It seems the most homogeneous dating pool in America will soon get a wake-up call! Shortly after Lamar Hurd started a campaign to become the first black Bachelor in the franchise history, two other African-American men have decided to file a class action lawsuit against the show for discrimination!
According to TMZ, the two plaintiffs attended a casting call in a Nashville Hotel to audition to be the next Bachelor. Christopher Johnson, one of those men—who also happens to be an aspiring NFL player—claims when he arrived the producers asked him why he was there.
Apparently, that’s when the discrimination began. Christopher and another African-American applicant, Nathaniel Claybrooks, claim they were then taken to the side of the room and excluded from the normal audition process. Neither man received a call back and both believe it is because of their race!
In response, they have filed a class action lawsuit today in federal court against ABC, Warner Horizon Television, Next Entertainment, NZK Productions and creator Mike Fleiss. More details will be coming this afternoon and Reality Tea will keep you posted on the developments.
In other news, Ben Flajnik and Courtney Robertson continue their campaign to convince people they are in love. Hey, getting married following The Bachelor comes with a hefty reward – lifetime infamy! And likely some monetary pay-offs as well.
According to HollywoodLife, the couple is madly in love and will be walking down the aisle sooner than we think! “Courtney and Ben are getting married! They have totally rekindled their feelings for each other on an even deeper level,” Courtney’s friend reveals. “The drama that happened after the show actually brought them closer together and they both realized that they didn’t want to lose each other. Courtney has even been looking at wedding dresses.”
Indeed, the two were spotted at Mark Zunino’s recent wedding dress fashion show – which of course totally proves this wedding is happening, like tomorrow, and not that the couple is pretending to be in love for fame and publicity as some reports have claimed.
“They sat in the front row and were holding hands the entire time,” Courtney a friend reveals to HollywoodLife. “They looked really happy and very much in love. During the show, Ben played with Courtney’s hair and she was giggling and pointing to the different wedding dresses.” Apparently, when and if she weds, Courtney will be sporting a Mark Zunino gown. Ok, then.
And finally, with Emily Maynard‘s season of The Bachelorette premiering next month, ABC has released the first glimpse of her portrait. PEOPLE got the exclusive. Emily looks stunning, of course, and is obviously holding a bunch of roses! The portrait is below!
The Bachelorette premieres May 14th at 8:30/9:30 EST on ABC.
IS THE LAWSUIT AGAINST ABC AND THE BACHELOR VALID? DOES THE SHOW DISCRIMINATE? WILL COURTNEY & BEN GET MARRIED – OR ARE THEY IN LOVE WITH PUBLICITY?
CLICK THE CONTINUE READING BUTTON FOR EMILY’S PORTRAIT!
