PHOTOSDeMario Jackson Breaks Down In Tears During Tell-All ‘Bachelor In Paradise’ Interview
Aug. 23 2017, Updated 2:28 p.m. ET
DeMario Jackson made his highly anticipated return to Bachelor In Paradise on Tuesday. The reality star sat down for a one-on-one interview, with Bachelor host Chris Harrison, to finally tell his side of the now infamous BIP sex scandal.
"We got turnt up," DeMario recalled of his and Corinne Olympios’ encounter. While the entire incident was caught on tape, ABC chose to only air the pair’s interactions leading up to the moment(s) in question, on last week’s Paradise premiere. “We're at the bar, we're hanging out. One thing leads to another and we're making out ... The pool gets a little intense and I didn't think anything of it." He added, "Who would say 'no' to Corinne?"
"You were being accused of sexual assault," said Chris. "That's every man's biggest fear," DeMario replied. The BIP star then recalled a false report that stated he took a "limp Corinne" out of the pool and had "sex with her," DeMario said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “I know I'm not that monster they're trying to portray on TV.”
DeMario previously stated that he believed race played a factor in how he was being portrayed. “They wanted the angry black guy and this little, innocent white girl. But it wasn't.”
While DeMario told Chris that he’s “in a much better place in his life” these days he admitted that the scandal was one of the hardest things he and his family’s ever had to go through.
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"It's tough. It's difficult. I love my mom more than anything in this world. Seeing her cry every single day, it was difficult,” he said. “I'm her everything, best friends. I had to make her deactivate social media, because she was going to war defending me. It sucked."
“I never once thought that I would be here, today, speaking to you guys amid a crazy scandal," DeMario continued.
DeMario also discussed how he felt bad for Corinne as well, as he noted the “aggressive” and “intense” slut shaming she had to endure. While the two have yet to speak since the incident, DeMario confessed that he wanted to talk to her amid the scandal to check on her.
Corinne is set to tell her side of the story on next week’s BIP episode on August 29. She tweeted on Tuesday night, "Everyone: before making your assumptions, watch my interview with @chrisbharrison next week to hear it straight from me #bachelorinpardise."
Bachelor In Paradise airs on Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
