It seems The Bachelorette’s ‘gay’ hunks were in on the whole stunt. Picture: ABC Source: Supplied

The men, JJ Lane and Clint Arlis, are currently competing on the dating show to win the heart of Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe, but have now been dubbed “Brokeback Bachelors”, thanks to a misleading promo spruiking next week’s episode.

Clint admits in the clip, “Falling in love with a man never crossed my mind.” The 27-year-old architectural engineer then says that he and JJ have “grown very close to each other in the shower.”

ABC’s official teaser promises viewers: “This Brokeback Bachelor will blow your mind.”

But TMZ is reporting the promo for the reality series is nothing but a shameless publicity stunt to boost ratings and that the competing male suitors are definitely straight as arrows.

The website reports the pair did have a bromance while attempting to woo Kaitlyn, but “nothing gay ever happened” — not even in the shower.

Sources say the contestants are in on the ‘Brokeback Bachelors’ act, and even supplied the producers with sound bites to run with.

The blokes have certainly been enjoying the extra attention following Monday night’s episode and have both taken to social media to address the homosexual suggestions.

Clint even compared himself to Heath Ledger in a tweet overnight.

JJ, a 32-year-old former investment banker, shared the below photo with his followers on Instagram.

He captioned the pic: “The Maroon Bells / Aspen just isn’t the same without Clint @turtleconvertible #BrokebackBachelor #MissYouClint #Aspen #FormerInvestmentBanker @tanner_tolbert.”

It’s shaping up to be a dramatic 11th season of the US dating show. During episode one, a male suitor was booted off the show after he got drunk at the cocktail party and made a rape joke.

Meanwhile, filming of the debut season of The Bachelorette Australia is in full swing in Sydney and is due to air on Channel 10 later this year.

It’s unlikely our local version will be quite as scandalous as its US counterpart, given contestants are banned from both social media and alcohol. Probably for the best.

US Bachelorette star Kaitlyn Bristowe. Source: Splash News Australia