'Bachelor in Paradise' Star DeMario Jackson Feels 'Vindicated,' Admits Suicide 'Crossed My Mind'

DeMario Jackson and Chris Harrison on "Bachelor in Paradise"

DeMario Jackson is sharing his thoughts on how “Bachelor in Paradise” handled the disputed incident between himself and fellow Season 4 contestant Corinne Olympios that led to a brief shutdown in production.

The ABC dating series returned with its two-part premiere this week following a temporary halt to filming in June to investigate allegations of misconduct. The episodes dealt with the scandal, as the returning cast members told host Chris Harrison that they wanted to resume filming and didn’t think that Jackson or Olympios had done anything wrong. (Neither Jackson nor Olympios returned to the show.)

Jackson told “Entertainment Tonight” after the premiere aired that he feels “vindicated” by the scenes of himself spending time with Olympios. ABC opted not to air footage of their sexual encounter, and specifics of it were not discussed on the episodes.

Also Read: 'Bachelor in Paradise' Fans Doubt Cast Reaction to Scandal: Did They Read 'ABC Isn't Liable' Cue Cards?

“I feel like they rolled enough of the tape,” Jackson said. “You can’t show too much, because that’s gonna disrespect both Corinne and I, and I just feel like it wouldn’t be the best or the classiest thing to do.”

“The public, they need to see something. I think they just needed to see [that] she’s lucid, I’m lucid. We’re swimming around. We’re having fun. We’re friends,” he continued. “It wasn’t like I’m some predator who was at the bar waiting for the girl to get extremely drunk, then I’m like, ‘Oops! Let me pounce on her.’ No, it was very mutual, and in fact, she was a little bit of the aggressor in it, and I love how they painted the picture and the story of us actually talking, mingling, getting to know each other.”

Also Read: Chris Harrison Defends 'Bachelor in Paradise' After 'Frustrating' Shutdown

Jackson said he wasn’t happy to get sent home from the show, and that the ensuing scandal made him “heartbroken, angry and depressed.”

The “Bachelorette” Season 13 alum said he felt “suicidal, but not like the suicidal that you might think.” He added, “I never thought, ‘Oh, I’m gonna kill myself,’ but it crossed my mind.”

“Bachelor in Paradise” airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

'Bachelor' and 'Bachelorette' Villains Ranked From Bad to Worst (Photos)

As the end of "The Bachelor" Season 21 nears, let's take a look back at the long-running ABC reality show's infamous troublemakers. Here is our ranking of both "Bachelor" and "Bachelorette" villains, from bad to worst:
ABC
Nick Viall, "The Bachelorette," Season 10, Season 11; "The Bachelor," Season 21

This season's current bachelor did his time as a bad boy in two past seasons of "The Bachelorette." He isolated himself from all other contestants and also made a surprise, unwelcomed appearance on a season in which he wasn't even cast.
ABC
Tierra LiCausi, "The Bachelor," Season 17

From several meltdowns to a hospital trip, LiCausi (left) fit the bill of nemesis perfectly, complete with her own evil laughter.
ABC
Rozlyn Papa, "The Bachelor," Season 14

Not a traditional "Bachelor" villain, Papa was booted off the show for allegedly having an affair with one of the producers.

Also Read: ‘The Bachelor’ Makes History As African-American Contestant Moves Past Week 5
ABC
Olivia Caridi, "The Bachelor," Season 20

Olivia’s mouth, toes and aggression left viewers both cringing and laughing. Her transition from fan favorite to villain was rapid, and her legacy on the internet will remain for years to come. (And if you don't know what we're talking about, look up the now infamous meme.)
ABC
Michelle Money, "The Bachelor," Season 11

Michelle was aggressive with both pursuing her season's Bachelor and attacking fellow contestants. Money’s rivalry and ultimate confrontation with nemesis AshLee Frazier will go down in the show's history as one of the most heated.

Also Read: Ratings: ‘The Bachelor’s’ Hometown Dates Episode Scores Season Highs
ABC
Chad Johnson, "The Bachelorette," Season 12

Chad’s obsession with working out and threatening fellow contestants made him a foe to remember. While many disliked him for his brash nature, his insults were wittier than most villains before him.
ABC
Corrine Olympios, "The Bachelor," Season 21

In the short span of the last two months, Corinne has established her legacy as one of the most entertaining villains in "Bachelor" history. From her dependence on her nanny Raquel, to napping through several events, fans were both relieved and sad to see her ousted toward the end of the 2017 season.
ABC
Kelsey Poe, "The Bachelor," Season 19

She used her story of being a widow to garner sympathy and screen time, and openly admitted to manipulating her season's Bachelor with her husband’s death. She is also remembered for having a panic attack before a rose ceremony, and then immediately joking about how host Chris Harrison couldn’t eliminate her.
ABC
Bentley Williams, "The Bachelorette," Season 7

This contestant was dubbed one of Chris Harrison’s least favorite suitors of all time. Williams purposely set out to make his Bachelorette cry and faked many of his interactions with her.
ABC
Courtney Robertson, "The Bachelor," Season 16

With her own book “I Didn’t Come Here To Make Friends,” Robertson clearly prides herself on achieving supervillain status. Mocking other contestants, lying to the Bachelor and sabotaging dates, Robertson cemented herself as one of the most hated of the entire series.
ABC
Juan Pablo Galavis, "The Bachelorette," Season 9; "The Bachelor," Season 18

Between making crude comments to his contestants, to being openly homophobic, Galavis tops this list of ultimate villains from the reality series.

Also Read: ‘The Bachelor': 9 Most Awkward Hometown Dates (Photos)
ABC

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Here are the baddies who have kept viewers hooked over the years

As the end of "The Bachelor" Season 21 nears, let's take a look back at the long-running ABC reality show's infamous troublemakers. Here is our ranking of both "Bachelor" and "Bachelorette" villains, from bad to worst:

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