African Americans Sue 'The Bachelor' Producers for Racial Discrimination

[christopher jon]

I thought the lawsuit was stupid too until I read more about the circumstances behind it. It's really a lawsuit on principle. The two black guys showed up for the audition and were asked "Why are you here?" making them feel unwanted and then separated from the others and told to leave without receiving a fair shot.

Man. You completely screwed up the story. It's not even close to accurate.

In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, Johnson claimed he was approached by a white employee of the show in the lobby of a hotel where auditions were being held. He alleges that the employee asked him what he was doing there. When Johnson told him he was auditioning for "The Bachelor," the employee offered to take his application materials to the casting directors. No one else was stopped, the lawsuit claims. Johnson was never given any further instructions, and left the hotel shortly after.

"As Mr. Johnson handed the white employee his application materials, he noticed several other persons who appeared to be hopeful Bachelor applicants walking past him and the white employee and proceeding into the hotel," the lawsuit states. "None of the other potential applicants was stopped by any of the Defendants' employees."

Claybrooks got a bit further during his own audition, according to the lawsuit. He was taken to a room with other "Bachelor" hopefuls who were waiting to do a video interview portion of the audition. But Claybrooks, speaking at a press conference, claimed he wasn't given as much time as his white counterparts, who he said got about 45 minutes. Claybrooks said he was "very upset" by the rushed process, although the claim does not specify how much time he was given

Neither of them have much of a case.

[BattleDolphinZero]

Sounds like he got it right to me.

[holly]

heard an interesting - but i guess in retrospect obvious - analysis of this today - that the success of THE BACHELOR is presenting a complete level of fantasy/unreality. the issue with putting black men on the show is not that black men are not a fantasy (ahem) but that diverse races living in close quarters and "competition" would inevitably bring up something real, like race - and its the "something real" that the shows are completely unable to deal with or fulfill. it would radically change the fantasy brand to institute any kind of reality. btw, latinos and asians are also completely absent from the show.
this isn't even my fave tv race story of the day. that has got to be "what really bothers me that in "precious" there is no representation of ME".

[meemee2000]

Originally Posted by christopher jon

Man. You completely screwed up the story. It's not even close to accurate.

Umm...I'm completely accurate in relaying what I heard on the radio and read online.

Read it and weep, buddy,

http://www.realitytea.com/2012/04/19...s-on-the-show/

http://www.datalounge.com/cgi-bin/io...hread,11513197

http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/04/18/ba...uit-explained/

http://www.wdbj7.com/news/sns-bc-us-...,7752917.story

[christopher jon]

Originally Posted by meemee2000

Umm...I'm completely accurate in relaying what I heard on the radio and read online.

Read it and weep, buddy,

http://www.realitytea.com/2012/04/19...s-on-the-show/

http://www.datalounge.com/cgi-bin/io...hread,11513197

http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/04/18/ba...uit-explained/

http://www.wdbj7.com/news/sns-bc-us-...,7752917.story

Nope.

You took details from two separate incidents, Claybrooks and Johnson, and combined them into an inaccurate and misleading version of what happened.

You can post as many links as you wish.

I present you with excerpts from the actual lawsuit.

Case 3:12-cv-00388 U.S. District Court of the Middle District of Tennessee

This, according to the plaintiffs, is what happened:

Johnson

52. In 2011, Mr. Johnson completed the paper application and questionnaire to
become the next Bachelor, and, in compliance with the application’s instructions, had
professional pictures taken of himself to include with the application.

53. Shortly after completing the application and questionnaire, Mr. Johnson went to a
hotel in the Brentwood/Franklin neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee where Defendants were
holding a casting call. He went to submit his application in person and complete any other
prerequisites—such as an interview—to be considered a candidate for the next Bachelor.

54. When Mr. Johnson walked into the hotel lobby, he was immediately stopped by
one of Defendants’ employees who asked why Mr. Johnson was there. Mr. Johnson stated to the
employee, who was white, that he had the necessary materials and had come to apply for The
Bachelor. The white employee stated that he would take Mr. Johnson’s application materials
and be sure to pass them on to the show’s casting directors.

55. As Mr. Johnson handed the white employee his application materials, he noticed
several other persons who appeared to be hopeful Bachelor applicants walking past him and the
white employee and proceeding into the hotel. None of the other potential applicants was
stopped by any of Defendants’ employees.

56. Mr. Johnson handed the white employee his application and pictures. The
employee did not give Mr. Johnson any further instructions. Mr. Johnson proceeded to turn
around and leave the hotel. He was never contacted by Defendants regarding his application.

57. Mr. Johnson’s attempt to apply for the Bachelor was cut short by Defendants’
employee. He was denied the same opportunity to become the next Bachelor as other non-black
applicants.

Claybrooks

58. In 2011, Nathaniel Claybrooks went to the Indigo Hotel in downtown Nashville,
Tennessee where Defendants were conducting a casting call for The Bachelor.

59. When he arrived, he was instructed to fill out the necessary application and
questionnaire before being interviewed by Defendants.

60. Several other hopeful applicants filled out applications and sat in the waiting
room. Every employee of Defendants at the Indigo Hotel appeared to be white. Mr. Claybrooks
waited as the white applicants before him were interviewed. Their interviews took
approximately 45 minutes.

61. Mr. Claybrooks was interviewed on camera by one of Defendants’ employees,
who was white. During the interview, Mr. Claybrooks answered personal questions, including
what he likes to do in his free time, whether he goes to church, and whether he has ever been
married. At one point during the interview, the interviewer asked Mr. Claybrooks to stand up
and conduct a 360 degree turn for the camera so that the interviewer could get a full view of his
body.

62. However, Mr. Claybrooks’ interview lasted for a much shorter time than the
interviews with white applicants who went before him. Mr. Claybrooks felt that he was being
rushed through the process and was not given the same opportunity as his white counterparts

63. At the conclusion of the interview, Defendants told Mr. Claybrooks that they
would contact him regarding his application. Mr. Claybrooks has not heard from Defendants
since.

[figment]

Originally Posted by roscoegino

Reality TV and ethnic groups aren't friends I don't think.

I think they can be, but they also have to include a ditzy white girl with large breasts. Ice Loves Coco, anyone?

I watched The Bachelor a few seasons ago where they had a guy who they kept presenting as a screenwriter. Anytime he'd be on screen, it'd say "Frank -- screenwriter." He'd said he went to Paris for a month, just to write scripts and hang out. It sounded very Hemingway-esque, romantic. But he was nowhere to be found on imbd or the like. He probably mentioned it was a hobby of his during casting and it was the only "interesting/different" thing about him, so that's the angle they played up.

I felt bad for the guy. I could imagine a thousand clueless friends/relatives contacting him after the show ended, asking when he was moving to Hollywood and how much cash he was raking in, writing scripts. Oy.

[meemee2000]

Yeah, I've proven my point. I didn't get it "completely" wrong as someone erroneously implied. The men felt they weren't given serious consideration. Based on their interviews, I agree. Sorry if it affects people's efforts to villainize the plaintiffs, but they have a legitimate gripe. I don't think they'll win but that's not the point of the lawsuit. My opinion on the matter still stands. It's the principle of the thing.

[NikeeGoddess]

i agree. even though most people just don't care and/or think it's rubbish they do have a legitimate complaint. it mainly because this is some kind of dating show and interracial dating is still somewhat taboo on television although we see sprinkles of it here and there.

but put the same circumstances in "real" life.
ever go to a job interview (which you got based on your application/resume/phone interview) and they NOT interview you once they realize you don't LOOK like you sound on the phone? i'm sure most of you have not, but i have and i know first hand that it happens and it's wrong.

their biggest problem is they can't prove damages, but they can change policy and/or standard "profiling" practices.

[BattleDolphinZero]

Originally Posted by meemee2000

Yeah, I've proven my point. I didn't get it "completely" wrong as someone erroneously implied. The men felt they weren't given serious consideration. Based on their interviews, I agree. Sorry if it affects people's efforts to villainize the plaintiffs, but they have a legitimate gripe. I don't think they'll win but that's not the point of the lawsuit. My opinion on the matter still stands. It's the principle of the thing.

your first post that he questioned was on point.

[SpecMan13]

Agree with BDZ...