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New 'Bachelor In Paradise' Allegations Are Disturbing

by Korey Lane

As you've probably heard by now, whether you like it or not, production of the reality show Bachelor in Paradise was shut down this week following reports of misconduct. While the official statement from Warner Bros. acknowledges the issue, not much more official information has been given, though much speculation has taken place. So far, all that has been confirmed is that something inappropriate allegedly happened between two contestants. Now, an alleged account from a Bachelor In Paradise crew member, unconfirmed by any spokespersons at ABC or Warner Bros., has provided the most disturbing claims yet, if they turn out to be true.

(Trigger warning: this post contains descriptions of an alleged incident of sexual assault that some readers may find troubling.)

The alleged crew member, who spoke anonymously to The Daily Mail this week, added another troubling — and, as a reminder, unconfirmed — aspect to the story that outsiders already know. Previously, reports claimed that cast member Corinne Olympios had been drunk during the incident in question and was unable to give consent when she and fellow cast member DeMario Jackson entered a hot tub during filming and allegedly began to engage in some sort of sexual interaction. Now, though, The Daily Mail source is claiming that Olympios was allegedly unconscious during the encounter. Romper has reached out to Warner Bros. for comments on these latest claims, and is awaiting a response.

According to the unidentified source, Olympios and Jackson were both drunk when they got into the hot tub. "Corinne proceeded to remove her bathing suit and things got increasingly sexual," the crew member claimed. And while Jackson has allegedly denied having intercourse with Olympios, the source recalled the alleged events differently:

There was hugging and kissing and touching, but before long, she seemed to go limp and was sliding under water. Demario kept trying to hold her up and at the same time he appeared to be having intercourse with her. After he finished – which only lasted a few seconds – he lifted her out of the water and laid her on the cement, where he proceeded to have oral sex with her.

As previously mentioned, none of these claims have yet been confirmed by Warner Bros. or ABC spokespersons, and so far remain unfounded.

While these statements remain uncorroborated, Olympios' latest official statement on the matter seems to verify that something bad may have indeed happened on set. "I am a victim and have spent the last week trying to make sense of what happened the night of June 4," she told Entertainment Tonight. Her statement continued:

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.

Of the two contestants thought to be involved in the alleged incident, only Olympios has released an official statement about what happened.

More details regarding what went down on the Bachelor in Paradise set will likely be revealed in time, but if any of the information leaked to The Daily Mail are true, then legal matters will become that much more necessary.