Updated June 22, 6:00 a.m. PT: If there is one person in Corinne Olympios’ life who remains entirely in her corner no matter what, it is her boyfriend Johnny Gielchinsky. While Olympios’ lawyers have stated their intention to continue a private investigation into the alleged incident involving Olympios and DeMario Jackson during filming on Bachelor in Paradise, Gielchinsky spoke exclusively to E! News about his unwavering support of his girlfriend.
“I have known Corinne for over 10 years and as a friend or boyfriend, she will continue to receive my unwavering loyalty and support until I decide that there is a legitimate reason not to give it,” he told E!. Gielchinsky continued, dispelling any previous claims from news outlets about his thoughts on the incident and Olympios’ involvement in it. “Anything the public may perceive that is coming from me is pure speculation,” he stated. “There is an ongoing inquiry that must follow a course to its conclusion before I can fully comment.” He went on to add, “I pay very little attention to the media and try to ignore all the conjecture surrounding my relationship with Corinne. The only two people who know the true disposition of our relationship is Corinne and I.”
Gielchinsky and Olympios reportedly began dating just prior to her signing on to Bachelor in Paradise, although it would appear (according to his statement) that they have known each other for years. This would indicate that Olympios has someone good and trustworthy in her corner, which one might imagine she would want and need at this time in her life.
Updated June 21, 8:00 a.m. PT: Despite Warner Bros. announcement that an internal investigation revealed no misconduct on the set of Bachelor in Paradise, Corinne Olympios’ legal team is continuing an investigation of its own.
“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,” Olympios’ lawyer, Marty Singer, said in a statement. “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.”
Meanwhile, Warner Bros. says production will pick back up for Season 4 of the series, though cast members say they haven’t heard any details about returning to filming.
“We were kept in the dark, we met with lawyers just like we do every time,” Robby Hayes, a Season 4 cast member, told Entertainment Tonight. “We were told it could pick back up. There’s just a bunch of stuff on the legal side that they have to take care of first and that they are doing it for our safety, for our concern, because the cast is their primary concern.”
Hayes continued, “I wasn’t sure if they were going to bring Paradise back, replace Paradise with a different more domestic type show, or just have nothing. I’m going to wait on, definitely moving forward on it, until I hear from a producer, from the actual mouth that it’s happening. But it’s crazy.”
Hayes also mentioned that it’s a possibility that Olympios and DeMario Jackson, the other party involved in the rumored sexual misconduct, could return to the show.
Hayes said he wasn’t “gonna rule it out if they bring [Olympios and Jackson back to BIP] for some final comments, but I don’t think they should [return].”
Olympios and Jackson have both hired lawyers, but neither has filed a complaint due to the incident.
Updated June 20, 6:30 p.m. PT: We’ve barely had time to digest the announcement that Bachelor in Paradise is resuming production, but the news apparently never sleeps in Bachelor Nation — according to People, ABC is frantically scrambling to find new contestants for the rebooted season.
In interviews with three former cast members, People discovered that several of the original contestants opted not to return to BIP despite ABC greenlighting the tainted season.
As a result, the network has allegedly been reaching out to other former cast members fishing for new faces for the season. “It was presented as a new adventure,” one of these former contestants told People.
The sources say that they were told they must have availability next week, but they were given no actual date for filming.
Updated June 20, 11:00 a.m. PT: There’s been some stunning news out of the Bachelor in Paradise camp today as we are now learning that Bachelor in Paradise will resume production following the serious allegations of sexual misconduct and consent violation against BiP contestant Corinne Olympios. The Hollywood Reporter, one of the first outlets to publish a full rundown of this news, reported that Warner Bros. found no evidence of misconduct on the BiP set.
Warner Bros. official statement on the matter reads thus: “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.”
This is a shocking conclusion to what has been an incredibly tumultuous time for all involved with BiP. Just last week, both Olympios and contestant DeMario Jackson (who were both at the heart of the allegations of misconduct) had reportedly secured lawyers. Additionally, Olympios’ legal team was denied access to the tapes of the incident in question by Warner Bros., which makes the studio’s investigation conclusion all the more disheartening; what might have been uncovered if this had not just been an internal investigation?
It’s still unknown whether the show will stick to the previously schedule premiere date of August 8 or whether Olympios and Jackson will be involved at all in any further filming.
Updated June 15, 7 p.m. PT: In the midst of the firestorm following allegations of misconduct on the Bachelor in Paradise Season 4 set, Us Weekly has obtained a press release revealing real-life repercussions for DeMario Jackson.
As outlined in the release, Jackson told Inside Edition that he has been fired from his job as an executive recruiter in the wake of the troubling accusations. However, the 30-year-old underscored that he does not hold Corinne Olympios accountable for the job loss.
“I don’t blame anyone right now. All I want is the tapes,” he said, referring to video footage of the alleged incident at the heart of the misconduct investigation.
Updated June 15, 2 p.m. PT: An anonymous crew member from Bachelor in Paradise has described the alleged incident between Corinne Olympios and DeMario Jackson that shut down the show’s production, and it is truly horrifying.
(Trigger warning: Graphic depiction of sexual assault)
“Corinne and Demario found out when they arrived in Mexico that the story line would involve the two of them hooking up so they decided to hang out and get better acquainted over drinks,” the insider said. “Soon they decided to go swimming and then they climbed into the Jacuzzi, they were both loaded. Corinne proceeded to remove her bathing suit and things got increasingly sexual. 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. She appeared to be unconscious. At that point some of the crew came out and carried her off to her room. She was limp and seemed unable to walk on her own.”
The source continued, “One of the things that really disturbed people was that no one called a doctor or paramedic, which some felt they should have. Instead someone made the decision to just let her sleep it off. When Corinne awoke the next morning, people began filling her in on what happened the night before, because she claimed to have absolutely no recollection of what transpired.”
Jackson still denies any wrongdoing. In text message screenshots reportedly of a conversation between Jackson and a friend, he claims the footage from that night will exonerate him. Both he and Olympios have hired lawyers and seem to be gearing up for a battle.
Updated June 15, 3:55 a.m. PT: Mere hours after news broke that Corinne Olympios had retained the services of powerful Hollywood lawyer Marty Singer as the investigation into the allegations of sexual assault on Bachelor in Paradise deepen, the other major figure in this case has spoken out.
Late on Wednesday evening, DeMario Jackson released a statement to E! News about his own current feelings about the events of this incident. “It’s unfortunate that my character and family name has been assassinated this past week with false claims and malicious allegations,” Jackson told E! News in a statement via his publicist, Eve Sarkisyan-Nunn. “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.”
Jackson has maintained his innocence in light of accusations about his behavior on the Bachelor in Paradise set since the news broke. Earlier on Wednesday, SheKnows also reported that Jackson’s first actual statements to the press were actually to a group of paparazzi, who caught up with Jackson outside a local Starbucks. There, he gave no comment except to say how wonderful a person Olympios is.
With news that Jackson has lawyered up, it appears the case around this Bachelor in Paradise incident is showing no signs of slowing down.
Updated June 14, 12:30 p.m. PT: Corinne Olympios has released a statement about the halting of production on her season of Bachelor in Paradise, and in it, she confirmed our worst fears: What happened on set was something terrible and damaging.
“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,” Olympios’ statement read.
She 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.”
If Olympios doesn’t even remember the night in question, it basically confirms early rumors that the sexual encounter she had was not consensual. A woman who is blacked out drunk cannot consent, period.
Olympios’ lawyer is top Hollywood lawyer Marty Singer, a ferocious litigator who has represented countless stars through scandal.
DeMario Jackson, the other BIP star implicated in the event on set, has already maintained his innocence, and claimed that the footage shot by the producers who stood by and watched Olympios’ alleged assault take place will clear his name.
The whole situation is ugly and heartbreaking, and its repercussions are sure to ripple through Bachelor Nation for some time. In the meantime, our hearts are with Olympios, who is in the midst of an experience no woman should have to endure.
Updated June 14, 8:15 a.m. PT: DeMario Jackson has broken his silence — except not really.
For the first time since Bachelor in Paradise production was shut down over allegations of sexual misconduct, Jackson was spotted by paparazzi on his way out of a Starbucks in Los Angeles and asked about the constantly developing rumors surrounding the show.
His reply? “No comment,” he told reporters. He did add, “I have nothing to say. You know, Corinne’s an awesome girl and that’s all I have to say. Love you all, thank you for the support.”
A source close to Jackson told Entertainment Tonight that footage will tell a different story than the headlines have.
“He’s definitely said a few times that based on his conversations with other cast mates who were there that they never felt like it was to the level it’s being portrayed,” the insider said. “DeMario feels the footage [from the show] will back up his side.”
Updated June 13, 7:50 a.m. PT: The King of Bachelor Nation himself, Chris Harrison, has finally spoken out about the rumors surrounding Bachelor in Paradise, and he’s honestly putting our minds a little more at ease, considering how disturbing some of those rumors have been.
“By now, no doubt, you have heard that we have suspended production on this season’s Bachelor in Paradise,” Harrison’s statement began. “I can confirm to you that this is sadly the case. Out of respect to all involved, there’s only so much I can and will say at this time. Normally with a situation like this I would not say anything until the incident is fully resolved, but with all the rumors and misinformation being put out there, I don’t find that to be possible anymore.”
Harrison continued, “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.”
Harrison also briefly addressed press reports about the incident, specifically saying at least some of what’s in the headlines is misinformation. “There are a lot of competing details in the various press accounts of the incident,” he said. “And there’s a lot of misinformation out there too. We urge everyone to be patient until the investigation is complete.”
He concluded, “I know in this day and age we want — and even expect — immediate answers, but in this case, it’s just not possible. So again, I urge you to please be patient and respect the privacy of the parties involved. I will keep you as informed and up to date as I possibly can. We’re sorry for any inconvenience and disappointment this may have caused the cast, the crew and our loyal fans. It is my sincere hope that we can come to a quick resolution on this and get back to work very soon.”
Now we just hope that Harrison isn’t sugarcoating this situation.
Updated June 12, 10:00 a.m. PT: New reports are coming out about Bachelor in Paradise and rumors that the season has been canceled following “sexual misconduct” on the set.
People magazine reports that two separate sources, including an anonymous contestant from Season 4, have said producers filmed DeMario Jackson in a sexual encounter with Corinne Olympios while she was allegedly too drunk to consent. “The show absolutely values the primacy of consent, and this instance it appears as though conduct allegedly occurred without the proper consent having been given,” a production source told the site.
A cast member from the show claimed that two other contestants saw the incident happen and said that cast members are upset producers didn’t stop filming or intervene. “People are pissed, and not just at DeMario. We’re pissed that this whole thing happened,” the unnamed contestant told People. “They could have seen that she was drinking too much and that he was taking advantage. They could have stopped this before it got this far. But they decided to let it go, and let it happen, and see what happened? So, I’m angry at the show, and everyone else is too.”
Multiple sources have said that Warner Bros. is investigating the alleged incident. People reached out to Mexican police, who were not aware of any incident on set.
Meanwhile, some former BIP cast members have weighed in, including Robby Hayes and Chad Johnson. In retrospect, their comments about the incident are anything but comforting.
https://twitter.com/RobbyHHayes/status/874261411978981376
“What happens in paradise, stays in paradise. #NoComment #BIP4,” Hayes wrote, showing a shocking disregard for the sensitive and traumatic nature of the sexual assault investigation that could be happening.
Johnson’s reactions, however, appear to be much worse. On his Twitter, he made a couple of callous jokes and alluded to his own misconduct that got him removed from Season 3 of Bachelor in Paradise.
“I’m excited for The Bachelor in Pornadise,” he wrote, adding, “TV Shows I’ve been on – 4… TV Shows I’ve messed up so bad that they had to stop filming – 0”
https://twitter.com/realChadJohnson/status/874121266495537152
https://twitter.com/realChadJohnson/status/874126816125964288
Our thoughts are with Olympios, and here’s hoping the rest of Bachelor Nation can keep their mouths shut unless they have support to offer her.
Updated June 12, 2017, 5:20 a.m. PT: Following the unexpected reports of misconduct on the set of Bachelor in Paradise, which resulted in a full shutdown of production, new reports on the exact cause of the misconduct are now being revealed.
Entertainment Tonight has confirmed that Olympios and Jackson’s alleged sexual misconduct on the BIP set led to a total shut down on filming. According to an ET source’s recollection of the events leading to the shutdown, things were going as expected in the first days of filming. Arrivals went smoothly, filming went smoothly and so forth. The cast was, as the source says, “drinking all day, having a good time… the guys and girls were bopping around, talking to everyone, trying to make connections.'”
Then, during what sounds like a filmed mixer or meet-and-greet between the cast, the alleged incident occurred. The source revealed to ET that Jackson was in the pool when he was approached by Olympios. The two reportedly began chatting, then Olympios may have “hop[ped] onto [Jackson’s] lap” at which time things got very sexy. Maybe a little too sexy.
Jackson and Olympios’ actions reportedly made a BIP producer feel uncomfortable to the point that filming was halted and then the decision was made for filming to be postponed altogether. There is still no word at this time on whether Jackson or Olympios will face any serious repercussions for their actions or if filming will resume at a later date. ET‘s report indicates that Jackson reached out to Olympios via social media and the two may have reconciled about the incident. No other cast members are on record at this time about the incident.
Warner Bros. did release a statement about the BIP incident, which Us Weekly reports says, “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.”
[A previous portion of this update to the story has been edited for sensitivity. It was written before the more specific details of the allegations of misconduct were learned and upon further reflection, it was insensitive given the severity of the allegations.]
Original story:
A concerning start to the week this Sunday as Bachelor in Paradise — spinoff of the Bachelor and Bachelorette franchises, where the “losers” from previous season hook up and cause drama on an island somewhere — has halted shooting of Season 4 due to “allegations of misconduct on the set,” according to a statement issued by Warner Bros. The show has a release date of Aug. 8, but all dates are subject to change with this stoppage.
More: Bachelor in Paradise Releases Full Cast List & Guys, DeMario Is Going
“We have suspended production,” the Warner Bros. statement continued. “We are conducting a thorough investigation of these allegations. Once the investigation is complete, we will take appropriate responsive action.”
The cast members of this season were released just last week, and shooting had started after that at a resort in Sayulita, Mexico. So what could have happened? Rumors have started that the incident was between Corinne Olympios, the infamous villain from Nick Viall’s season, and DeMario Jackson, the infamous idiot who joined the cast of this season of the Bachelorette while he had a girlfriend.
More:The Bachelor‘s Amanda Stanton Is Officially Ditching Josh & Heading to Paradise
This detective work as to who was involved comes from Reality Steve, aka Steve Carbone, who regularly spoils reality shows on his blog. He tweeted a photo that was sent to him by a fan, who snapped the picture at the airport after meeting the whole cast.
Here's most of the cast at the airport an hour ago. Being told they're being flown to Houston. Still don't know what's going on pic.twitter.com/eNgGp0tyZ1
— RealitySteve (@RealitySteve) June 11, 2017
The whole cast — except Olympios and Jackson.
More: Ben Higgins Basically Tells Haters to Back Off in the Most Polite Way Possible
It’s unlikely that anything but a proper, legal statement will be released by BIP, ABC, and/or Warner Bros., but it is concerning that two notorious cast members and villains would be involved so early into shooting. Here’s to hoping something is smoothed over for a fun season of nonstop sexual energy on a beach.
“We have become aware of allegations of misconduct on the set of Bachelor in Paradise in Mexico,” Warner Bros. told Us in a statement on Sunday. “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.”
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