'The Bachelor' Producers Send Cease & Desist to Chris Harrison's New Fox Nation Dating Show 'The Vow' | Just Jared

The team behind The Bachelor is taking legal action against Chris Harrison‘s new dating reality show.

Last month, Fox Nation debuted the first teaser for the upcoming series Chris Harrison’s The Vow, which the 55-year-old TV personality will be hosting.

The teaser featured rose petals showering down across the screen as a man, whose face remains concealed, shows off his rose cufflinks. Then, after the words “The Bachelor. The Women. The Drama,” appear on screen, Chris is revealed. After he tosses a rose on the ground, Chris says, “Expecting someone else? Roses fade. True love lasts forever.”

Following the teaser, Warner Bros. Television, which produces the Bachelor Nation shows, sent Fox News Media and Lionsgate a legal warning over The Vow‘s use of roses in their promotional material.

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In their September 18 cease and desist letter obtained by E! News, WBTV wrote, “Red roses are, of course, one of the central and instantly recognizable symbols of the Franchise, and this image from the Series teaser is plainly a direct copy of numerous Franchise promotional materials.”

The company added, “Taken together, the above represents a plain attempt to capitalize on and ‘ride on the coattails’ of WB’s instantly recognizable intellectual property.”

While WBTV requested that Fox Nation and Lionsgate “cease and desist from all infringing conduct,” the company emphasized that it does not take issue with the existence of the new dating show hosted by Chris.

“But thus far, Fox and Lionsgate have promoted the Series entirely on the back of the Franchise,” the letter added, “not on its own merits.”

Fox Nation fired back in their own letter, refuting the claims made by The Bachelor producers.

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“While FOX Nation respects the intellectual property rights of others, you wrongly assume that Warner Bros. holds any rights whatsoever in a falling roses motif or in the words ‘The Bachelor’ when used colloquially to describe a single man,” Fox Nation wrote in their September 24 letter.

The company emphasized that “falling rose petals are scènes à faire—stock elements long associated with the romance genre that have featured in films from American Beauty to Moulin Rouge to Beauty and the Beast…Warner Bros. cannot keep for itself a trope it has borrowed from others.” 

Fox Nation doubled down on their ability to use the imagery, noting, “Even assuming you have any claim at all in the rose petals motif—which you plainly do not—FOX Nation’s use qualifies as a fair one under the copyright laws because the trailer subverts and parodies typical dating shows.”

They also described its teaser for The Vow as offering “a different approach” from other dating shows by “placing the focus on meaningful relationships, commitment and building a life together.”

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Fox Nation also framed WBTV’s legal move as an attempt to go after Chris, who had hosted hosted The Bachelor and its spinoff series since the franchise’s premiere in 2002. He exited the franchise amid the controversy he caused in 2021 when he defended contestant Rachael Kirkconnell after photos surfaced of her participating in a slave plantation-themed fraternity formal.

“Your letter appears designed not to vindicate legitimate copyright and trademark interests, but to restrict FOX Nation and Chris Harrison from promoting a competing dating show,” Fox stated. “It is unfortunate that Warner Bros. is targeting Mr. Harrison in this malicious and vindictive manner.”

In conclusion, Fox Nation wrote, “The Vow exhorts its participants and viewers to ‘Choose Love.’ We trust Warner Bros. will do the same and drop its pursuit of these meritless claims.” 

Chris Harrison’s The Vow will premiere on Fox Nation on November 11. Find out more about the new dating series and the lead bachelor here.

Posted To:Chris Harrison Fox Nation Television The Bachelor The Vow