EXCLUSIVE: Former Bachelor Contestants Prepare to File Class Action Lawsuit against ABC Producers

Posted In: Exclusives, Reality TV, The Bachelor
January 18, 2012 more

Jesse Csincsak, Mike Fleiss, Elan Gale, ABC, The Bachelor
Jesse Csincsak. Photo: Jesse CsincsakJesse Csincsak. Photo: Jesse CsincsakJesse Csincsak. Photo: Jesse CsincsakJesse Csincsak. Photo: Jesse Csincsak

In a move that would be the first-of-its-kind in reality television history, former contestants of the ABC hit reality television shows, ‘The Bachelor’ and ‘The Bachelorette’ have spoken to attorneys and are in discussion to file a class action lawsuit, against creators Mike Fleiss and Elan Gale.  This information was disclosed to us in an exclusive interview today by former contestant and ‘Bachelorette Season 4’ winner, Jesse Csincsak.

“Once you’re on the show, they own you,” Jesse said.  ”Even when your contract is up, they still interfere in your life and prevent you from promoting other brands and making money.”

Jesse notes that the last straw for him came when Gale contacted his business partners and other companies telling them not to work with him.  He says that the producers have also contacted former ‘Bachelor,’ ‘Bachelorette’ and ‘Bachelor Pad’ contestants threatening to blacklist them if they participate in any of Csincsak’s events.

Related: Jesse Csincsak Hosts ‘Bachelorette Pad Beatdown’ on RTVZone.com

Since appearing on ‘The Bachelorette’ Jesse has remained in the spotlight by hosting annual bachelor reunion gatherings with the former contestants and most recently he launched the successful web show ‘Reality Smackdown.’

Discussion about a class action lawsuit surfaced this month after Csincsak was reviewing his rights with his attorneys.

“I had planned to file my own lawsuit last month but after discussions with numerous people and former Bachelor contestants, we realized that this issue is much bigger than me,” he said.

Related: Former ‘Bachelor’ Couple Ann and Jesse Csincsak Answer Questions about Season 16

This isn’t the first time ABC has been to court regarding the hit show.  In 2003, the show’s producers filed suit against former ‘Bachelor’ Season 4 star, Bob Guiney for breaking his contract by promoting his new CD ‘3 Sides,’ and his music video.  Guiney won the case.

Last month, spoiler blogger, Steve Carbone (a.k.a Reality Steve) was slapped with a lawsuit by the producers of ABC for coercing former contestants to breach their confidentiality contracts to help reveal spoiler activities for his website.

Jesse a retired pro snowboarder, who won the heart of DeAnna Pappas on Season 4 of ‘The Bachelorette’ is now married to former ‘Bachelor’ Season 13 contestant Ann Leuders.



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Comments

  • Shandon

    That’s a shocker! I didn’t know that there are things like that in that hit reality show.

  • Isaac

    I always wondered how life worked out for these reality TV stars after the fact. From the looks of the lawsuit, not quite as well as they let on…

  • Randall

    This isn’t the first reality TV show that’s been accused of this kind of controlling behavior – didn’t American Idol have a similar case some years ago?

  • Petra

    Seems a little spiteful to me, after using the show to get famous, they then want to sue after they’ve gotten all they can out of it!

  • Amy

    I can see why they would want a little control over the Bachelors and Bachelorettes after the show, just so they don’t go out and exploit the show’s name in an inappropriate way. To a point, it’s only fair.

  • Josh

    I never heard about Bob Guiney’s CD, and never heard about the network or producers giving him a hard time over it. However, I did hear about this lawsuit… that says something right there.

  • Kevin

    Some of the former contestants have gone on to do great things, and the producers haven’t stopped them! Jillian Harris (Extreme Makeover), Travis Stork (The Doctors) and probably more if I looked for them – the show doesn’t seem to be holding them back at all.

  • Erica

    True, I don’t think I’ve seen Jesse even try to do anything without pulling on the Bachelor name, his only claim to fame as it appears.

  • Samantha

    Too many people take contracts lightly these days. Reading the fine print is *important*! I hope this is a lesson to all the future actors on the show. If you don’t understand what the contract is asking you for, just get a lawyer.

  • J. D.

    True! I’ve seen people do a lot of bad things to their lives signing without reading (or thinking), or thinking that they’ll be able to get out of it later somehow. Not smart at all.

  • Marilee J

    The show’s been running for a long time now… and after all these years, only Jesse and a handful of others, out of how many other at this point, have a problem with the aftermath of their season? Something doesn’t seem right here.

  • Lucy

    Weird that Jesse would be the one to do this. He’s done so much with the show, from the reunions, to his own blog and so many parties. All were in connection to the Bachelor name. Not quite like Bob who tried to put out his album in a totally unrelated venture.

  • Will

    I dunno, it seems like this whole thing is just more hype. I don’t think this lawsuit will end up amounting to much. It’s pretty simple! If they signed the contract, they have to live with it. If they don’t like that, well, it’s a little late for that now!

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