The producers of "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" are responsible for encouraging racism across the country by refusing to cast black people in the shows' central roles -- this according to a new class action lawsuit.

Christopher Johnson and Nathaniel Claybrooks filed the lawsuit today in Tennessee federal court against the shows' producers -- claiming they both auditioned for "The Bachelor" in Nashville in August 2011 ... but were brazenly denied based solely on the color of their skin.


Christopher and Nathaniel claim producers were afraid to cast them for fear of alienating "the show's majority-white viewership."

As a result, the guys claim producers are teaching the public how to be racist -- by demonstrating preferences for white relationships over non-white and interracial relationships.

They might have a point too ... because the show has never once cast a person of color -- black, Asian, Latino, whatever -- in the central role as Bachelor or Bachelorette.

"Bachelor" creator Michael Fleiss has even acknowledged the problem -- stating long before the lawsuit was filed ... "We always want to cast for ethnic diversity. It's just that for whatever reason, they don't come forward. I wish they would."

Chris and Nathaniel are now demanding a change in "Bachelor" policy -- requiring producers to "consider persons of color as finalists for the role of the Bachelor and the Bachelorette."

Oh yeah, they also want money -- an unspecified amount of punitive damages.

"The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" are about to get a thorny rose -- in the form of a lawsuit.

We're told the 2 plaintiffs -- both African Americans -- went to a Nashville hotel to audition for the role of bachelor. Christopher Johnson -- an aspiring NFL player -- claims when he arrived a producer asked him what he was doing there.

Johnson and the other plaintiff, Nathaniel Claybrooks, both say they were taken to the side of the room and left out of the normal audition process. Neither was called back, and they believe it's because of their race.

They will be filing a class action lawsuit in federal court Wednesday AM. We're told ABC, Warner Horizon Television, Next Entertainment, NZK Productions and creator Mike Fleiss, will all be sued.

While her ex-boyfriend Kasey Kahl deals with the aftermath of his drunk-and-disorderly arrest -- Vienna Girardi hung out in a bikini with her other ex-boyfriend Jake Pavelka Lee Smith in Miami on Tuesday.

In case you forgot -- Vienna stormed off "Relationship Rehab" last month, where she was hammering out issues with Kahl. Vienna was pissed because producers blindsided her with a surprise sit-down with Lee, an ex at the time.

But now, sources close to the couple tell us Vienna and Lee have since been talking and working on their relationship.

Fun fact: Lee was also the guy that allegedly sent Vienna flirty emails back when she was engaged to "Bachelor" Jake Pavelka.

Former "Bachelorette" star Kasey Kahl is adamant ... the couple he brawled with inside a Fresno nightclub are just a couple of "Jersey Shore" wannabes bent on attaining their 15 minutes of fame.

Kahl's rep has released a NEW statement in the wake of an explosive police report, in which an allegedly intoxicated Kahl is accused of beating up a 25-year-old named Richard Chaney ... and smashing the dude's GF in the face at a Fresno nightclub this weekend.

Team Kahl says ... "As Kasey is in the public eye, it is not unlikely that we would not be surprised if these persons bent on attaining their 15 minutes of fame, while intoxicated and perhaps fueled by jealousy, will antagonize and attack stars such as Kasey in a 'Jersey Shore' type brawl given the opportunity."

He adds, "These persons wanted their 15 minutes, which they received, and now those 15 minutes are over."

Click here... it's not over yet

Former "Bachelorette" star Kasey Kahl smashed a woman in the face at a Fresno nightclub, giving her a bloody nose ... this according to the alleged victim ... though Kasey claims it was all in self-defense.

TMZ broke the story ... Kahl was arrested early Sunday morning for drunk and disorderly conduct at Club Habano's nightclub.

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, Kahl was accused of attacking a man named Richard Chaney outside the club ... and then smashing Chaney's girlfriend in the face when she tried to break up the fight.

Click here... it's not over yet

"Bachelorette" star Kasey Kahl was arrested Sunday morning in Fresno, CA -- hometown of Kevin Federline -- after cops say he was drunk and disorderly at a nightclub ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Kahl -- who recently appeared on "Bachelor Pad" -- was allegedly involved in an incident at a place called Club Habanos. So far, it's unclear exactly what Kahl is accused of doing wrong.

Kahl was booked at a nearby police station -- where he took one of the prettiest mug shots we've ever seen and was released a few hours later.

Kahl just finished taping the inaugural season of VH1's upcoming "Relationship Rehab" with former GF Vienna Girardi. 


4:25 PM PST: A rep for Kahl tells us, "Kasey and his friends were hanging out outside of the club where police officers allegedly thought they were being too loud.  Kasey, along with a couple friends, were taken to the police station, but were released a couple hours later. No charges were or have been filed against him."

The rep adds, "Kasey was extremely respectful and very cooperative with the police officers despite the situation, even having a good laugh because of his model-esque mugshot. The police officers noted that it was the prettiest mugshot they've ever seen come into their station."

Kiptyn Locke -- a contestant on "The Bachelorette" who jumped to the show "Bachelor Pad" -- just underwent 4 1/2 hours of emergency surgery to repair severely ruptured discs in his neck ... that were perilously compressing against his spine.

Neck injuries are no joke ... but we're told Locke -- who is currently dating former "Bachelor" contestant Tenley Molzahn (left) -- is expected to make a full recovery. It's unclear how Kiptyn injured himself.

Tenley says, "There are definitely angels involved in this emergency."

The bad blood between cast members on "Bachelor Pad" has spilled into real life ... so says one of the losers who claims Graham Bunn punched him in the face at a nightclub this week.

TMZ spoke with Justin Rego (aka Rated-R) -- who was eliminated from the reality show last month ... who says he was hanging out at the wrap party at a Hollywood nightclub Wednesday night when all hell broke loose.

According to Rego, two other members of the show -- Graham Bunn and Blake Julian -- had gotten into an argument ... and it started to become physical.

Rego says he went to break up the fight -- when Graham punched him in the nose ... and he started to bleed. Sources at the club tell us security rushed over to the scene and escorted Graham out of the building.

Justin tells us he does not plan on pressing charges -- but says he's still pretty pissed off at Graham. A rep for Graham tells TMZ, "It was nothing -- just boys being boys.”

Last season's "BIg Brother" "Bachelor Pad" winners David Good and Natalie Getz soaked up the sun, drinks and their fellow former cast mates at Nikki Beach at the Tropicana in Vegas this weekend.

They're like one big half-naked family.

Ashley Herbert is giving out roses left and right as she looks for love on the latest season of "The Bachelorette" -- and Devin Grissom is using her southern charm to break hearts on the CMT reality dating series "Sweet Home Alabama."

Question is ...

How many reality TV stars do you know would put themselves in harm's way (kind of) to protect their fellow man? One: Ali Fedotowsky.


Ali and her fiance, Roberto Martinez, were chilling in San Diego yesterday when, according to her rep, she noticed smoke coming from a nearby bush. We're told Ali called police and upon further investigation ... the police recovered a small metal thing that Ali was told was nothing to be concerned over.

Her rep says Ali just wanted to "make sure everything was okay and the community was safe."