A class-action lawsuit has been filed against the producers of "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette". ABC's popular reality dating shows have gone a combined 23 seasons without casting a single minority in its leading role.
The lawsuit was filed by Nathaniel Claybrooks and Christopher Johnson, who had previously applied to be on the series. The complaint says "These applicants were denied the same opportunity to become the next bachelor or bachelorette as white contestants not because they were unsuitable for the role...but solely because of the perceived risk that casting a bachelor or bachelorette who is a person of color would alienate the show's majority-white viewership."
One of the defendants in the case, Warner Horizon Television, is a subsidiary of CNN's parent company, Time Warner.
Meanwhile, regional Portland sportscaster and youth basketball coach Lamar Hurd has been getting some buzz in an unrelated campaign to become the show's first-ever black bachelor. This morning, he talks with Kate Bolduan about his audition for the show.
Hurd says he has not experienced discrimination in his application, and has even received an encouraging message from one of the show producers. He says he wonders if black men and women just haven't thought to apply to the show.
See more from the interview here.
Great interview!!! I wish Lamar the best and hope to see him on The Bachelor!!!