A 'Bachelor In Paradise' Contestant Speaks Out About The Shutdown

On Sunday, June 11, Bachelor fans were shocked to learn that filming of Season 4 of Bachelor In Paradise would be shutdown due to "allegations of misconduct" reportedly involving two of the cast members. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter Warner Bros. confirmed that production was suspended:

We have suspended production and we are conducting a thorough investigation of these allegations. Once the investigation is complete, we will take appropriate responsive action.

Update: In a video posted by TMZ, Jackson says "no comment" in response to numerous questions about the alleged incident. Asked if he's upset about reports alleging that Olympios claims she did not give consent, Jackson responded, ""No, no. I'm all good."

Update #2: On Wednesday, June 14, Corinne Olympios' rep released a statement about the Bachelor In Paradise allegations to Bustle:

“I am a victim and have spent the last week trying to make sense of what happened on June 4. Although I have little memory of that night, something bad obviously took place, which I understand is why production on the show has now been suspended and a producer on the show has filed a complaint against the production. As a woman, this is my worst nightmare and it has now become my reality. As I pursue the details and facts surrounding that night and the immediate days after, I have retained a group of professionals to ensure that what happened on June 4 comes to light and I can continue my life, including hiring an attorney to obtain justice and seeking therapy to begin dealing with the physical and emotional trauma stemming from that evening.”

Update #3: On the evening of Wednesday, June 14, Jackson released a statement about Olympios' allegations to E! News:

"It's unfortunate that my character and family name has been assassinated this past week with false claims and malicious allegations. I will be taking swift and appropriate legal action until my name is cleared and, per the advice of legal counsel, will be seeking all available remedies entitled to me under the laws."

Update #4: On June 20, an ABC spokesperson provided the following statement to Bustle:

“We appreciate the swift and complete investigation by Warner Bros. into allegations of misconduct on the set of ‘Bachelor in Paradise.’ Given their results, the series will resume production, and will air this summer on ABC.”

Warner Bros.' statement to Bustle read,

"As we previously stated, we recently became aware of allegations regarding an incident on the set of Bachelor in Paradise in Mexico. We take all such allegations seriously. The safety, security and well-being of the cast and crew is our number one concern, and we suspended filming so that the allegations could be investigated immediately and thoroughly. Our internal investigation, conducted with the assistance of an outside law firm, has now been completed. Out of respect for the privacy interests of those involved, we do not intend to release the videotape of the incident. We can say, however, that the tape does not support any charge of misconduct by a cast member. Nor does the tape show, contrary to many press reports, that the safety of any cast member was ever in jeopardy. Production on this season of Bachelor in Paradise will be resuming, and we plan to implement certain changes to the show’s policies and procedures to enhance and further ensure the safety and security of all participants.”

Update #5: On Tuesday, Corinne Olympios' lawyer Martin Singer released a statement to Bustle that read,

“It needs to be made crystal clear that production of 'Bachelor in Paradise' was shut down because of multiple complaints received from 'BIP' producers and crew members on the set. It was not shut down due to any complaint filed by Corinne against anyone. It comes as no surprise that Warner Bros., as a result of its own internal Investigation, would state that no wrong doing had occurred. Our own investigation will continue based on multiple new witnesses coming forward revealing what they saw and heard.”

Earlier: Throughout Monday, many past contestants and contestants from this particular season have been offering their messages of support and any insight that they could give fans as to what happened. Exact details have not be shared, but an anonymous contestant shared their story with People about how filming shutting down occurred. The contestant understandably chose to remain anonymous, but painted quite the story of the situation as it unfolded, and it sounds like many of the contestants were shocked.

The source claimed,

“We were told to stay in a certain part of the [resort] while they figured out what the hell had happened. 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.”

According to People, there was allegedly a sexual incident that involved contestant DeMario Jackson and an unidentified female contestant in which the female contestant allegedly may not have been able to give consent. According to TMZ's reports, this female contestant is Corrine Olympios. TMZ has reported that sources close to Olympios claim that she was not able to give consent, but allegedly doesn't "fully blame" Jackson, because, like her, he was allegedly drunk. Reportedly, she allegedly feels production should have stepped in. TMZ also reported that sources close to Jackson alleged that he and Olympios did engage in oral sex, but that things were fine the next day until a producer allegedly filed a complaint regarding the alleged incident. Bustle has reached out to Jackson and Olympios for comment, but has not yet received a response.

The contestant speaking to People continued,

“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. On Thursday, one of the camera guys told me that they were probably going to shut down production. I didn’t realize that it was that serious until then. I was like, ‘wait, they’re thinking of canceling the show?’ It hadn’t even crossed my mind that they’d do that.”

The contestant claimed that the possibility of filming again for this season is unlikely:

“[The producer] was like, ‘I don’t think that’s realistic.' 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.”

The source claimed that the other cast members thought that the situation should have been stopped before it got this far, because many of them had quit their jobs and planned this show far in advance. Still, even while they were on set, the source said that many things weren't known. They said, “I don’t know everything that happened. Obviously I didn’t suffer like other people are suffering, but still. It just sucks.”

All in all, it sounds like a very difficult and heavy situation for everyone that has been involved. Hopefully a resolution can be found quickly and safely.