Bachelor in Paradise host addresses pool incident

Chris Harrison has addressed an incident that could shut down reality show Bachelor in Paradise for good. Photo/AP

The entertainment press and tabloids picked apart the news that production on "Bachelor in Paradise" shut down over the weekend following alleged "misconduct".

Now the host of the popular The Bachelor spinoff is addressing the controversy.

Chris Harrison said in a statement that various press accounts of what took place during production in Mexico contain "a lot of competing details" and "there's a lot of misinformation out there".

"Normally with a situation like this I would not say anything until the incident is fully resolved, but with all the rumors and misinformation being put out there, I don't find that to be possible anymore," Harrison said in the statement published by People.

Producers have said little on record about what exactly took place. Filming had recently begun for the fourth season of Bachelor in Paradise, which features former contestants from The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.

Warner Bros confirmed that filming had been suspended following "allegations of misconduct on set" and once the company's investigation is complete, "we will take appropriate responsive action".

The news was reported first by E!, which cites a source saying production is done for this season "and possibly forever".

Reports soon surfaced from outlets such as TMZ and Entertainment Tonight about an incident in a pool between two specific contestants. A Los Angeles Times reporter writing a book about The Bachelor tweeted that a producer who witnessed the incident filed a complaint.

The Daily Mail reported that the contestant in question "appeared to be unconscious" and that after the incident she was "limp and seemed unable to walk on her own".

Harrison said that "the safety and care of the cast and crew of our show is of the utmost importance to us. It is with this thought in mind that we made the decision to suspend filming."

"An investigation into the situation was started immediately," he said. "Warner Bros is handling the details of that investigation. They're moving quickly to gather all the facts, and once that's done, a clear, concise decision can be made about where we go from here."

He added: "We're sorry for any inconvenience and disappointment this may have caused the cast, the crew and our loyal fans. It is my sincere hope that we can come to a quick resolution on this and get back to work very soon."

Bachelor in Paradise was supposed to return to air August 8. In promotional materials for the show, ABC promised to follow for six weeks "former bachelors and bachelorettes as they explore new relationships while living together in Mexico, in a secluded and dreamy paradise."

This season would feature "shocking twists, surprises, unexpected guests and some of the most unlikely relationships in 'Bachelor' history."

ABC referred questions about production to Warner Bros, which had earlier released the statement announcing the shutdown.

Harrison said that "out of respect to all involved, there's only so much I can and will say at this time," and urged the public to "be patient and respect the privacy of the parties involved."