ABC’s “The Bachelor” Hit with Racial Discrimination Lawsuit

The lead Plaintiffs in the racial discrimination lawsuit, two African-American men from Nashville, say they weren’t given the same opportunity as white men to compete for the role of the Bachelor during a casting session in August. The men argue that the fact that a person of color has never been the central figure on either show over 10 years and a combined 23 seasons amounts to a pattern of racial discrimination.

“The shows’ complete lack of color is no accident,” the ABC Bachelor discrimination lawsuit says. “These applicants were denied the same opportunity to become the next Bachelor or Bachelorette as white contestants not because they were unsuitable for the role or could not contribute to the shows’ ‘eclectic mix,’ but solely because of the perceived risk that casting a Bachelor or Bachelorette who is a person of color would alienate the show’s majority-white viewership.”

The Plaintiffs are asking for a Court order that would require producers to “consider persons of color as finalists for the role of the Bachelor and the Bachelorette” and to adopt appropriate policies and programs to ensure racial diversity on the shows. It is also seeking punitive damages for a proposed class consisting of “all people of color who have unsuccessfully applied to become the Bachelor or Bachelorette” despite meeting all of the baseline eligibility requirements.

The lawsuit also named Warner Horizon Television, Next Entertainment, NZK Productions and shows’ creator, Michael Fleiss, as Defendants.

Warner Horizon issued a statement about the racial discrimination lawsuit, saying:

The case is Nathaniel Claybrooks, et al. v. American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., et al. Case No. 12-cv-00388, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee.