ABC has a couple of exciting announcements to make.
First, the network has confirmed that Bachelor in Paradise Season 4 will, indeed, air this summer, despite the multi-week scandal that delayed production at the start of filming.
As a result of the He Said/She Said/And Also a Producer Said between Corinne Olympios and DeMario Jackson, new episodes of this reality series will kick off on August 14, immediately followed by a second new installment on August 15.
The show was originally scheduled to premiere on August 8.
It was pushed back, however, after Olympios and Jackson got very drunk… then got naked in a pool together… and then got into some seriously raunchy action.
Things got so hot and heavy and sexually heated that a producer thought Corinne may have been too drunk to give consent.
Once this possibility was raised, Warner Bros. shut down production and sent all contestants home.
Olympios stated publicly that she felt “victimized,” while Jackson said his “character” was being “assassinated.”
In the end, an investigation determined no sexual assault of any kind took place and cast members were invited back down to Mexico to finish filming.
But no way would Corinne and DeMario be included among these cast members, right?
Mostly.
That’s mostly right.
HOWEVER, Olympios said in a brief statement on Wednesday that she’ll be appearing on one episode of Season 4 after all.
“I am very happy to be appearing on the Bachelor In Paradise Special,” she said simply today.
Jackson, sources, confirm is on board for this same special.
In an interview with E! News shortly after his name was cleared, DeMario said he had no hard feelings toward Corinne.
He detailed their sexual encounter (in MAJOR detail) and wished Olympios the best on multiple occasions.
It’s unclear just when this special will air, but Season 4 itself will take place over six weeks this summer.
Those six weeks will feature past Bachelor and Bachelorette contestants attempting to find love for a second time in Mexico, while they also witness the wedding of Bachelor in Paradise Season 3 couple Carly Waddell and Evan Bass.
This ceremony was filmed on June 17.
Following the sex and alcohol scandal, producers said they would emphasize certain rules on Bachelor in Paradise going forward, including a two drink per hour maximum.
They also said bartenders would keep a much closer eye on who was drinking and how much they were drinking.
“I am also happy about the changes that have been made to the production of Bachelor In Paradise,” Corinne said in a previous statement, adding:
“While I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have been a participant on The Bachelor, and while I was invited to return to Bachelor In Paradise when production resumed, I respectfully made the decision not to return.”
What changed her mind?
Or did she always plan on making a cameo on Season 4?
We’ll never know.
But with no misconduct determined to have taken place, perhaps Olympios wants a forum to tell her side of the story.
WILL YOU BE WATCHING BACHELOR IN PARADISE?