‘Bachelor’ Lawsuit: Is This the End of Reality Steve’s ‘Bachelor’ Spoilers?

Producers of ABC's "The Bachelor" have reportedly slapped a lawsuit on a reality TV blogger-- and it could signal the end of the website's spoilers.

According to the Hollywood Reporter "Bachelor" blogger Steve Carbone allegedly used questionable tactics in order to get spoilers for his website, Realitysteve.com.

Carbone is alleged to have offered a " Bachelor" contestant a monetary incentive to entice her to breach her iron-clad contract with the show, reportedly emailing her: "I swear, this is the easiest money you'd ever make and you and I are the only two people that would know." He also allegedly followed up with the offer, "$2500 to help me out. Not joking. "

Reality Steve has long contended that he gets spoilers from multiple sources each season-and that they usually come to him with the information and not the other way around. In the past he has also boasted that since he does not have a contract with ABC, his spoilers are not in violation of anything.

Indeed, since he himself is not in breach of any contract with ABC, does the lawsuit hold any water?

The blogger responded to the hoopla with this statement on his website: "I have not been served a lawsuit, nor have I even seen this lawsuit, so I have no specific comment at this time."

But he did include a series of communications to opposing counsel from his lawyer, which state his legal position. The statements from Carbone's lawyer said, in part:

"For your clients to sue Mr. Carbone would be unnecessary- at best a waste of the parties time and expense and at worst, an illegal slap action attempting to deny Mr. Carbone's First Amendment rights. Thus, any such suit would be responded to accordingly. We urge you and your clients to reconsider their position."

With Season 16 of "The Bachelor" set to debut next month, Reality Steve has already posted multiple spoilers for the season, revealing "Bachelor" Ben Flajnik's final four picks. It was expected that he would reveal Flajnik's final lady before the show's premiere as well as an episode-by-episode breakdown of the entire season.

Now fans of the site will have to make do with what may be his last spoiler for a while-- and for the first time in seasons, may actually not know who the final pick is until the show's finale night.

"The Bachelor" Season 16 premieres on January 2 on ABC.