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'Bachelorette,' 'Bachelor in Paradise' Bad Boy Files Sexual Misconduct Lawsuit

By Christopher Coble, Esq. on August 03, 2018 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Reality TV star Chad Johnson -- the bad boy from season 12 of "The Bachelorette" and booted from "Bachelor in Paradise" for boozing too much -- has filed a sexual misconduct lawsuit against producer Cristina Cimino and Sunset Studios Entertainment.

The suit claims Cimino made "persistent and rigorous" advances towards Johnson of a "sexual and provocative" nature, and offered him two movie roles. Johnson also claims he rebuffed those advances, and the movie roles were nixed after he made it clear he didn't want a sexual relationship with Cimino.

Sliding Into the DMs Like...

According to the lawsuit, Cimino first reached out to Johnson via Instagram to offer him two film roles allegedly worth $11 million. People Magazine obtained a copy of the suit, and reported some of the juicier details:

Cimino's questioning allegedly turned flirty on March 10, when she asked if he had a "jealous girlfriend." He claimed to have told her he didn't date. Six days later, she allegedly wrote him, "Hey wanna come over later? Clothing is optional, nakedness is preferable" -- a message she later said she sent to the wrong person.
According to the complaint, that same day, Cimino allegedly inquired whether Johnson was "comfortable with on screen nudity" of his rear end and asked for his "best fitness pictures" when he confirmed he was. She later told him that he had "the best body" out of all others auditioning.
An inappropriate photo of Cimino was allegedly sent to Johnson on or around March 20. She apologized, but allegedly said, "Well can you blame me? Lol. I literally shamelessly flirted with you, told you that I used to run around naked at the sorority house, told you that you had a hot bod and then sent you a pretty inappropriate picture of myself... lol..."

She Hath No Leading Roles

Johnson claims he turned down other roles based on Cimino's promise, and that her actions constituted sexual harassment, assault, battery, and fraud, and caused him emotional distress. "Cimino committed the acts allegedly herein willfully, maliciously and oppressively with the wrongful intention of injuring Johnson," his lawsuit suit says. "Cimino further acted with an improper and intentional motive amounting to malice, and in conscious disregard of Johnson's rights."

Who knows, this could be the start of the #HeToo movement.

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