'Bachelor' contestant lawyer disputes no misconduct finding
LOS ANGELES (AP) - No cast member misbehaved or was in danger on the set of ABC's "Bachelor in Paradise," producer Warner Bros. said Tuesday after a review of show videotape.
Production on "The Bachelor" spinoff that had been suspended during the probe will resume, Warner said in a statement. ABC immediately said that the reality series will air this summer as planned.
But an attorney for contestant Corinne Olympios dismissed the findings and vowed an independent investigation that he said will include additional witnesses.
The studio's investigation conducted with an outside law firm found that the footage "does not support any charge of misconduct by a cast member," Warner said in a statement.
"Nor does the tape show, contrary to many press reports, that the safety of any cast member was ever in jeopardy," the studio said. The video won't be released to safeguard the privacy of those involved, Warner said.
ABC said it appreciated Warner's "swift and complete investigation" into the misconduct allegations.
Warner hasn't detailed the allegations reportedly made by a witness to the show's fourth-season taping in Mexico earlier this month or which contestants were involved.
But last week, Olympios said she was a "victim" who was seeking therapy for what she called the physical and emotional trauma she experienced on the set June 4 but had little memory of.
"It needs to be made crystal clear that production of 'Bachelor in Paradise' was shut down because of multiple complaints" from producers and crew members on the set but not from Olympios, Martin Singer, her attorney, said in a statement.
"It comes as no surprise that Warner Bros., as a result of its own internal investigation, would state that no wrong doing had occurred. Our own investigation will continue based on multiple new witnesses coming forward revealing what they saw and heard," Singer said.
Despite the finding, Warner said it planned to implement changes to the show's policies and procedures "to enhance and further ensure the safety and security" of all participants.
"Bachelor in Paradise" first debuted in 2014, bringing together former contestants on "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette." They live together in a beach house, looking for a possible relationship with a fellow housemate.
Chris Harrison hosts the spinoff, as he does most installments of the franchise that launched with the "The Bachelor" in 2002.
Other spinoffs included "Bachelor Pad," which was canceled in 2013. There's also "Bachelor in Paradise: After Paradise," a talk show about "Bachelor in Paradise."