The Bachelorette

How far are The Bachelor’s producers willing to go to keep viewers on the edge of their seats? Pretty darn far, according to Jesse Csincsak, winner of The Bachelorette Season 4. Not only did ABC this week file a lawsuit against Reality Steve (who has made a career out of publishing Bachelor and Bachelorette spoilers), but, says Jesse, “Mike Fleiss’ production company, Next Entertainment, came to me just over a year ago and offered me $30K to find out who Reality Steve’s leak was.” (Fleiss is the executive producer of all three shows in the Bachelor franchise.) Jesse continues: “I told them I would look into it and when push came to shove, all I could find out is that it was someone in editing, but could never find a name of a person […] The problem is that they have hundreds of people who see the tapes in editing, so nailing it down would be a tough one.”

Fleiss and ABC are not kidding around about the confidentiality agreements they require contestants to sign, says Jesse, who declares that Mike Fleiss “is known as the steel fist of Hollywood,” over the ironclad nature of the agreements. But, says Jesse, because Bachelor and Bachelorette contestants are not paid, some may be inclined to spill details of the shows before they air — if they are offered a nice payment.

But let’s get down to the crux of the matter, to that topic that all Bachelor shows are about – love! Is it worth signing the contract for a chance at finding a mate? Says Jesse, “You’re better off buying a Power Ball ticket than signing that contract. At least you have the chance at getting something in return!” Ouch!  (For the record, Jesse was chosen by DeAnna Pappas on The Bachelorette, Season 4, but they broke up four months later.)

So Jesse is on Reality Steve’s side then? Not so fast.  “I think Reality Steve [Steve Carbone] should stick to his day job and forget about The Bachelor. He knows nothing about the show other than what his leaks tell him.”

Doesn’t sound like Jesse is happy with either side in this particular lawsuit. So what does he hope for an outcome? “I hope [Fleiss] loses the suit,” says Jesse, “just to prove that maybe if he paid the contestants, then they wouldn’t take money after the show!” And maybe there would be more happily-ever-afters and fewer breakups – and lawsuits?

ABC declined to comment on this story.

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