'Bachelor in Paradise' premieres today — here's everything you need to know about the scandal that almost shut down the show

ABC

The much-anticipated fourth season of "Bachelor in Paradise" is set to premiere on Monday, after a misconduct scandal threatened to not only cancel the show, but forever change ABC's long-running hit "Bachelor" franchise going forward.

Even though an investigation into the incident by show producer Warner Bros. concluded that that there was no misconduct, there continues to be more to the story.

The alleged "sexual misconduct" incident occurred in early June while taping in Mexico. It temporarily shut down production, but has since resumed after Warner Bros. wrapped its investigation.

But both "Bachelor in Paradise" contestants who are at the center of the scandal, DeMario Jackson and Corinne Olympios, have claimed that they're victims and have sought legal counsel. They've since announced their continuing participation with the show.

How did we get here? and what's next? Ahead of Monday's premiere, catch yourself up on all the twists and turns.

Here's a rundown of all the events so far:

Sunday, June 4: Day of the alleged sexual assault.

ABC

With three seasons under its belt, taping on its fourth season started on this day in Mexico. Taping was slated to last three weeks. It also happened to be the day when the reported incident occurred.

Sources told news outlets that a sexual encounter between Jackson ("The Bachelorette" season 13) and Olympios ("The Bachelor" season 21) occurred when she was too drunk to give proper consent and the show's cameras were rolling.

TMZ published a graphic description of the alleged sexual encounter between the contestants in a hot tub.

Tuesday, June 6: An investigation was underway, production halted, and the contestants were placed on lockdown.

ABC

According to The Hollywood Reporter, production continued on the show Monday. But at some point between Sunday and Tuesday, a producer filed a complaint of potential sexual misconduct. It isn't clear whether that producer was present while the incident was being taped.

On the condition of anonymity, a contestant told People that taping was being suspended and the cast members were placed on lockdown Tuesday, meaning they were sent to separate rooms, couldn't contact one another, and were under constant supervision by production.

"We were told to stay in a certain part of the [resort] while they figured out what the hell had happened,” the contestant said “We knew something bad had happened; there was a dark energy that came around the house. You have to understand that we weren’t even there a week. The game hadn’t even really begun yet."

THR reported that Jackson and Olympios had been questioned ahead of the other contestants after the complaint was filed and were sent home.

 

Thursday, June 8: The cast members were informed of the investigation and told that the season will probably be canceled.

ABC

The anonymous cast member told People that the producers officially informed the contestants that an investigation was underway and it didn't look like they show would be returning this season.

"One of them was crying. She told us that it was over and we'd all be going home," the contestant said of a meeting with a producer held after the lockdown.

"[The producer] was like, 'I don't think that's realistic,'" the cast member continued of the likelihood that production would resume. "She said that there was an investigation going on, and that could take days, weeks, or even months. And by that time, we all have lives and jobs and things to go back to, so it just wasn't going to work out. They told us that we'd be considered for future seasons and opportunities in the franchise, but that this adventure was probably over."

Over the next few days, the cast and crew were questioned individually, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider