The trite expression “trouble in paradise” took on added meaning this summer when production halted on ABC’s hit reality dating series, Bachelor in Paradise, due to allegations of “sexual misconduct” between cast members Corinne Olympios and DeMario Jackson. And on Tuesday, Aug. 29, Olympios sat down for a special sit-down with Chris Harrison to finally clear the air about the incident.
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Although the allegations against Jackson have since been vacated and the show continues to air (without the pair), there have been conflicting reports about Olympios’ stance. The issue grew even more complicated when Olympios released a statement referring to herself as a victim.
At the start of her sit-down with Harrison, Olympios admitted she was extremely nervous but that she was “doing a lot better.”
When asked specifically about the first day in Paradise and the events leading up to the incident in question, Olympios responded, “The first day, unfortunately, I don’t remember much of. I definitely overdrank. I was also on some medication that you’re not supposed to drink on.”
Olympios didn’t elaborate on what the medication was other than to say she started taking it after her appearance on Nick Viall’s season of The Bachelor.
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When Harrison pointed out that she seemed totally normal to everyone there, Olympios once again alluded to the medication, saying it impairs judgment, among other things. “It can look like you’re totally present and totally there, and your mind is just not anywhere near,” she explained. (She is currently “weaning” herself off that medication.)
The following morning, Olympios says she felt “normal” and she had “no hard feelings” toward Jackson. In fact, they were even filmed eating breakfast in the same group of people. So when producers pulled her aside and halted production, she felt like it was “so crazy.”
Of course, the big question on everyone’s mind is whether or not Olympios actually believes Jackson acted inappropriately during their brief time together in Paradise.
“I honestly don’t feel like he did anything wrong, especially because everybody thought that I was just having fun and being Corinne,” she told Harrison. “There is no way for you guys to know, like, ‘She’s mentally checked out… Corinne is not here right now.’ Which is beyond scary, but you know, that… it is what it is, I guess.”
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She went on to add, “I don’t think it’s anyone’s fault. I just think that is just really, again, an unfortunate, annoying situation that had to go down. It really sucks.”
Olympios did appear to get choked up a bit after viewing clips of Jackson’s emotional interview with Harrison last week. “I don’t blame DeMario,” she reiterated. “I don’t even know what to call it. It’s just so heart-sinking.”
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