Chris Harrison, the host of ABC’s “Bachelor” franchise, has addressed the recent halt to production of “Bachelor in Paradise” due to allegations of sexual misconduct.
“Out of respect to all involved, there’s only so much I can and will say at this time,” Harrison said in a statement to People. “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.”
The statement continued, “Let me start by saying 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. An investigation into the situation was started immediately. Warner Bros. is handling the details of that 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. There are a lot of competing details in the various press accounts of the incident. And there’s a lot of misinformation out there too. We urge everyone to be patient until the investigation is complete.”
On Sunday, Warner Bros. released a statement in which it was announced that production of the fourth season of “Bachelor in Paradise” was suspended due to “allegations of misconduct” at the Mexican resort where the show was shot and that a “thorough investigation” is being conducted.
According to accounts of what happened on set, people present, including a producer, are investigating whether two contestants had a sexual interaction while one was too drunk to give consent. (No criminal charges have been filed.) Both contestants have not spoken publicly about what may have transpired and ABC and Warner Bros. have not elaborated on the incident.
“I know in this day and age we want — and even expect — immediate answers, but in this case, it’s just not possible,” Harrison added. “So again, I urge you to please be patient and respect the privacy of the parties involved. I will keep you as informed and up to date as I possibly can. 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.”
The “Bachelor” spinoff, which was being shot in Puerto Vallarta, was schedule to premiere on Tuesday, Aug. 8.