Skip To Content
JEWISH. INDEPENDENT. NONPROFIT.
The Schmooze

‘Bachelor in Paradise’ Trailer Makes A Joke Of The Sexual Assault Case That Almost Got It Canceled

There’s been quite a bit of speculation over how “Bachelor in Paradise” will deal with the sexual assault accusations that almost resulted in the cancellation of the show. Will the show address it frankly? Will the producers reveal the footage? Will it go unmentioned altogether?

Turns out, someone has decided the appropriate way to deal with the sexual misconduct allegations is through humor.

Nope.

The incident, in which a producer accused the show of allowing two contestants to engage in non-consensual sexual activity while the cameras were on and rolling, took place in early June and shooting was immediately postponed. All of the contestants were flown back to their respective lives and it was widely expected that “Bachelor in Paradise” had seen its final day. After all, how does a show that peddles fairytales bounce back from such unromantic allegations?

Both the network and Corinne Olympios, one of the participants in the incident, conducted a separate investigation into the matter and both found no evidence of wrongdoing and that’s why, perhaps, the network saw fit to turn the whole, very serious, situation into one big joke.

The trailer features music fit for a horror movie playing under the voice of a foreboding male.

“The sun had almost set. Summer was almost over,” he says while the devastated tweets of “Bachelor in Paradise” deprived youths are displayed onscreen. “Summer was almost ruined. Paradise was almost lost. Until it wasn’t.”

And then the screen flashes back to a contestant who screams, “Bachelor in Paradise is back!” Cue music. Cue good times.

But wait!

Let’s say it together: Just because there was no sexual misconduct found doesn’t mean that it’s okay to turn what happened between Corinne Olympios and DeMario Jackson into a joke. Whether or not there was a crime committed, the incident changed both of their lives in what’s safe to say is probably a pretty traumatic way.

In other words: a cancelled television show doesn’t ruin lives. Being at the center of a sexual assault investigation can, though.

There’s still a chance to turn the sexual misconduct allegation into a lesson about consent and alcohol and I hope something good comes out of the reunion special, which both Olympios and Jackson have vowed to attend. But based on the evidence, I wouldn’t bet on it.

Becky Scott is the editor of The Schmooze. Follow her on Twitter, @arr_scott

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

Republish This Story

Please read before republishing

We’re happy to make this story available to republish for free, unless it originated with JTA, Haaretz or another publication (as indicated on the article) and as long as you follow our guidelines. You must credit the Forward, retain our pixel and preserve our canonical link in Google search.  See our full guidelines for more information, and this guide for detail about canonical URLs.

To republish, copy the HTML by clicking on the yellow button to the right; it includes our tracking pixel, all paragraph styles and hyperlinks, the author byline and credit to the Forward. It does not include images; to avoid copyright violations, you must add them manually, following our guidelines. Please email us at [email protected], subject line “republish,” with any questions or to let us know what stories you’re picking up.

We don't support Internet Explorer

Please use Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge to view this site.