Bachelor in Paradise host Chris Harrison is breaking his silence on allegations of sexual misconduct Warner Bros. is currently investigating after production on Season 4 was suspended.
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"The safety and care of the cast and crew of our show is of the utmost importance to us. It is with this thought in mind that we made the decision to suspend filming," Harrison said in the statement.
Two insiders had told People that DeMario engaged in sexual activity with Corinne, but she may have been too drunk to consent or even have a grasp on what was happening in the pool.
A source close to the show had reportedly called the situation "incredibly complicated," saying, "The show absolutely values the primacy of consent, and this instance it appears as though conduct allegedly occurred without the proper consent having been given."
One Bachelor in Paradise contestant told People that the cast is upset crew members didn't take action to stop or prevent the drunken sexual encounter. The bachelor or bachelorette also placed blame on DeMario for "taking advantage" of Corinne, who was "drinking too much."
"Out of respect to all involved, there's only so much I can and will say at this time," Harrison continued in his statement.
"Normally with a situation like this I would not say anything until the incident is fully resolved, but with all the rumors and misinformation being put out there I don't find that to be possible anymore... I know in this day and age we want and even expect immediate answers but in this case it's just not possible. I urge you to please be patient and respect the privacy of the parties involved."
Sources close to DeMario told TMZ that Corinne jumped into his lap at the bar, which eventually led to "rubbing, touching and fingering" in the pool. The sources claimed the couple got naked and then Corinne allegedly put her genitals in DeMario's face and he began licking, but they did not have sex.
In light of conflicting rumors and reports, Harrison told GMA that Warner Bros. is handling the investigation.
"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... I will keep you as informed and up to date as I possibly can," Harrison explained.
"We're sorry for any inconvenience and disappointment this may have caused the cast, the crew and our loyal fans. It is my sincere hope that we can come to a quick resolution on this and get back to work very soon."
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
