*African American football players Nathaniel Claybrooks and Christopher Johnson are leading a group of Nashville residents in a class-action lawsuit to be filed Wednesday (April 18) against the ABC dating series “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” for racial discrimination.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the potential plaintiffs point out that over 10 years of the show and 23 seasons, the programs have yet to feature a single person of color as the main Bachelor or Bachelorette.
Attorneys for the prospective plaintiffs put out a news release saying they will be filing a complaint in federal court Wednesday morning against ABC, production companies Warner Horizon Television, Next Entertainment, NZK Productions and Bachelor executive producer Mike Fleiss, and they have scheduled a news conference to speak about the topic.
Claybrooks and Johnson are being represented by three law firms: Barrett Johnston, Mehri & Skalet and Perkins-Law. Claybrooks is listed as a linebacker on the roster of the Nashville Storm, a minor-league team, while Johnson (not the star running back for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans) played wide receiver at Tennessee State and is preparing to try out for NFL teams.
As previously reported, black sportscaster Lamar Hurd filmed a YouTube plea to be cast as the next Bachelor, but no word yet from Fleiss. In 2011, Entertainment Weekly asked Fleiss whether the show would ever feature someone who wasn’t white. His response:
“I think [then Bachelorette] Ashley [Herbert] is 1/16th Cherokee Indian, but I cannot confirm. But that is my suspicion! We really tried, but sometimes we feel guilty of tokenism. Oh, we have to wedge African-American chicks in there! We always want to cast for ethnic diversity, it’s just that for whatever reason, they don’t come forward. I wish they would.”
So you wait until the ratings for the show have dropped to draw up this lawsuit? No one is watching this show anymore. Leave the lawsuit alone and let this show go away.
I would not watch “Bachelor” or “Bacherolette” if they were a person of color. Because the producers would still be white, and would make the show about how they would want the people of color to interact. It is 2012, I am sick of non white versions of white things. We are too original for that. I don’t want to see 25 men or women of color slutting themselves on national television. Let the white people continue to do that.
Let’s be realistic…having ANYBODY black on that type of show would tank ratings and the networks are all about ratings and what black person you know really watches that show anyway??? I would always ask myself why isn’t there anybody of color on these shows?? They have us believing that true beauty consist of blonde hair, blue eyes and pink skin…both male and female…anybody with half a brain would realize there is no way they would put a black person on this type of show and God forbid if they do and he picks the Becky…OTS kind of…Most of us women really enjoy Coach bags and purses and if you buy one, you get on their mailing list and they send you the catalog. Have you ever noticed how throughout the catolog, there is NOT one person of color but yet AA are they’re biggest consumers so I called Coach to inquire why don’t they have AA models in their catalog and of course, I’m still waiting for someone to address my concerns and that was 2 years ago…
You sure hit the nail on he head.AA will buy a $400.00 purse w/o a dime to put in it. We seem to never learn. And they don’t give a rat’s azz about us they just want our money. And of couse there are no Black bachelors or bachelorettes in America right ? I just love the line that say’s ” I think [then Bachelorette] Ashley [Herbert] is 1/16th Cherokee Indian, but I cannot confirm” Are you serious they need to be sued!
“Oh, we have to wedge African-American chicks in there! We always want to cast for ethnic diversity, it’s just that for whatever reason, they don’t come forward. I wish they would.”
I am thrilled Black women are ‘don’t come forward’ for these shows. They wouldn’t stand a chance anyway and then to have to deal with those maniacal barracudas!!!!!
Mel, a while, they did have one black girl on there and she just looked so ridiculous trying to get this white boy’s affection…and you know he just blew her off like a house slave OMG…
Yes, I recall that. Also, an Asian woman once quit. If there’s a Black Bachelor show I hope it’s stacked with all non-Blacks.
how do you weed out a group to get the best ho?
This is WTF should be happening against a LOT of shyt, ‘on TV! More power TO these brothas for filing against these racist mofo’s! The shyt is …banannas!1 No matter WHICH it is Bachelor OR Bachelorette!!, they only have ‘one’ fkn person of color, ‘on the shyt, which AMPLIPHIES the racial discrimination!! Like WTF are the odds, for a person of color to win, with DEM fkn odds!!?? GTFOH! I hope they end up OWNING that fkn network. The End!
I don’t want any of us to be portrayed on this silly show, especially if they are going to have “us” acting like buffoons, talking loud and acting hellish! We are intelligent, loving and God-fearing as well. Not all black people are synonymous with shows such as Basketball Wives, RHOA and other degrading ensemble shows too demeaning to name here! NOT all black people live in the hood, speak unintelligibly, and arouse negativity! If they do decide to feature us; there are plenty nurses, government people, doctors, wall street investors, teachers, Seal Team members, fireman, Police Chiefs, Senators, activists and the list goes on and on. Now ABC, pull from the pool I just gave you….nuff said!!!!