“The Bachelor” has finally reacted to the discrimination lawsuit filed by two men who auditioned for the show. Through a statement released by Warner Horizon, one of the production companies behind the reality series, the producers said, “This complaint is baseless and without merit.”
“In fact, we have had various participants of color throughout the series’ history,” they added. “And the producers have been consistently – and publicly – vocal about seeking diverse candidates for both programs. As always, we continue to seek out participants of color for both ‘The Bachelor’ and ‘The Bachelorette‘.”
ABC and the producers of “The Bachelor” franchise are slapped with racial discrimination lawsuit by two African American men who were rejected at the audition of the dating show. Nathaniel Claybrooks and Christopher Johnson claimed they received different treatment when participating in an open casting call for The Bachelor/ette in August 2011.
Claybrooks said his interview process took less than half the time of white applicants in front of him, while Johnson said he “did not get the opportunity to even make it to the second level” like Claybrooks. “I was stopped by a young gentleman about five feet into the door. He saw fit to ask me exactly what was I doing here,” the aspiring NFL player recalled.
Claybrooks and Johnson’s lawyer Cyrus Mehri additionally said executive producer Mike Fleiss’ insistence that there were not enough people of color applying for the show was “just pretext.” The attorney went on accusing, “We think they purposely do not want people of color on this show… How do you explain zero [Bachelors and Bachelorettes of color] for 23 [seasons]?”
Mehri added, “The ripple of that form of discrimination is very powerful in this country. [ABC and the 'Bachelor' producers] are sending a message of exclusiveness – of denying people opportunity – and that has a negative effect on this country that we plan today to start to turn around.”
They, moreover, believed their action will be a “landmark civil rights case that will move social justice and economic equality forward.” Mehri went on affirming, “This is a case about hope and change.”
As Mehri claimed, “We believe we have concrete solutions about how to make this show… into a kind of show that will be inclusive, will be diverse, and will better reflect this country,” they suggested to make the show’s casting semi-finals “more inclusive”. Claybrooks and Johnson, however, refused to talk about their financial goals in the case.
The lack of color on ABC’s “The Bachelor” leads to a lawsuit from two African American men who were rejected at the audition for the reality dating show. Aspiring NFL player Christopher Johnson and Nathaniel Claybrooks said on Tuesday, April 17 that they and a group of Nashville residents are launching a lawsuit for racial discrimination.
According to TMZ, Johnson and Claybrooks went to an audition for the role of bachelor in a Nashville hotel. When they arrived, a producer asked what Johnson was doing there and they were taken to the side of the room. The plaintiffs claimed they were left out of the normal audition process and were not called back because of their race.
ABC, Warner Horizon Television, Next Entertainment, NZK Productions and creator Mike Fleiss will all be named in a class action lawsuit to be filed in the federal court on Wednesday morning. They also schedule a news conference to talk about the issue afterwards.
The lawsuit has a strong argument because in ten years of the show and 23 seasons, neither “The Bachelor” nor “The Bachelorette” has featured a single person of color. Fleiss once talked about including someone not white with EW, saying “We always want to cast for ethnic diversity, it’s just that for whatever reason, they don’t come forward. I wish they would.”
Months after filming “The Bachelor” finale, Lindzi Cox apparently no longer expects Ben Flajnik to be back with her. While she hinted that she would open her heart once again for the winemaker if his relationship with Courtney Robertson didn’t work out, the runner-up of the show’s 16th season claimed she didn’t mean what she said back then.
“The one thing I want to set the record straight is when I was walking out and said, ‘If it doesn’t work out, call me!’ that was a total joke,” she claimed. “We were walking and it was that awkward silence where no one was saying anything and I was like, ‘Dude, I got to break this somehow!’ That was a joke!”
Asked how she would respond if Ben called her to beg for a second chance, Lindzi replied, “I don’t know what I would say… I don’t know what I would say to him, but it wouldn’t be much.” However, when later pressed with the same question, she made it clear that she would never date Ben again as saying, “I could absolutely be friends with Ben. I don’t think we’d work dating.”
The 27-year-old lady additionally backtracked her comment that Ben would look like a total fool if he does want to marry Courtney. “I think that – I don’t still mean what I said,” she said before elaborating, “And watching the show, I got to see how their relationship was and I think that ultimately, it’s not my place to say if it’ll last or not or if he’s making a good decision or not, because he has to do what’s best for him and I really wish Ben nothing but the best.”
Showing support for Ben and Courtney, Lindzi added, “I think that I’m in a really good place now and Ben made his decision and I completely respect that, and I wish them nothing but the best.” When asked if Ben made the right decision by picking “bad girl” Courtney, she wisely stated, “I don’t necessarily think Courtney is a bad girl, and I don’t think that he – it’s up to them if their relationship works and I wish them nothing but the best.”
The business development manager went on defending Courtney who was deemed the villain on the show. “She wasn’t that bad in the house. All she did was sleep a lot, and when she was up, she isolated herself. It wasn’t bad for me,” she insisted. Still, she admitted that watching Courtney skinny dipping with Ben was “kind of stung a little bit because he still had a lot of other really great women there.”
Ben dumped Lindzi and proposed to Courtney in the Monday, March 12 episode of “The Bachelor”. Despite the controversial decision, the episode (2.9/8) saw a 36% drop from last year’s finale, marking the lowest-rated closer ever for the ABC reality series.
Ben Flajnik and Courtney Robertson stepped out for the first time as a couple in “The Bachelor: After the Final Rose” that aired after the episode which saw the winemaker proposing to the 28-year-old model. During the special, he admitted that they broke up for a while, but are now back together.
“I’m still in love with this woman,” Ben declared but admitted, “It’s been a rough ride.” He additionally said that seeing Courtney’s behavior on the show led to their split. “It became too much; I just cracked.”
He, however, denied that he ever cheated on Courtney as it was suggested in recently surfacing photos. “On my father’s grave, I haven’t kissed another woman, hooked up with another woman, cheated on Courtney,” he stated.
Courtney then took over Ben’s seat, responding to the backlash she received for her behaviors on the show. “It’s all really disappointing. Heartbreaking, really. This is supposed to be a story about love, finding love, and it spoiled,” she said, adding that she’s responsible for the negative reaction she got.
She also talked about her breakup with Ben, revealing it happened around Valentine’s Day. “He didn’t send flowers, a card, nothing. He didn’t even send carnations!… I was heartbroken. I was so disappointed,” she shared her sad story. Asked about their status right now, she said, “We’re together. I think. I don’t know. I’m not ready to turn my back on him.”
Ben was later back on the stage, sitting next to Courtney. He echoed Courtney’s statement as saying, “We’re in a good place… It can only get better.” However, Courtney said she can’t trust him completely. “I believe in what we have and I’m choosing to believe everything he’s telling me,” she admitted.
Trying to convince her, Ben said, “I can honestly say I want to be with you. I love you. I’m not going to abandon you. As an engaged couple and as the man, I should have stayed with you the entire way, as opposed to taking steps back. That’s not how I operate in real life. And that’s the thing, we’re about to start real life.”
After footage of their proposal was played, the couple admitted they still love each other. Host Chris Harrison then showed them the engagement ring, asking Ben what he would do with the sparkler. “I very much want her to have this again,” he said, before putting it back on Courtney’s finger.
Also appearing on “ATFR” were “The Bachelorette” couple Ashley Hebert and J.P. Rosenbaum who gave updates on their relationship. Ashley said she has finished school and moved to New York. The pair additionally revealed they are starting to plan a wedding, which could happen within a year.
After wrapping up the 16th season of “The Bachelor”, ABC is gearing up to debut “Bachelor Pad” season 3 this summer. The upcoming season will have a twist: a lucky fan can join former contestants from the reality series franchise to compete for the $250,000 prize.
Days leading to “The Bachelor” season finale, spoilers from the “After the Final Rose” have been leaked online. According to Reality Steve, Ben Flajnik and the woman he proposed to in the Final Rose ceremony, Courtney Robertson, would address the ups and downs in their relationship.
The winemaker reportedly denied he cheated on Courtney with a string of women, and claimed the girls on the recently published pictures were just friends. Meanwhile, Courtney being photographed trying wedding dress was said to be done on purpose to shift her focus after Ben’s alleged cheating was blown up on media.
Also during the special that will air after the season finale on Monday, March 12, Courtney admitted there was a time she felt abandoned after getting dumped by Ben in February. She said, “I had bad days where I stayed in bed and cried.” Shedding tears, the model said she could not completely trust her fiance.
Still, Ben claimed he and Courtney have “been able to talk” in the last couple of weeks. As a sweet treat, Ben would re-propose to her and present her with a new engagement ring, to which she once again said “yes.”
According to ABC’s official press release, the “ATFR” will be “the emotional ending to Ben’s heartfelt journey to finally find true love.” Host Chris Harrison, meanwhile, chimed in, “You’ll see a different guy next week at ‘After the Final Rose’. You’ll see a little less bravado and cavalier attitude and more of the really sincere and true Ben we got to know and love.”
A week before Ben Flajnik’s final decision is revealed on “The Bachelor” season finale, the eliminated girls, plus Shawntel Newton, gathered to lash out at each other. The ladies first attacked Blakeley for bullying other girls and not making friends in the house. The VIP cocktail waitress said she did not regret they way she acted, claiming she was only on the show to meet Ben.
As Samantha kept complaining about the bullying in the house, Brittney stopped her by saying, “You are like the Chihuahua in the house, you just don’t stop talking. … You just don’t shut up!” Shawntel, who unexpectedly came in the third episode to meet Ben only to get dumped, then opened up that she felt bullied by the girls who called her “ugly.” Still, she added, “I don’t regret it, even though I had to listen to some of those harsh things.”
Brittney also got a moment to explain her decision to leave the show, saying she felt nothing for Ben. Nicki said she was shocked to get eliminated, but stated that she would not ask Ben what she did wrong because she was just being herself. Meanwhile, Kacie B. claimed she learned a lot after watching the show.
Courtney then joined the girls to take a stand after they said bad things about her. Holding back tears several times, she said, “I have many regrets. I’m disappointed in myself and the way I acted, the way I treated the women. Looking back, there are so many things I would have done differently.”
Jennifer seemingly did not buy Courtney’s story since she felt Courtney was only on “Women Tell All” to “repair her image.” As for Blakeley, she demanded a personal apology from the model for being called a stripper on the show.
“I’m sorry if I’ve hurt your feelings, anyone, everyone. I’m really sorry for that,” Courtney stated. “I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me. I am not a mean-spirited person. It brought out the worst in me. I can’t apologize enough.”
As the girls started yelling at her, she cried, “I’m sorry. I take it all back! I’m really sorry I hurt your feelings, all of you. You may say it’s not genuine, but I’m going through real emotions. And I don’t like being torn apart – my family, my friends in the tabloids. I didn’t think it through. … I was really defensive. … I shouldn’t have said mean things. and I’m sorry. That’s why I’m here to say I’m sorry. And I’m sorry for hurting Ben. I care for him, still do.”
After she went away, Ben took the hot seat to explain to Jennifer and Emily why they didn’t get picked. The bachelor gave vague answers, but Jamie still thinks he is a “fabulous guy” and opens her heart should Ben want to get to know her better in the future.
Being called the villain in “The Bachelor” season 16, Courtney Robertson looks remorseful in a preview for “Women Tell All” edition. In the newly released clip for the upcoming episode of the reality series, the model is confronted by Blakeley Shea for calling her a stripper on the show.
“Courtney, I just wish you’d retract the things you said about me,” says Blakely who sits among the rejected girls. “You said I was a stripper on national television and it hurt my feelings.” The ousted contestant is not happy when Courtney’s gaze wanders while she’s talking to her.
“Courtney, I’m trying to be nice to you and you’re not even looking at me,” Blakely snaps. “I wanted you to say, ‘Blakeley, I really take that back … and say, I’m sorry.’ ” Struggling to hold back tears, 28-year-old Courtney says, “I’m sorry. I take it all back.”
Blakely, meanwhile, will have her own turn to get judged by the other ladies about her behavior during the “Bachelor” stint. Another ouster Samantha Levey complains, “Why are so many of us such good friends, yet you couldn’t be friends?”
In her defense, Blakely says, “Because I’m a lot older than you and I’m more mature than you and I don’t bother myself with small-minded people.”
“The Bachelor: Women Tell All” will air on Monday, February 5 at 8 P.M. ET on ABC. A week later, Ben Flajnik will make his final decision between Courtney and Lindzi Cox in the season finale.
Ben Flajnik is a step closer to reveal the girl who wins his heart after narrowing it down to two in the latest episode of “The Bachelor“. Before making the decision, he spent some romantic time with Nikki, Lindzi and Courtney in Switzerland.
His first fantasy date was with Nicki. They were taken by a helicopter to a mountaintop, where they had a picnic. On the night, they entered a cabin log and talked about how many kids they want to have.
Ben then showed Nicki the fantasy suite card, and she accepted it. “I’m not a cocky person, but I’m confident I could make you so happy,” so she told him before they hopped in the hot tub.
Next, it was Lindzi’s turn to have a date with Ben. They were rappelling down a cliff. They were lowered down slowly, but Ben could not hide his nervousness as saying, “Oh my god.” Once stepping on the ground, they went relaxing in a hot tub.
At dinner, Lindzi expressed her hope that she gets a proposal from Ben at the end of the show. The two later headed to the fantasy suite.
For the last date, Ben and Courtney took a train to a small village. They had a picnic there, during which the model claimed she tried to be nice to the other girls. In the evening, Courtney once again talked about the matter, saying, “I feel bad that this did bring out the worst in me at times… I’m not proud of that.”
Ben was happy that Courtney has opened up and they went on by heading to the fantasy suite. They put on matching green bathing suits and got into a hot tub.
Coming as a surprise for Ben, Kacie B. returned to ask why she was eliminated after the hometown dates because she didn’t see it coming. “For me, I kind felt like we were worlds apart,” Ben explained. “Did I see you in the end? No. And the last thing I wanted to do was drag it out longer for you. That was my way of protecting you.”
Before leaving with a broken heart, Kacie once again warned Ben about Courtney, “Because I do love you and I do care about you, I don’t want to see you get your heart broken again. And I feel like…if you were to choose Courtney, you would get your heart broken.”
Before the rose ceremony, host Chris Harrison asked Ben if he wanted Kacie to be at the rose ceremony. The bachelor turned down the offer and soon announced his final two. He gave the roses to Lindzi and Courtney, dumping Nikki.
“I’m sorry,” Ben said before explaining, “I started to have doubts.” Nikki said, “I just hope you’re making the right decision,” and cried in the limo. “I was in love with him … I feel kind of like a fool for falling so hard and so fast for somebody who wasn’t sure,” she sobbed.
Ben Flajnik made another shocking decision in the latest episode of “The Bachelor“. The winemaker sent home the woman who had been deemed a frontrunner to win his heart and seemed to suit him best after going on hometown dates with all four remaining girls.
Before picking the final three, Ben went to Lindzi’s hometown in Ocala, Fla. They met at a horse track and Lindzi said how much she loves horses. The couple had a picnic under a tree before they met Lindzi’s parents, Harry and Margy Cox.
During their chat, it was revealed that Lindzi’s parents tied the knot in San Francisco’s City Hall, where Ben and Lindzi had their first date. The couple then had a carriage race with Lindzi’s parents. At the end of their meeting, Lindzi’s father proposed a toast to Ben and declared that his family would love to have him as son-in-law.
In Clarksville, Tenn., Ben was welcomed by Kacie B. and a marching band at her high school. Ben praised Kacie and everything seemed so well until the bachelor learnt that Kacie’s father is a federal probation officer and he doesn’t drink, which is an exact opposite to Ben’s profession.
It went worse when they met Kacie’s parents, who kept sounding their disagreement if the couple would soon take their relationship to the next level should Ben choose Kacie in the end of the show. “Don’t rush into anything,” Kacie’s father Denny told Ben. Meanwhile, Kacie’s mother Martha warned Ben, “I would be disappointed if you chose to live together before being married.”
In a chat with her dad, Kacie explained about her feelings to Ben. “The other three girls — have they fallen in love with him, too?” Denny expressed his skepticism. “If he was to ask me if he could marry you, I would say no. I would like to have y’all take your time and get to know each other better,” he went on telling his daughter, who felt worried after the date.
Ben visited Nicki in Fort Worth, but before that he admitted to the camera that the relationship “has been slow to go.” Once they met, Nicki took Ben to a boot shop. After some chat and drinking wine, the couple met Nicki’s divorced parents, Laura and Dog, and her brother Matt.
Laura said, “I see with Ben some kind of connection I’ve not seen – even with her first husband.” Dog was cautious at first as he is worried that her daughter would get hurt again, but after Lindzi convinced him Ben is a good man, he gave the couple “total support.”
As the last date in the episode, Ben went to Courtney’s hometown of Scottsdale, Ariz. Mom Sherry first said she didn’t buy it when Courtney said she falls in love with Ben, but later stated, “I like him and I think she loves him. So that’s good enough for me.”
After talking with her parents, Courtney took Ben to a park where she has always wanted to get married someday. They later had a fake wedding, during which Courtney declared her vow, “When I look at you from across the room, I know your happiness is the key to mine…. Ben, I want to love you and treat you right, every day and every night.”
When it’s time for Rose Ceremony, Ben gave the roses to Courtney, Lindzi and Nicki, meaning that Kacie was the one sent home. “It breaks my heart,” Ben told Kacie who replied, “I don’t want you to be brokenhearted. I knew there was a chance I could be brokenhearted. I was scared of it. And now I am.” Trying to be strong, she wished him the best.
In the car, Kacie had a breakdown moment. “I thought I knew what he was looking for, but I guess I was completely wrong,” she told the camera. “I had no clue this was coming. Why am I not good enough? I don’t get it! … How did this happen. What the (bleep) happened?!”
Ben Flajnik continued her dates with the remaining six girls in the latest episode of “The Bachelor“, before picking four of them for hometown dates next week. Scoring the first one-on-one date in the Monday, February 13 outing was Lindzi.
They jumped out of a helicopter into an ocean. The couple kissed and wrote a message which was send out to sea in a bottle. “I’m definitely falling in love with Ben,” so Lindzi admitted as she described it as the “best feeling ever.”
When Emily got the second one-on-one date, Courtney started whining. “Kinda sucks. I wanted to kill myself. Worse nightmare. It’s disappointing,” she confessed in front of cameras as Emily boarded a plane to meet Ben.
Ben took Emily to catch lobster on a small boat. They also rode bikes through town and shot hoops. “Today was super fun,” Emily gushed. During a dinner, she invited Ben to meet her family.
Courtney finally got the last one-on-one date card. As the model prepared to meet the bachelor, Kacie B. expressed her dislike of Courtney. “It took every frickin’ fiber of my being to not spring across the room and punch her in the face,” she said, comparing Courtney to a black widow which she would love to smack.
Ben and Courtney climbed up to a Mayan temple. When taking a rest halfway to the top of the temple, the winemaker admitted, “I want someone that’s a little bit weird. I think I’m a little strange. I feel you are nicely … unique.”
They later had a dinner by the pool, during which Courtney complained about the other girls. “They’re just so vanilla and very into themselves. I’m not impressed by these women, or girls,” she said, prompting Ben to confess, “One of my fears is being with a woman who I like, but ultimately, other people don’t.”
Rachel, Nicki and Kacie were on a group date. They woke up at 4 A.M. to set sail on a catamaran and go swimming in Shark Alley. At one point, Ben pulled Kacie away for some one-on-one time and gave her a rose.
The three girls then warned Ben about Courtney with Nicki saying, “We want you to be cautious about Courtney.” Kacie added, “Just tread lightly.”
Just when Courtney expressed her confidence that she would stay on the show, host Chris Harrison announced there wouldn’t be a cocktail party. However, Ben took Courtney away before the rose ceremony to ask her, “I know it’s been difficult for you, I just want to know that you are in this?”
Courtney responded, “The only reason I’m here is for you.” She went on explaining, “I wasn’t here to win these girls over and make friends. … It’s been hard for me but I think we can make each other really happy in life. I don’t want you to question me at all. I’ve been nothing but honest and open.”
Apparently assured by Courtney’s answer, Ben gave Courtney the last rose, joining Kacie, Nicki and Lindzi. Rachel and Emily were the ones sent home. The former admitted she felt “very rejected,” but the latter just hoped that there’s “still time” for Ben to see who Courtney really is.