‘The Bachelor’ Racial Case Dismissed By Judge Citing First Amendment

Do y’all remember back in April when we found out that the producers of The Bachelor/The Bachelorette were getting sued for racial discrimination?

You might recall that two men, Nathaniel Claybrooks and Christopher Jones, claimed they were both discriminated against when they auditioned for the show, and after the horrible experience, they decided to file a class-action lawsuit against the dating competition program. With their case, they pointing out that the show (over 23 seasons) has never featured a person of color as the “Bachelor” or the “Bachelorette”.

Not long after news broke about the lawsuit, lawyers for the show came out saying the whole thing was ridiculous, because they “television casting decisions are protected by the First Amendment”, or freedom of speech.

Well it looks like a judge for the case agrees with the show’s lawyers, because the case reportedly has been thrown out. According to TMZ, a Tennessee judge decided to dismiss it, citing the First Amendment. Apparently, the court by law, cannot dictate whom television and/or movie producers cast for their shows/movies.

Says TMZ: “In fact, the judge explains that Freedom of Speech is why The Cosby Show could have an all-black cast … why Jersey Shore can cast all-Italians … and why Shahs of Sunset can cast all-Persians.”

A rep for Warner Bros. said after the case, “We felt from the onset this case was completely without merit and we are pleased the Court has found in our favor.”

Well I guess the law is the law, but honestly, I think some sort of changeup with the show would serve it well. It’s getting a tad old and I’m wondering how much longer it’ll last.