Warner Bros sent Fox cease-and-desist over Chris Harrison's The Vow

Chris Harrison says Warner Bros has focused on his new show, The Vow, as it heads toward a Nov. 11 debut on Fox Nation, Deadline reported. Harrison noted that the studio has not gone after 50, 60 or 70 other relationship shows, and he invited viewers to decide for themselves, according to Deadline.

The dispute centers on a cease-and-desist letter, not a lawsuit. Warner Bros TV sent the letter over the show's marketing to Lionsgate and to Fox News Media, The Hollywood Reporter reported. Fox has pushed back, and each side's claims remain in dispute.

Key facts

• The letter from Warner Bros is dated Sept. 18, The Hollywood Reporter said.
• Fox sent its reply on Sept. 24, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
• Reports so far describe a warning letter only, with no case filed in any court, The Hollywood Reporter's coverage shows.
• Lionsgate is a partner with Fox and Harrison on the new series, and Warner Bros makes The Bachelor for ABC, The Hollywood Reporter said.
• The Vow is due Nov. 11 on Fox Nation, with six episodes released one per week, Variety reported.

Background

Harrison has deep ties to the show at the center of the fight. He was the host of The Bachelor, along with its many spinoffs, from the first season in 2002, Variety noted. His 2021 departure from the franchise drew controversy, according to Variety.

He left in June 2021 after he defended a contestant who was criticized for a racist image she had shared online, Deadline reported.

His new show is built around one man looking for a partner. In it, a bachelor named Jace Cates goes on dates with 10 women, Variety reported.

What Warner Bros claims

Warner Bros' letter pointed to several images in the show's promos, The Hollywood Reporter reported. It flagged rose petals drifting down, a man in a tuxedo with a rose in hand, and the title of the ABC show appearing as on-screen text, according to the outlet.

The letter also objected to a mansion in the background, which it said was meant to call to mind the Bachelor Mansion, Deadline reported. The letter came from Ahassim Rashid, who is a VP at Warner Bros Entertainment and serves as its counsel on intellectual property, Deadline said.

Warner Bros added that it has licensed the falling rose petals look to outside companies for ads, according to Deadline. The studio also wrote that a relationship show hosted by Harrison is not, by itself, something it objects to, The Hollywood Reporter reported.

What Fox says

Fox rejects those claims. Katherine Moran Meeks, general counsel for Fox News Media, said Warner Bros is wrong to assume it owns rights to a falling roses image or to the name of its show, Deadline reported.

Fox argued that rose petals are a stock feature of love stories on screen, and that the First Amendment protects its use of the show's name, according to Deadline. Its reply pointed to films such as American Beauty, Moulin Rouge and Beauty and the Beast as examples of falling petals on screen, Variety reported.

Fox also accused Warner Bros of targeting Harrison in a "malicious and vindictive manner," The Hollywood Reporter said.

What it means for you

For viewers, the show is still on the calendar. The Vow is set to debut Nov. 11 on Fox Nation, Deadline reported.

Fans of The Bachelor may also see ads for the rival show on familiar channels. Several ABC stations around the country are slated to air an ad for The Vow during its first week, through a paid media purchase, USA Today reported.

The fight is mainly about marketing. Lionsgate, Fox Nation and Harrison all face legal pressure tied to the show's marketing, The Hollywood Reporter reported.

Harrison sees the dispute as aimed at him. "There's been one show that they've gone after," he said, Deadline reported.

Practical steps

• Mark the date. The Vow arrives Nov. 11 on Fox Nation, Deadline reported.
• Plan for a weekly show. Its six episodes will roll out one a week after the premiere, Variety said.
• Read the claims with care. Each side's account comes from its own letter, so treat them as positions, not findings.

What happens next

Warner Bros has not closed the door. Its letter reserved all rights until the studio sees the series itself, The Hollywood Reporter reported.

Fox, for its part, wants the matter dropped. Fox Nation's reply urged Warner Bros to give up claims that Fox said were without merit, Variety reported.

Whether Warner Bros will take the matter to court is not known.

FAQ

Has Warner Bros sued? No. Reports describe a cease-and-desist letter, and no case in court has surfaced, The Hollywood Reporter said.

When does The Vow premiere? Fox Nation will debut it on Nov. 11, Deadline reported.

Who stars in The Vow? Jace Cates, a bachelor who goes on dates with 10 women, Variety reported.

How long is the season? Six episodes, one per week starting with the Nov. 11 debut, Variety said.

Who makes The Bachelor? Warner Bros produces it for ABC, The Hollywood Reporter said.

What did Warner Bros object to? Its letter cited falling rose petals, a man in a tuxedo holding a rose, the ABC show's title on screen and a mansion in the background, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline reported.

How did Fox respond? Fox's Sept. 24 reply said the petals are stock imagery in love stories and that the claims lack merit, Variety reported.