"We’re Gonna Sue You": Former Bachelorette Reveals Alleged Producer Threats That Kept Her Silenced

The Bachelorette season 1 star Trista Rehn Sutter alleged that the producers of the show threatened to sue her if she revealed anything about her Bachelor season before it aired. Bachelor Nation first met Trista when she was Alex Michel's runner-up during The Bachelor season 1. Trista was then selected to be the very first star of The Bachelorette, which premiered in 2003, during which she got engaged to Ryan Sutter. They got married on December 6, 2003, and their wedding was televised. Trista most recently appeared as a contestant on Special Forces: World's Toughest Test season 3.

On the January 21 episode of Jennie Garth's I Choose Me podcast, Trista spoke about the rumors that exploded when Ryan shared cryptic social media posts about missing her when she was away in Wales filming Special Forces. Trista explained that she had to keep her appearance on the show a secret, despite the fact that fans were worried that she and Ryan were getting divorced or that she was seriously ill.

Trista said, "You have to wait. You just sign your life away, and you also sign that you have to keep everything in secret. And it's not my first rodeo when it comes to that."

Trista then revealed that the situation reminded her of her time on The Bachelor, when she was allegedly threatened with a lawsuit if she spoiled the show. She said, "I remember signing the contract for Bachelor, and they were like, 'Okay well, if you tell anybody, then we're gonna sue you for $5 million.' I'm like, 'Good luck with that 'cause I don't have it.' But it's like the fear of God or the fear of lawyers are put into you, and you're like, 'Okay, well. Gotta zip it.'"

You have to wait. You just sign your life away, and you also sign that you have to keep everything in secret. And it's not my first rodeo when it comes to that.

I remember signing the contract for The Bachelor, and they were like, "Okay well, if you tell anybody, then we're gonna sue you for $5 million." I'm like, "Good luck with that, because I don't have it." But it's like the fear of god or the fear of lawyers are put into you, and you're like, "Okay, well. Gotta zip it."

What Trista Sutter's Accusation Against The Bachelor Producers Means

The Leads & Contestants Are Silenced

While it's understandable that the Bachelor franchise producers demand some level of secrecy from the leads and contestants in order to not spoil the endings of the seasons, it's shocking to hear just how threatening Trista revealed that they can be. While it's not known if she meant "$5 million" literally, it's clear that she was told that she'd have to pay an exorbitant amount of money if she spoiled the show. The problem with this is that it can take a toll on people's mental health.

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Although it's unclear what the protocol is for Bachelor franchise leads and contestants in recent seasons, one can assume that there would still be harsh consequences if anyone revealed anything about the show before it aired. It must be incredibly difficult to be silenced, especially for someone like Bachelorette season 21 star Jenn Tran, whose fiancé, Devin Strader, broke up with her before her finale even aired. The anticipation of going through such a public breakup was devastating enough, but knowing that she might've been threatened with a multi-million dollar lawsuit if she revealed it before the finale is disturbing.

Our Take On The Bachelor Franchise Producers Threatening To Sue The Leads & Contestants

It's Shocking That They Sign Their Lives Away

Trista's use of words such as "sign your life away" and "fear of God" is also very concerning. While no one forces the leads and contestants to sign these contracts, and they make their own choices, it's horrible to think that the Bachelor franchise producers are taking such advantage of them. A show such as Special Forces, in which contestants are put through Special Forces training, is completely different from the Bachelor franchise, which is about finding love, and can deeply affect the rest of people's lives if they get engaged.

While keeping a secret about one's journey on Special Forces might be difficult, it doesn't compare to being silenced about a Bachelor franchise engagement, especially when that relationship goes terribly wrong. Hopefully, Trista's revelation about the Bachelor shows' contracts will make people think twice before signing them, so that much-needed change can come to the franchise. On a show about love, there's no place for threats.