Judge Dismisses ‘Bachelor’ Discrimination Lawsuit

Judges have dismissed a class action lawsuit that accused ABC and the firms that produce the dating shows “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” of intentionally excluding people of color from lead roles on the series’.

Nathaniel Claybrooks and Christopher Johnson filed the lawsuit after they attended a casting call and were not chosen to be on the show. Johnson alleged that when he went to a casting call for the show, he was denied the typical application process. He claims that an employee took his application materials but the same was not done for other applicants. Claybrooks alleges that he was interviewed for less time than white applicants and was rushed through the process, therefore, not given the same opportunity as the other applicants.

U.S Disctrict Judge Aleta Trauger ruled that their efforts were “laudable” but that the First Amendment protects casting decisions by the networks and series’ producers.