One of the contestants who was not involved in the alleged 'misconduct' says it's unlikely that the production will resume, while Corinne Olympios blames producers for not protecting her.
- Jun 13, 2017
AceShowbiz - One of "Bachelor in Paradise" stars has spoken up after production on the fourth season in Mexico was suspended due to alleged "misconduct." The contestant, who agreed to speak with PEOPLE on the condition of anonymity, reveals how they were informed about the suspension.
The cast was put on lockdown on Tuesday, June 6, just days after they arrived in Mexico for the filming. "We were told to stay in a certain part of the [resort] while they figured out what the hell had happened," the source says. "We knew something bad had happened; there was a dark energy that came around the house. You have to understand that we weren't even there a week. The game hadn't even really begun yet."
The contestant continues, "They stopped taping anything, and we were just kind of there, waiting in limbo. We couldn't talk to each other about what we knew." The contestant only realized how serious it was after a camera guy told him/her that "they were probably going to shut down production." The contestant adds, "I was like, 'wait, they're thinking of canceling the show?' It hadn't even crossed my mind that they'd do that."
The producers broke the news the following day. The contestant recalls, "One of them was crying. She told us that it was over and we'd all be going home." The contestant also says it's unlikely that the production will resume. "[The producer] was like, 'I don't think that's realistic,' " says the contestant.
"She said that there was an investigation going on, and that could take days, weeks or even months. And by that time, we all have lives and jobs and things to go back to, so it just wasn't going to work out. They told us that we'd be considered for future seasons and opportunities in the franchise, but that this adventure was probably over."
As for how the contestants reacted to the announcement, the contestant shares, "We're pissed that this whole thing happened. They could have stopped this before it got this far." The contestant adds, "We all feel used. We're pissed off. People had planned their lives around this. Contestants quit their jobs for this. We all had to step away from our real lives for three weeks."
After being sent home, the contestants are still in contact with each other and discussing the incident in private social media groups. "I don't know everything that happened," the contestant says. "Obviously I didn't suffer like other people are suffering, but still. It just sucks."
Meanwhile, EW reports that the show is not doomed yet. ABC Entertainment Group President Channing Dungey tells the site, "Warner Horizon produces the show so we have to wait for them to conclude their investigation before any next steps."
It was previously reported that the alleged "misconduct" involved DeMario Jackson from "The Bachelorette" season 13 and Corinne Olympios from "The Bachelor" season 21. According to DeMario's version of what went down, they engaged in sexual act in the pool with the cameras rolling after getting drunk.
Now sources close to Corinne share her side of the story. The sources tell TMZ that Corinne was too drunk to remember what happened that day when she ended up naked in the swimming pool with DeMario. Several cast member told her the next day that "they had voiced concern to people on the production crew that she was in no position to consent to sexual activity, but the crew did not heed their warnings."
Production sources, on the other hand, "insist other cast members did not complain to anyone that Corinne was too drunk to form an intent to have sexual contact with DeMario." Corinne told her friends that she has a boyfriend and wouldn't have done such sexual act, especially with the cameras rolling, to jeopardize her relationship.
Corinne blames producers for not pulling the plug and protecting her, although she allegedly appeared to be lucid and fully engaged in the footage. She doesn't blame DeMario because he was drunk, too. She has consulted with lawyer about the incident.
