Your tip
RadarOnlineRadarOnline
BREAKING NEWS

Abuse, Divorce & Nasty Feuds: 'The Bachelor' Creator Mike Fleiss' Secrets & Scandals Exposed

Left, Khloe Kardashian;Center, Mike Fleiss; Right, Brooke Burke-Charvet (L) and her husband, actor David Charvet
Source: Getty Images (3)

Jun. 15 2020, Updated 3:16 p.m. ET

Link to FacebookShare to XShare to Email

Mike Fleiss created The Bachelor and The Bachelorette to help single men and women find love. But the producer didn't find his own happily ever after, as he has been through two divorces.

He is currently in the middle of a divorce with second wife Laura Kaeppeler, who is currently pregnant with their second child. She accused him of emotional and verbal abuse. He allegedly claimed she was "lazy and incapable" and would end up "fat and single in Kenosha, Wisconsin."

Article continues below advertisement

He was even hit with a domestic violence restraining order for allegedly attacking her when he confronted her about not getting an abortion.

"While we were at our house in Kauai, Mike demanded that I get an abortion," she claimed in court papers. "Our son Ben was in the house, seated in another room nearby. Mike told me, 'If you have an abortion, then we can just go back to the way we were.'"

She continued, "Mike told me many times that he did not want us to have a second child. He also repeatedly told me throughout our marriage, and prior to our marriage, that he knew he would 'have to have' one child with me because I was 26-years-old when we got married, did not yet have any children, and he knew I wanted to have a family. Mike, however, being 55-years old, did not want to have more than one child together."

Fleiss fired back, claiming she actually attacked him and has disappeared with their son. He also wanted to see her phone to make sure she was "not having an affair and that the baby she was carrying was his."

But the scandals surrounding Fleiss don't end there, as he has been accused of discrimination in a bombshell lawsuit. He has also been slammed by multiple celebrities throughout the years, including Khloe Kardashian.

Scroll down RadarOnline.com's gallery for exclusive details on The Bachelor creator's most shocking scandals.

First Marriage

Mike Fleiss, executive producer of The Bachelor, attends The Hollywood Radio & Television Society presents "The Unscripted Hitmakers" at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on April 26, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California.
Source: Getty Images

Fleiss' marriage to Kaeppeler wasn't his first. In court papers exclusively obtained from Stanley Mosk Courthouse, he filed for divorce from first wife Alexandra Vorbeck in September 2011, citing irreconcilable differences. In her response, she requested the court terminate his right to spousal support. The couple, who married on August 8, 1987, welcomed one daughter together during the course of their marriage.

Article continues below advertisement

End Of The Relationship

Producer Mike Fleiss is introduced as a judge during the 2012 Miss America Pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino January 14, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Source: Getty Images

The parties agreed to a marital settlement agreement.

Article continues below advertisement

Charged

Television personality Brooke Burke-Charvet (L) and her husband, actor David Charvet, speak onstage at Operation Smile's 2013 Smile Gala at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on September 27, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California.
Source: Getty Images

In 2014, Fleiss was charged with disturbing the peace after getting into a fight with neighbors Brooke Burke and David Charvet. He was accused of putting a speaker that blared the sound of dogs barking in the direction of Burke and Charvet's home at 3am. The case was dismissed in 2015.

Article continues below advertisement

Don’t Mess With The Kardashians!

Khloé Kardashian attends the PrettyLittleThing LA Office Opening Party on February 20, 2019.
Source: Getty Images

After Khloe Kardashian's split from baby daddy Tristan Thompson following his cheating scandals, Fleiss responded to rumors that she is the next Bachelorette. "Any decision regarding @khloekardashian as the new #TheBachelorette will need to be approved by my dear friend @KrisJenner," he wrote, adding, "I have already been in contact with my dear friend @KrisJenner about @Khloekardashian as #TheBachelorette. Stay tuned!" Sister Kim denied the claims, as she posted screen shots of their mom denying speaking with Fleiss. Khloe then went off on Fleiss! "I'm not f**king clickbait right now," she wrote. "Stop or you will be hearing from my lawyers. How insensitive!!"

Article continues below advertisement

DWTS Drama

MORE ON:
Mike Fleiss
Kaitlyn Bristowe at AOL Studios In New York on July 29, 2015 in New York City.
Source: Getty Images

The Bachelor's Nick Viall was chosen to be on Dancing with the Stars. The decision didn't sit well with former Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe. "Actually I was offered it, had the contract & Mike Fleiss told them I wasn't allowed. He said he didn't want people wanting fame after his show," she tweeted. When he responded that he has her "total support," she replied, "Thanks I'll get right on that opportunity 2 yrs ago. I wonder what changed your mind?"

Article continues below advertisement

Same Network Feud!

Kelly Ripa attends the Los Angeles LGBT Center's 49th Anniversary Gala Vanguard Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on September 22, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California.
Source: Getty Images

On Live With Kelly and Ryan, co-host Kelly Ripa slammed the "gross" show. "And I thought that I was disgusted because I couldn't understand the idea of 25 exceptional women fighting over one ordinary fella, in my opinion. Do you know how I feel, ladies?" she asked viewers. "We are too special to be arguing over a guy." Fleiss responded, "Easy, @KellyRipa… #TheBachelor franchise pays your salary!"

Article continues below advertisement

Two Against One

Ellen Pompeo speaks onstage at the GLSEN Respect Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on October 19, 2018.
Source: Getty Images

Grey's Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo chimed in by tweeting, "Okay @fleissmeister... that's some handle bro! Your show does NOT pay @KellyRipa salary. Also we don't attack successful women on our network and men certainly cannot take credit for their success. Don't get me started on your show cuz I'm a savage.... #bachelorsoooowhite."

Article continues below advertisement

Discrimination Lawsuit

Executive producer of The Bachelor Mike Fleiss speaks during National Judges Press Conference for Miss America 2012 at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino on January 11, 2012.
Source: Getty Images

In April 2012, a class action lawsuit was filed against Fleiss and ABC for the "intentional exclusion of people of color from the lead role on ABC's popular television shows The Bachelor and The Bachelorette." The court filing read, "Never, over 10 years and a combined total of 23 seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, has either show ever featured a single person of color—whether African American, Latino, Asian, or any other minority race or ethnicity—in the central role of the 'Bachelor' or 'Bachelorette," the complaint read." In 16 seasons of The Bachelor and 7 seasons of The Bachelorette, every person featured in the lead role on either show has been white."

Article continues below advertisement

Excuses

Executive Producer Mike Fleiss speaks during the 'H8R' panel during the CW portion of the 2011 Summer TCA Tour held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on August 4, 2011.
Source: Getty Images

The lawsuit included Fleiss' response to the ongoing discrimination issue. "Michael Fleiss, creator of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette and President of Next, has, on at least one occasion, responded publicly to the outpour of commentary on the show's racial composition," the court papers read. "He has stated that the lack of people of color on the show is due to a lack of diverse applicants. Specifically, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly he said: 'We always want to cast for ethnic diversity. It's just that for whatever reason, they don't come forward. I wish they would.'"

Article continues below advertisement

Fighting Back

Director Mike Fleiss attends the screening of "The Other One: The Long, Strange Trip of Bob Weir" during the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival at BMCC Tribeca PAC on April 23, 2014 in New York City.
Source: J Carter Rinaldi/FilmMagic)

Defendants filed a request to dismiss the lawsuit because it "violates the First Amendment, which protects Defendants' creative choices concerning the content – including the casting – of the television series that they produce and broadcast to the public." The case was dismissed with prejudice, which means the case has been permanently dismissed.

Advertisement

DAILY. BREAKING. CELEBRITY NEWS. ALL FREE.

Opt-out of personalized ads

© Copyright 2024 RADAR ONLINE™️. A DIVISION OF EMPIRE MEDIA GROUP INC. RADAR ONLINE is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Offers may be subject to change without notice.