UnReal
EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT THE BACHELOR IN PARADISE SCANDAL SO FAR
In the span of a single week, the scandal surrounding what happened on the set of ABC reality series Bachelor in Paradise has spun into countless sordid tales and rampant rumours. So let’s break down exactly what Bachelor in Paradise is, what happened, who is involved and what — allegedly — happened.
WHAT IS BACHELOR IN PARADISE?
Although The Bachelor and The Bachelorette have been longrunning reality series and essentially household names since the former debuted in 2002, Bachelor in Paradise is still a fledgling spinoff in the franchise. Currently in its fourth season, the show follows 16 castoffs from previous seasons of The Bachelor and Bachelorette as they attempt to find love with each other on a beach in any given tropical location ( this year’s being Sayulita, Mexico), so hot that it requires the least amount of clothing and the most amount of drinking possible.
Consider it a last chance at love ... for losers.
WHO IS INVOLVED?
This season features franchise “villains,” including Corinne Olympios, 25, who was eliminated from Bachelor Nick Viall’s season earlier this year, and DeMario Jackson, 30, who was recently eliminated from Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay’s season ( in an explosive moment after it was discovered that he had a girlfriend at home who he had walked out on for the show). Both have been considered particularly chaotic personalities (in other words, built for great TV).
According to the L. A. Times, upon entering the set of Bachelor in Paradise this month, the two were informed by production that one of the “storylines” this season would be their coupling. In other words, they were encouraged by those making the show to spend time together and make TV magic.
WHAT HAPPENED?
On June 4, the first day of filming, Olympios and Jackson spent time together, drinking and flirting. There was then a sexual encounter between the two that led from the bar to the pool on the set. What exactly transpired has been mired in rumours, but we do know, as reported by TMZ, that a producer suspected “misconduct” and reported the alleged sexual assault to Warner Bros. However, it’s unclear whether this producer actually witnessed the incident, watched footage of it or was reporting what she heard from another party. Either way, her report has led to an investigation by Warner Bros., and it has been confirmed that whatever happened was caught on tape.
According to several sources that spoke to Vulture, the complaint alleges that Olympios appeared to be too drunk during filming to consent to Jackson in the pool. The question here is whether, despite the producer’s initial complaint, the crew allowed the moment to play out anyway, leading the producer to believe Olympios was sexually assaulted.
Other sources, via The Hollywood Reporter, have said Olympios appeared “lucid” the entire time.
Whatever the case, production was suspended a week later and contestants have since been sent home. In a statement, Warner Bros. said: “We have become aware of allegations of misconduct on the set of Bachelor in Paradise in Mexico. 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.”
As of now, no charges have been filed and the investigation remains internal, and will likely take one to two weeks.
WHAT HAS BEEN SAID?
Since returning home, Olympios has hired a top publicist and lawyer, and released the following statement: “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.”
According to TMZ, Jackson was denying any wrongdoing on his part, and had been insisting the studio leak the tape to prove this. Shortly after Olympios released her statement, he made his own 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.”
Franchise host Chris Harrison also released a statement on Monday in an effort to put the rumours to bed: “Let me start by saying the safety and care of the cast and crew of our show is of the utmost importance to us. It is with this thought in mind that we made the decision to suspend filming. An investigation into the situation was started immediately. Warner Bros. is handling the details of that investigation. They’re moving quickly to gather all the facts, and once that’s done a clear concise decision can be made about where we go from here. There are a lot of competing details in the various press accounts of the incident. And there’s a lot of misinformation out there too. We urge everyone to be patient until the investigation is complete.”
WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE SHOW?
ABC has yet to confirm whether the current season will eventually resume filming. Its premiere is still set for August 8, but the season itself was scheduled to film through the month of June. With the cast having been sent home ( and told they “might” return), it’s difficult to see how they would still be able to meet the scheduled airdate after delayed filming.
What that means for the series itself is up in the air. The death knell will be if advertisers choose to pull out, and that certainly isn’t unheard of when scandal comes calling on a TV series. And what it all means for The Bachelorette, which is currently airing on the network on Monday nights, is also unclear. While this may all be a dark mark on the franchise itself, it’s hard to see the network choosing to depart with the long- running and very successful series. Besides, where would Chris Harrison go?
WHY DOES THIS ALL MAKE ME FEEL GROSS INSIDE?
What reality TV offers — and in particular, a series like the Bachelor franchise — is manipulated drama of the juiciest degree. The production teams behind these shows know that better than anyone; just take a look at the series UnReal. Created by a former Bachelor producer, the scripted series follows the sordid hijinks behind the scenes of a Bachelor-like reality series where contestants are prompted and pushed into troubling situations that make for better TV.
We’re mostly aware that this type of manipulation occurs, but we suspend our knowledge to enjoy all the debauched details that a typical episode of reality television offers.
This behaviour isn’t exclusive to enjoying guilty pleasure TV. We often choose to ignore or overlook problematic behaviour until the very moment it comes to its logical conclusion. At that point, we throw our arms up in disbelief and appear to be disgusted at inappropriate conduct that we should have anticipated all along — and acted to stop long before it finally occurs.
It was only a matter of time until something like this happened on the Bachelor franchise and it’s very likely it’s happened before — particularly if the key issue in this scandal turns out to be a production crew that chose to look the other way when they knew exactly what was playing out in front of them.
So, we feel gross about these allegations and rumours because we’re somewhat complicit. No, we might not have been egging anyone along.
But we were watching in hopes that something salacious would occur.