. 

Michael's parents Terry and Jeanette Owen then chimed in, saying: 'People twist things, like this apple in the bin, "big deal". 

'Life was a competition, he always liked to win everything... and I would go mad because it would hit the wallpaper!' 

Michael, one of just six British players to win the Ballon d'Or, is fondly remembered as one of the greatest attacking talents which this country has produced on the football pitch.

With 222 professional goals across a 17-year-long career, the former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle striker was one of the best to grace the game.

Three years ago, he revealed aspects of his life that helped mould him into one of England's best ever players, as he claimed that 'everything was a challenge'.

Speaking on Upfront with Simon Jordan, Michael said: 'You know, everything was a challenge. You know I would eat an apple while watching the TV at night.

'The bin would be by the TV, six metres away or whatever. I would just do it. I had the bravery to miss and for there to be a stain on the wallpaper and my mum to absolutely scream at me and send me upstairs.

'I wasn't cocky at all, but the next day I would do the same and I'll be "bump" and it'll go right in the middle and my dad would give me a nod of approval. 

'My mum would be seething, but couldn't say anything, because it went in.

'That confidence, that sort of daring, that nod of approval that "I don't want to get b******ed by my mum here."

'But I'm desperate for a little wink, a little nod from my dad, to say "here you cocky little, you know." That's what I always yearned as a kid.'

Elsewhere on Meet The Owens, Michael opened up about his financial struggles after swapping his lucrative football career for the risky business of owning racehorses. 

At the peak of his career, Michael was paid roughly £110,000 a week when he played for Newcastle United between 2005 and 2009. 

Yet after hanging up his boots in 2013, Michael switched to a less stable income – taking a gamble on owning racehorses. 

While the former striker is said to have an impressive net worth of £54.4million, he confessed that he has to be careful with his finances now after purchasing Manor House Stables in Cheshire, where he breeds and trains racehorses. 

Speaking candidly about his new career on his reality series, Michael confessed: 'The biggest challenge is the financial side. 

'It's a bloody hard business and I can't keep haemorrhaging money.' 

Discussing his retirement from football, Michael mused: 'All of a sudden you're living under your wife's feet and you're settling into a new life. 

'Retiring from football you no longer feel so valued, loved. There were feelings of adulation constantly, like a drug and you want to make people happy.

'When you're winning trophies all the time and scaring the s**t out of defenders that's what gave me my buzz. 

'Injuries made me 50 percent of the player that I was, I was almost embarrassed to walk out with my name on my back so I was desperate to retire.

'And that's pretty sad, when you just don't enjoy your job. I've come to realise I need a purpose in life.' 

Michael, who bought his first racehorse at age 18 after returning from the 1998 World Cup, decided then to make horseracing his full-time career. 

Yet he confessed that the business is a struggle, given the unpredictability, and the fact that he's going against people 'who have much bigger pockets than me'. 

One episode of the upcoming series showed Michael going to auction to buy horses, where he explained that he would often be outbid by members of foreign royal families and dignitaries. 

'My sweet spot with horses is anything between £30,000 and £100,000,' he explained, before telling wife Louise he spent £273,000 buying three horses that day. 

Louise, 46, expressed her frustration at her husband's business, confessing: 'Michael doesn't tell me anything so I have to trust he's in control.'

She later added: 'Michael is very odd about spending money. 

'He won't think twice about spending money on a horse. but if the kids leave a light on in the house he will hit the roof!

'Or if I want to redecorate the bathroom because the paint is falling off the wall he'll be like, "is that really necessary?"' 

Michael went on to reflect on his 2022 appearance on The Masked Singer, where he reached episode six while performing as 'Doughnuts'.  

As daughter Emily, 18, cringed at his 'embarrassing' performance, Michael confessed: 'What made me do it? I guess the money! Now I've done it I'm actually quite proud of it.' 

Yet looking back at a clip of his performance he scoffed: 'Wow I've got a fat head - I look like a doughnut there! I've lost about three stone since then.' 

Daughter Jessica, 16, then chipped in: He did decent. He was definitely the entertainment... He did lots of questionable singing, I was quite glad he was voted out!' 

Prime Video's Meet The Owens is a  six-part docuseries, which is being produced by Whisper. 

The series follows a year in the life of Michael, his wife Louise, and their four children Gemma, James, Emily and Jessica, as they juggle a horse racing business while contending with a chaotic home life.

At home, he and wife Louise are preparing for life as empty nesters: youngest Jessica dreams of becoming a showjumping Olympic champion, while Emily, 18, is trying to become the first Owen to go to university, and James is considering joining the family business. 

All six episodes of Meet the Owens will be available to stream exclusively on Prime Video from August 28, 2026.