DeMario Jackson has broken his silence.
The former Bachelorette contestant – who was given the boot by Rachel Lindsay just a couple weeks ago and who was flown to Mexico to be a part of the Bachelor in Paradise cast soon afterward – is sick of all the recent headlines.
He’s not about to let others soil his reputation.
On Wednesday night, not long after Corinne Olympios issued a statement in which she claimed to have been victimized while filming Bachelor in Paradise, Jackson came out with a few strong words of his own.
And they certainly appear to be directed at Olympios.
“It’s unfortunate that my character and family name has been assassinated this past week with false claims and malicious allegations,” the 30-year-old said in a statement via his publicist.
Added DeMario:
“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.”
This statement is a departure from what Jackson had previously told TMZ and Entertainment Tonight.
Following confirmation from Warner Bros. on June 11 that production on Bachelor in Paradise Season 4 had been shut down due to an incident of “sexual misconduct,” word has leaked out that Jackson and Olympios were the contestants at the center of this controversy.
The reality stars allegedly got drunk and hooked up in a pool, but serious questions remain over whether or not Corinne gave her consent at the time.
A producer told executives that she seemed far too wasted to know what was going on.
Initial reports made it appear as if Corinne’s beef was with the ABC employees on hand who did not step in and put an end to the “touching” and “fingering” (as one insider described it), with sources claiming she and Jackson were on good terms.
Asked about the scandal by the aforementioned outlets this week, DeMario said Corinne was awesome.
So, why does it now sound as if she’s the target of his wrath?
Why does it now sound as if Jackson has an issue with the “false claims and malicious allegations” leveled at him by Olympios?
Because Olympios released the following statement a couple hours prior to Jackson speaking out yesterday:
“I am a victim and have spent the last week trying to make sense of what happened the night of 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.
“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.”
Corinne does not mention DeMario by name here.
Her statement does not shed any light on what actually transpired between her and Jackson.
Is she claiming to have been victimized by her fellow contestant? Or by the producers who sat idly by while both parties got blackout drunk and then nearly had sex?
Jackson has said that Bachelor in Paradise footage will exonerate him of any kind of assault or misconduct allegations.
But it’s unclear whether cameras were actually rolling during his hook-up or whether the public will ever have a chance to view the tape; the latter scenario is very unlikely.
“Warner Bros. is handling the investigation,” Chris Harrison said on Good Morning America on Tuesday, adding:
“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.”
Bachelor in Paradise had been scheduled to premiere Season 4 on August 8. No official word has been given, but there’s simply no way this will happen.
It seems highly doubtful the show will air a new episode ever again.
But you can stay tuned to The Hollywood Gossip for more details and further news as it breaks.
