'Bachelorette' alum DeMario Jackson sued for sexual assault, false imprisonment by 2 women
Former "The Bachelorette" and "Bachelor in Paradise" contestant DeMario Jackson is being accused of sexual assault by two women.
The 35-year-old ex-reality TV star, who was previously involved in a misconduct investigation that caused Season 4 of "Bachelor in Paradise" to pause filming, is facing accusations of sexual assault, false imprisonment and emotional distress in a complaint filed to Los Angeles Superior Court Tuesday. Jackson first appeared in Season 13 of "Bachelorette."
The two women, named as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, say Jackson forced them to have sex without consent.
In the complaint, Jane Doe 1 accuses Jackson of assaulting her in 2018 after she allowed him to sober up at her apartment telling him that "there would be no sexual activity between them." The complaint alleges that Jackson ignored the request and pinned her down on the bed and began assaulting her. She now suffers from "constant anxiety" and "experiences problems sleeping," the complaint says.
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Jane Doe 2 accuses Jackson of sexual assault after meeting him on social media and going to his home for a private date in July 2020 after she says he told her "he could not go to any public setting as he claimed that he would be recognized from his time on 'The Bachelorette.' "
According to the complaint, Jackson asked her to have sex but she turned down the request, telling him she was on her period. Jackson then asked to have anal sex instead, the complaint says. She "hesitantly agreed" but later "felt uncomfortable" and told Jackson to stop and h "refused to do so," she claims.
"These women who have come forward with their horror stories of how they were brutally sexually assaulted by Mr. Jackson are the latest brave victims to share their stories of how a powerful male used his celebrity status to manipulate, intimidate and silence them," the plaintiffs' lawyer Keith Davidson said to USA TODAY in a statement Wednesday.
Jackson's attorney Walter Mosley said the allegations against his client are "completely unfounded."
"This complaint is riddled with inconsistencies, miss truths and actual impossibilities with respect to what could have happened during COVID lockdown," Mosley said in a statement to USA TODAY. "Unfortunately, DeMario and I will have to take up this fight again to clear his name."
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In 2017, Jackson was one of two people at the center of allegations over a sexual encounter, possibly without consent, that prompted a producer to file an internal complaint and led Warner Bros. to temporarily halt production of "Bachelor in Paradise," a spin off of the "Bachelor" franchise that brings old contestants together for a second chance at love.
Warner Bros. released a statement after the investigation into the incident involving Jackson and contestant Corinne Olympios, stating that the findings did "not support any charge of misconduct."
During the investigation, Jackson released a statement saying the claims against him were "false" and "malicious allegations."
Contributing: Cara Kelly
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DeMario Jackson, 'Bachelorette' alum, accused of sexual assault
