UPDATE: We previously reported that Corinne Olympios and DeMario Jackson would sit down for a joint interview. New reports indicate that is not entirely true.
According to TMZ, each contestant sat down separately with host Chris Harrison to discuss his or her respective side of the story.
Honestly this is probably for the best. Had it been a joint interview, I’m sure there would have been additional drama added to the situation for ratings. I can just picture a lot of fighting, in which the purpose of the interview is lost. It would trivialize a situation that was at one point, a horrifying situation.
We’ll still have to wait and see how it all plays out, but we are breathing a small sigh of relief that it is not actually a joint interview.
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In the never ending story that is the Bachelor in Paradise drama, Entertainment Tonight reports that Corinne Olympios and DeMario Jackson will sit down for a joint interview.
Host Chris Harrison explains that the sit down will allow Corinne and DeMario explain what really went down, especially considering so much speculation went around after the incident. He said,
“First and foremost, I think a lot of people – some people on social media reached out and said we were tone-deaf. And I need people to step back a little bit, wait and watch. All will be explained. Trust me. Have I left you guys hanging before in 16 years? No.”
The interview will air during the two-night season premiere of the show. Neither Olympios nor Jackson returned to the show after the scandal, despite being invited back. Corinne carried out a separate investigation which was reportedly “completed to her satisfaction.” She also states that she “never filed complaints or accusations against anyone associated with Bachelor in Paradise.”
Harrison encourages viewers to wait to hear the explanation before jumping to conclusions and assumptions. He said,
“All will be explained and I really do mean that. I need people to understand this was not a black-and-white, cut-and-dry issue. It’s really – there’s a lot of layers to it. It was very confusing. I went through it and it was confusing. So, trust me. It needs to all play out.”
We still have our reservations, as anything involving possible sexual assault should obviously not be taken lightly. It all feels a little exploitative — and by “a little,” we mean a lot. Corinne does not recall the events of the night so we can just imagine how the producers will try to spin this and manipulate her.
Yes, it’s true that Corinne agreed to come on air, but we just hope she will be allowed to explain her side and that the show does not make light of what had the potential to be a very serious issue.
Although BiP conducted an investigation into the situation, Corinne launched an independent investigation through her lawyers. Last month she said that it had been completed to her satisfaction and that changes had been made to BiP production, but gave no details beyond that. She added,
“I felt victimized by the fact that others were judging me through conflicting and unsubstantiated reports, while I myself had no recollection of the events that transpired.”
Unfortunately, Corinne is not alone. Plenty of women are assaulted and yet have no recollection of the event. For Bachelor in Paradise to claim the matter is closed when the victim cannot even give her own account is unfathomable.
We realize The Bachelor team wants to get their moneys worth from this scandal, but we hope they realize this is a real human who is facing her attacker. We urge them to treat the matter appropriately and respect Corinne’s most-likely complicated feelings on the incident and to truly let her speak her peace.
The season of BiP will still air, however, neither Corinne nor DeMario returned to finish filming the season.
