Fans of the ABC US dating show Bachelor In Paradise were shocked to learn on Sunday, June 11, that filming on the fourth season had been suspended indefinitely after claims of sexual misconduct on the set spread like wildfire.
According to several reports, former Bachelor and Bachelorette contestants Corinne Olympios and DeMario Jackson were involved in the alleged incident, which reportedly led to a producer filing a formal complaint with Warner Bros.
Scroll down to hear what those involved have said about the situation.
Sources connected to DeMario claim that what happened between him and Corinne was consensual
According to insiders, who spoke to TMZ, DeMario was told that one of the story lines for the upcoming season would involve him and Corinne hooking up. After meeting at the bar, both were allegedly drunk when Corinne started making out with him.
DeMario reportedly said that Corinne suggested they move over to the pool where they didn’t have intercourse, but there was “rubbing, touching and fingering.” The next day, the duo was allegedly getting along fine, but production was shut down after a producer suggested Corinne was too drunk to provide consent.
Since news of the scandal broke, DeMario has alluded to the incident in a series of tweets. When one fan commented, “Sooooo @demariojackson_ you can’t follow me without me asking you…. So what is the truth?,” the 30-year-old responded, “hahahaha.”
And when another person added, “Black women watching you on tv…. WE NEED ANSWERS! Lmaoooo,” he simply said, “ALT FACTS.”
Corinne allegedly claims she was blackout drunk
Sources close to the blonde beauty told TMZ that she did not consent to sexual contact with DeMario, and doesn’t remember anything from that day of filming.
The 24-year-old reportedly told friends that she has a boyfriend, and wouldn’t jeopardize their relationship by getting physical with DeMario. The sources say she blames producers for letting it go that far and has met with lawyers.
Contestants are upset with the way producers handled the situation
“People are pissed, and not just at DeMario. We’re pissed that this whole thing happened,” an unnamed contestant told People magazine.
“They could have seen that she was drinking too much and that he was taking advantage. They could have stopped this before it got this far. But they decided to let it go, and let it happen, and see what happened? So, I’m angry at the show, and everyone else is too.”
