Nathaniel Claybrooks
*Two African-American men have just made good on their intent to file a racial discrimination lawsuit against the producers of “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette.”
Christopher Johnson and Nathaniel Claybrooks are appearing with their legal team in a press conference to discuss the racism accusations outlined in the complaint filed today in Tennessee federal court. [Scroll down to read in its entirety.]
Johnson says he filled out an application to be on the show and showed up at a casting call, where he was allegedly stopped immediately by an employee for the show and asked why he was there. The employee took his application materials, according to the complaint, and said he’d pass it on. He was never contacted.
Christopher Johnson
The lawsuit is based on alleged violations of civil rights laws. The plaintiffs point out that since the Civil Rights Act of 1866, federal law has guaranteed every person within the United States “the same right in every State and Territory to make and enforce contracts . . . as is enjoyed by white citizens . . . .”
The law says the class action, “plainly prohibits whites from refusing to contract with African Americans because of their race.”
The lawsuit is also intended to have a broader social message. According to the complaint, “the deliberate exclusion of people of color from the roles of the Bachelor and Bachelorette underscores the significant barriers that people of color continue to face in media and the broader marketplace.”
The plaintiffs are asking for an order that would require producers to adopt appropriate policies and programs with their alleged legal obligations. The class action also seeks punitive damages and attorney’s fees.
Read the complaint below.
This is going to be quite interesting. I think I read these guys were athletes so they should be knee deep in white azz as it is. We all know how they love going down on bended knee after some sports event to propose to these women on nationwide television, but I guess they want to showcase their obsession on a steady weekly basis.
These guys are suing to be chosen by a group of nonblack women?
*sigh*
@musbdherbs probably you kow they like what used to get our people killed for even looking at one it’s so sad they have no identity
redbone, I was reflecting on this issue while listening to comments by Medgar Evers’ brother in a documentary I plan on finishing this evening. He came back from the war and walked into a drug store in MS in full uniform and was told that nothing had changed for him and so what if Black soldiers had mingled with white women overseas.
He’s not much of a looked to be on the bachelor show. I understand the lawsuit and all but sometimes I just tired of my folk whining to be on “their” shows. BET or TV One, this could be a good idea to form something of this nature.