I'm Still Going to Watch Bachelor in Paradise, Despite the Controversy

I'll always have a soft spot for The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, but my love for Bachelor in Paradise has grown immensely over the years. While the flagship shows are (supposedly) more serious in nature, Bachelor in Paradise is deliberately ridiculous. From the '90s sitcom-style intro to the way reflective contestants look like they're talking to raccoons, lizards, and other animals, the editing is brilliant. It's the perfect remedy to the solemn rose ceremonies of The Bachelor. We're already familiar with all the personalities, and now it's just a matter of who will clash and who will make out in front of everyone in the hot tub. What could go wrong?

A lot, apparently.

On June 11, Warner Bros. announced that production on Bachelor in Paradise was suspended due to "allegations of misconduct." A writer for The Los Angeles Times tweeted that her source said Corinne Olympios and DeMario Jackson got "extremely drunk" and had an encounter that was basically "soft-core porn" in the pool. A producer didn't show up for work the next day and eventually filed a complaint about misconduct, spurring allegations of sexual assault and questions of consent. The entire cast was flown home, and both Corinne and DeMario released their own statements about the incident, with Corinne definitively saying she is a victim. On June 20, Warner Bros. confirmed that they had reviewed the tapes, and nothing they saw supported any claims of misconduct. Not only are they restarting production on the season, but DeMario has been invited to return as a cast member.

This isn't necessarily one of those situations where we'll just never know — because this was all caught on tape for a reality show. Warner Bros. isn't releasing the tape (for now), but one would assume that if that footage contained evidence that Corinne was sexually assaulted, it would come to light. But that's not what's happening. Not only is Warner Bros. restarting production, they've invited DeMario back as a cast member. What does this mean?

Evan Bass, who famously found love with Carly Waddell on the show last Summer, downplayed the incident in his column for The Hollywood Reporter: "I've talked with several cast members who were on-site, and from their perspectives, this was not anywhere close to what's being portrayed in the media. The overwhelming theme from the cast is that although these allegations should be taken seriously, the actual events have been blown way out of proportion and that 'consent' was not an issue that day or in the days following."

And now we're here. Tuning into Bachelor in Paradise this year is going to feel different, but I'm still going to do it. This whole incident has left a bad taste in my mouth, but not from Corinne or DeMario — from the producers and the way the situation was handled. I'm not trying to overlook the scandal; I want to see how they portray it on the show. Will Chris Harrison address it in an awkward segment that features him strutting toward the camera and speaking directly to us about how much "misinformation" was out there? Will they show any footage from that night, or does "restarting" mean they are completely glazing over the situation like it never happened? Will Corinne and DeMario both come back, and would they talk about the incident on camera?

This is a situation that could have occurred on any reality show that features humans and alcohol. In fact, I can almost guarantee that it has happened to varying degrees on many other sets. But the discussion is happening now because of Bachelor in Paradise, and it's on the producers to figure out how they're going to continue the narrative.

It's also their job to seamlessly blend this coverage with Raven talking to a crab. Let's just see if they're up to it.