“The Bachelorette” star Eric Bigger has weighed in on the “Bachelor in Paradise” production shutdown that has been in the spotlight throughout the ABC dating show’s fourth season.
Corinne Olympios returns to the series tonight for a sit-down interview with host Chris Harrison to discuss her sexual encounter with fellow contestant DeMario Jackson that led Warner Bros. to temporarily halt filming. Jackson appeared on last Tuesday’s episode to tell his side of the story.
Bigger, who ended up in third place on Rachel Lindsay’s recently-concluded season of “The Bachelorette,” told TheWrap he has “absolutely” been in touch with Jackson since news broke about the shutdown. Jackson co-starred with Bigger on Lindsay’s season until getting kicked off for a previous relationship.
“That’s my guy,” Bigger said of Jackson. “When he was going through it, I reached out to him.”
“He’s a person at the end of the day, just like everybody else,” he continued. “Same as Corinne — she’s a person. Let’s not get it twisted. These are people who have feelings, who have lives. At the end of the day, this is their life.”
Earlier this season, many of the “Paradise” cast members indicated that they felt race was a factor in the scandal that surrounded what happened between Olympios and Jackson, and Bigger told TheWrap that he agrees.
“Race plays a role because people let it play a role,” he said. “If color didn’t matter, if race didn’t matter, then we wouldn’t even be talking about it.”
Bigger pointed out that people were too quick in rushing to judgment about Olympios and Jackson’s hookup.
“Everyone’s making assumptions and judging because people go with what they see and not what they know,” he said. “That’s the world we live in.”
The motivational speaker and personal trainer says he doesn’t have any regrets about his time with Lindsay. He pointed out that he is not currently dating and is instead focusing on his career prospects, but that he would be open to starring as the next Bachelor.
“If the opportunity presents itself, I would absolutely be open to it, honor it, look at it and take advantage of it, if it’s for me,” Bigger said. “I don’t force things, and I believe real things happen naturally. So if the ‘Bachelor’ opportunity happens for me, and it’s natural, then absolutely. I feel like the [‘Bachelorette’] opportunity happened for me naturally, and I took advantage of it, and now I’m here.”
“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.
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.
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.
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: