Everything we know about the Bachelor in Paradise scandal so far
week later and contestants were sent home. As of now, no charges have been filed and the investigation by Warner Bros. remains internal, and will likely take one to two weeks.
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.”
ABC has yet to confirm whether the current season will resume filming. With the cast having been sent home (told they “might” return), the scheduled airdate for the premiere, Aug. 8, is dubious. 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?