Alapaki

The closest analogy that I can think of is a Dram Shop act. Corrine is accusing Production of serving DiMario then letting him get behind the wheel of a car where he proceeded to crash into Corinne's car. DiMario's defense is, "yeah, I was swerving all over the place, but she was drunk too and swerved into my lane." I think, because when you boil it down, Corrine's accusation is that TPTB stood by and allowed her to be raped (after getting her rapist drunk). We can dispute the accuracy of that accusation. But I think that's the accusation. Bottom line is that everything that happened is on film. We didn't see it, although we've heard descriptions from several sources. But based on what they saw, Warner Bros made a decision which, as @JenE4 mentioned, is a big deal. It's one thing for VH1 to have to dust off some "I love the 80's" reruns to replace Megan's show. Here we're talking about network TV prime time programming and advertising revenue. Although I suppose the "pool tape" might be the all-time Clorox Bleachable Moment. (too soon?)

This is worth remembering if/when cast members start coming out taking the show's side in this.

I haven't seen her quoted using the word "rape". But I have seen her quoted as saying that she doesn't believe she had the capacity to consent to whatever happened in that pool. And from all of the reports, there was digital and oral penetration, which constitutes rape under most states' statutes. (I realize this was in Mexico). From what I understand, the law is still evolving in how it handles situations where both people are apparently drunk out of their minds (this comes up a lot in campus rape cases). But as far as I know, the mere fact that an alleged rapist was voluntarily drunk is not a sufficient legal excuse (although it may factor into the severity of the sentence). As I stated earlier, in all likelihood there's never going to be a criminal proceeding over this. So all of those definitions are largely academic. But the fact remains that a group of sober adults looked on while something that they believed was wrong (and possibly illegal) went on without stopping it.

So TMZ now has Corinne's version, which is that she claims to have been black-out drunk and unable to remember anything that happened on that first day. The next day other cast members started talking to her about what happened in the pool, and allegedly said they tried to get Production to intervene. Production denies any cast member saying anything to them. Corrine acknowledges that DiMario himself was too drunk to act responsibly, but she blames Production for allowing it to get there. According to TMZ, people who've seen the footage all say that Corrine seems "lucid" and in control during the pool antics. So that fills in the picture a little bit. As far as motivations, Corrine "exonerating" DiMario may not mean much, as Production is (as we lawyers would say) the "deep pocket" here. It will be interesting to see what other cast members say. Those who want to continue on the Fleiss gravy-train and have made "membership in Bachelor Nation" their full-time career have an obvious incentive to back the show and throw Corrine under the bus. So, if one or more of them back up her story (especially the part about trying to get Production to intervene) that will be interesting.

The other interesting thing in that regard is the mention in the most recent story about the producer never having been shown the footage. That suggests she wasn't back on-set. Either voluntarily or not, we don't know. But you'd think that Production would've at least tried to "interview" her, however informally, including getting her (no pun intended) blow-by-blow narration of what the video showed. Ultimately, I'm not familiar with Mexican law related to rape, or the role that intoxication plays in that law. I also don't know who much interest a local prosecutor and court would have in devoting time and resources to deal with something like this from a foreign TV show that comes there to film people making asses of themselves (at least, that might be how the local authorities see it). And, if Corrine and DeMario are back in the States, then I'd say the likelihood of a criminal prosecution is nil. That leaves the potential for a civil suit between some combination of DiMario, Corrine and Production. I think it's safe to say that someone from Production is working very hard right now to reach a resolution that would curtail any such suit.

I think it may be a little too soon to make a judgment about the producer, based on what we know right now. I agree that if he/she saw something they were uncomfortable with, they absolutely should have taken steps to stop it. I (at least) have been assuming that when the reports say the producer failed to show up for work the next day, that he/she voluntarily stayed away because they were uncomfortable, etc. But it's entirely possible that the producer was actually fired, or at least removed from the set when they tried to intervene. We just don't know yet. At the same time, in the context of these type of reality shows, "producer" is not nearly the glamorous or power-filled position that the label suggests. We could be talking about an early 20-something kid who's a step above a production assistant, on location in a foreign country. For all we know the show holds their visas. So, yeah, there's probably always more this producer could have done, but we need a lot more facts to really know for sure.

Most publications follow a "rape shield" rule whereby they refrain from publishing the name of victims of alleged sexual assault. They could just just be being overly cautious. Or they could have information that suggests this is the real deal

The latest TMZ report seems to confirm my speculation from overnight. At least someone, and it seems like it was someone other than the field producer, was concerned that Corrine was so impaired that she was being taken advantage of. [I think it's a good time to remember that, as much as Corrine may be a piece of shit, and as much schadenfreude comes from seeing this STD-ridden franchise brought low, no one deserves to be sexually imposed upon without their consent. And consensually getting shit-faced is not the same as consenting to whatever follows. It appears there are very serious legal issues at play here. And the role that Production plays in creating an environment and encouraging at least the potential for such alleged crimes is a real issue that demands attention. But there is going to be a tendency by some to play the "Corrine is a slut" card as a way to defend Production.] There are certainly many more facts yet to surface. But right now this looks pretty bad for Production. To say nothing of DiMario.

Yikes! If that's the story DeMario wants out there (the story that, presumably, he thinks helps him), I can't wait to hear what really happened! Piecing this new information together, with "being told by producers" that the "storyline" was for them to hook up; with their (presumably) initial meeting being (I assume) coordinated by the producers to amidst alcohol (yeah, I know, the whole show is . . . ); with his contention that there was a lot of drinking (hence, whiskey-dick), and then this his . . . ending up in her . . . ; I can completely see an on-site producer getting worried about one or the other of them accusing the show of putting them in a position to be non-consensually violated. We saw one post that suggested consent was the issue. And TMZ says that the specific sequence of who put whose what in whose where is "a big point of contention". I'm pretty sure that's not "waived" or covered in any way by any contract that they sign to be on the show. But, the question remains, what motivated the on-site producer to sue? And, I'm guessing that this will be the biggest scandal to come out of this. Now the on-site producer (who eventually sues) may have had major reservations as she was watching this happen. And may or may not have tried to speak up or do something to intervene. At the least, I'm sure TPTB had no plans for their "storyline" to move that quickly. Maybe he/she gets some pushback from his/her supervisors. And maybe he/she gets the sense (justified or not) that if DiMario and/or Corrine later made an allegation of non-consensual violation, that his/her supervisors would hang them out to dry and say that they were to blame for DiMario and Corrine getting drunk and that the producer should have stopped them. I could totally see someone wanting to take a pre-emptive step by lodging their own complaint. As far as how this will affect the other shows of the franchise, I think that story (the role of the producer and his/her supervisors) will tell the tale. Because that will pull the curtain back on practices that presumably occur across all of the shows. I think this just turned into the MOST. DRAMATIC. EPISODE. EVER!

Interesting that it was Warner Bros that pulled the plug. Suggesting that whatever happened was not enough to prompt Fleiss & Co to do so. Interesting. But not surprising. Also, looking at that cast photo from the airport, I wonder what they were told. Because they're certainly not acting like they're leaving the set that was the scene of a potentially very serious crime.

Well oh, MY. Lots more here than meets the eye. Getting these contestants drunk and naked in the pool is pretty much the raison d'être for this entire series. So that can't be the reason to shut down filming. If the concern/scandal was about the fact that they filmed something? That's easy enough. Promise to never air the footage. I'm sure they're sitting on hours of footage that lots of contestants want very much to never see the light of day. If the concern was some non-consensual activity? There again, it's much easier to get rid of both DeMario and Corrine and turn the footage over to the authorities. I wouldn't read too much at this point into the reference to "third party complaint". We don't know if that's the reporter's interpretation of something she read or not. As a lawyer, there are two ways I usually hear that term used: 1) to distinguish a lawsuit against, for example, another driver who causes an auto accident, which distinguishes it from a "first party complaint" which would be against your own insurance company for uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage; and 2) with a workplace injury where you can't sue your employer because of workers' compensation but you can sue a "third party" if they are responsible for your injury (i.e. the company that manufactured the defective forklift, etc.) It's not clear that the producer is an "employee" of the show. She could be considered an "independent contractor". Or, under California law, the show could still be legally considered her "employer" for workers' comp purposes. But in that case, she couldn't sue the show. There are different exceptions in different states that would allow an employer to sue. All in all, it's too early to tell. But what is absolutely certain to me is that this isn't just about two famewhores getting it on in the pool.

I have to credit Rachel for getting rid of Sham-Wow and Lucas. You just know TPTB were pushing hard to have those two on a 2-on-1 date. Otherwise, I just think this season continues to be "meh". For me, the best Bachelorette seasons are those where the Lead is needy and desperate and the guys are decidedly indifferent (i.e., they'd rather hang out together at the mansion than with the Lead). Thus, obviously, for me the Platonic Ideal of a Bachelorette is of course Deanna. Rachel seems secure and self-assured. But I don't think the guys are really all that into her. They just apparently feel like they need to make a show of it. And I suspect that all of them feel constrained to not go down as "the guy who . . . . . with/to/about the first African American Bachelorette". And Rachel probably feels that way even more so.

Their behavior is the sort of thing that'll make Lifetime give them their own series.

I find the whole B.O. situation confounding. It seems to me that someone who can't (for whatever reason) shower, would over-correct in the other direction and always reek of perfume and body sprays. But I do agree that everyone's reaction didn't suggest disagreement with the B.O. assessment, but rather surprise that it was brought up on camera. Brianna really seems to be struggling with depression. I'm assuming it's post-partum, especially if, as I suspect, her baby has special needs. But Lord knows she has enough in the rest of her life to be depressed about. And the answer isn't sucking in "flavored oxygen", no matter how big the saleswoman's tits were.

They muted out part of the sentence where Brianna said she didn't shower. It may have actually been a voice-over because she might've been filmed from behind during that sentence iirc. I had to watch a couple of times to make sure she was saying "don't shower" instead of "do shower". Because . . . what? It's worse than that. She didn't turn down the edits "for maxim". There never was a maxim photo-shoot or a deal for a maxim photo shoot. There was just a photoshoot with a photographer whom either she or the show paid. And the photographer did what any "professional" photographer would do in post-production. What Brianna called an "a-chon mid-face" is so dramatic (look at her in profile, the area from her nose to her eyes is completely indented) that I'm sure it doesn't film well from any angle. Once she was confronted with having to admit that she'd lied (or grossly overstated) about "having 'a Maxim' photoshoot", she tried to distract by claiming to take a little-people-activist stand. If those photos were going to be in Maxim (with the photoshopping), she wouldn't have said a fucking word. Instead she would've been waving that magazine in everyone's face. Indeed. When that conversation started, I turned to my wife and joked "who amongst us hasn't been an elf at Christmas?" And, sure enough, that's exactly what one of them said.

Also, and I know I've said this before, but: Elena, wear a fucking bra!!!!!! Jasmine obviously knows how to prop her puppies up-and-out. It's not impossible.

No truer fucking words. I'll take Juicy and her obnoxious flask all day over Tanya and her bullshit "Oracle of Delphi Ghetto" words of wisdom. One Tiny Twit said the other one "overthinks things"?!?!? Bitch, please. You can't accuse either of those imbeciles of thinking too much about anything. Minnie's mother is garbage. And has it really come to the point of pushing Minnie (who isn't married and isn't in any sort of relationship, so there's no "cheating" involved) to admit whether she sucked a guy's dick on that cruise? Because if a male host asked that question it would be obviously skeevy as fuck. It's not better because the midget-minstrel Terra asked the question, or should I say, gestured the question. I'm guessing Samantha was only there to serve as ballast for the couch? Otherwise, Derrick, Sr. is the hero of this show, shutting Monie's trash-ass right up. Good for him!

I thought about that. But they all surely had to sign non-disclosure agreements as a condition of being cast. In that sense, a cast-member would need a release (or at least a contract amendment) from the show, not from another cast-member. Then I thought that since Terra is an executive producer, in a sense she is the show. So maybe they're afraid that if she writes something about the others, the others could argue that the show has somehow voided their NDAs, and be free to start telling tales. Then I realized that I'd given this whole shitshow way more thought than it deserves. As far as the last episode itself, really not much to say. They're fighting of the word "fierce". That pretty much sums up where this show is.

That Lexi was such a mess, that frankly the thing that looked worst for DiMario wasn't that he was with her so close to taping, but that he was with her at all. And, yeah, Lee does seem like a real piece of shit. I'll be interested to see if he lets his traitor-state flag fly while he's in the house.

Sooooo. They took the first African American Bachelorette on a basketball date . . . on the first full week, didn't they? Yep. Yeah they did. And crazy Lexi . . . is "wife her" a thing now?

I find it very interesting that the last two times Brianna has gotten caught in a lie about her "career" (or at least got caught exaggerating an "opportunity") she's chosen to hide behind some sort of faux LP-activism stance as an excuse. She "wouldn't" do the "runway" walk because the designer wanted her to wear average-size clothes and do something else to make her look taller. Yeah. I'm sure that happened. And now she's diverting attention from the fact that this "Maxim photographer" who "hired her" was actually someone with a point-and-shoot that she found on Craig's List by complaining that he photoshopped her "Achon mid face"? If I were a legitimate LP activist, I think I'd be pretty pissed at Brianna for situationally taking up the cause solely to cover for her own lies and failures.

Yeah, the most telling thing was the way Vaughn, who legitimately doesn't seem to be a shit-stirrer (yet) refused to disagree with anything Nico had to say. Nico is immature, and no doubt an asshole in numerous ways. But it's hard to maintain composure with those little fucking fingers wagging at you and the rolly pollies stuffed into their way-too-tight dresses (Samantha? Stop. Just Stop. And eat a salad for Christ's sake!) and screeching like harpies at you. Minnie's mother is no better. Sweet fuck. How old is that broad? And she still acts like common ghetto trash? Have some self-respect. I never thought I'd say this, about anyone, but as far as those "tiny twins" go, I think twerking really may be the best they can do.

I finally got around to watching this episode. The difference between Penny, at 2, and Elena's children, at less than 1, is shocking. Brianna's story on that photo shoot just keeps changing, doesn't it? I hate to agree with Christy on anything, but I'd have said "if this release is so important to you, I want a percentage of gross sales, and I want pre-approval on anything you write about me. Tonya continues to be an asshole. If Christy lip-syncing a "midget" song is so fucking offensive, why was Tonya cackling when Terra told the others that she got the video from Tonya? And, wow, did Tonya look fat in that dress that she wore to help Terra get ready for the party. You know, the party where she claimed someone stole her dog. Because dogs never run away on their own. Finally on Tonya. . . "My activewear (drink!) line launched. Now I just need stores to sell it in". Umm, that means it hasn't fucking launched!!!!!

I agree with this. My answer would've been "I learned that you're an asshole who wanted to me go fishing so you had something to eat after I got voted off". I learned that you overreact and through juvenile hissy-fits whenever you don't get your way, and by 'your way', I mean the whole world doesn't get out of the way to let you win. Anything else you want to know?"

Agreed. But, as we lawyer-types say, that's "an exception that swallows the rule". There's going to be no end to Probst's "as a Healer, you're used to . . . . " And from the players "You know Jeff, as a "Hero" I . . . . ". Or, even worse, the "aw shucks, I don't think of myself as a "Hero", I'm just a really really great person." Hey! The Bob's were boss. Brad's a Milton.