'Bachelor in Paradise' contestant gets emotional telling his side of the story

DeMario Jackson came on a special in-studio Bachelor in Paradise to tell his side of the story after sexual misconduct allegations briefly shut down production of the show. The highly publicized controversy stunned Bachelor Nation almost as much as it stunned the show’s cast.

DeMario described what happened leading up to the night in question. He said, “We’re hanging out; uh, one thing leads to another, and we’re making out.” Things even seemed fine the next day, DeMario explained, and everyone was just having fun and enjoying their time together. So when production unexpectedly shut down the second night, DeMario was as shocked as everyone else. He explained that an executive producer had come to his hotel room and told him that a third party had filed a complaint against him and Corrine, the woman he made out with. DeMario said he struggled with that, adding that neither he nor Corinne had any problem with what had happened. He even texted her, joking, “Yo, we broke Paradise.”

Unfortunately for both of them, it wasn’t a joke, and the next few weeks were extremely difficult as both their names were dragged through the tabloids. Luckily, DeMario found some inspiration from our former first lady. He told Chris Harrison, “Michelle Obama said, like, ‘When they go low, you go high.'” As DeMario fought back tears, he added, “It was hard to go high, but I had to do it, because I train and mentor children, and I can’t tell them to be something that I’m not.”

DeMario was visibly upset as the horrible accusations took a toll on him. But he said nothing was more upsetting than seeing his mom have to deal with her son being accused of sexual assault. Still fighting back tears, he said, “I love my mom more than anything in this world. And, like, seeing her cry, like, every single day, and just — it was difficult.”

DeMario said he’s in a better place now, but he needed a little help surviving the most dramatic summer of his life. Chris Harrison asked how he got through all of it, and DeMario replied, “Family, friends, and Kanye West.”

Bachelor in Paradise airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC. Watch clips and full episodes of Bachelor in Paradise for free on Yahoo View.

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