The Bachelorette

DeMario Jackson's ex-gf -- the woman who exposed him as a villain on national TV -- is actually coming to his defense in the Corinne Olympios scandal ... but she has a strange way of doing it.

Lexi Thexton claims DeMario is nothing more than a "30-year-old man child" who parties way too much -- but also says there's no way the "Bachelor in Paradise" star would knowingly take advantage of a drunk woman ... as Corinne insinuated when she declared she's a victim.

For Lexi to say anything supportive about her ex is a big deal. Mind you, she also called him a "sh***y guy" who's completely self-absorbed ... among a list of other insults. She did offer a theory about what really happened with Corinne -- and strongly believes it's more about 2 people getting too drunk.

For non-'Bachelorette' viewers ... Lexi made a surprise appearance on the show, calling out DeMario for trying to woo Rachel Lindsay while still dating her. He got booted off the show that very same episode.

One of Rachel Lindsay's guys on "The Bachelorette" was determined, or even desperate, to be on the show ever since he was in high school.

Fan fave Peter Kraus listed his future plans in his 2005 high school yearbook. The senior at Edgewood High in Madison, WI wrote ... "Go to art school, become famous in one way or another, be on The Bachelor, live happily."

Welp ... he can knock being on the show off his bucket list, which arguably means ... he's accomplished the "famous" part too.

There's fan speculation Peter's the guy Rachel picks, and actually gets engaged to at the end of the season. She does seem really into him.

Makes ya wonder if she knows about Peter's high school ambitions.

Corinne Olympios claims she was in a blackout state when she got sexual with fellow "Bachelor in Paradise" star DeMario Jackson ... and she blames producers for not pulling the plug and protecting her, although our sources say people who have seen the tape claim she was lucid and fully engaged.

Sources close to Corinne tell TMZ she was drunk the entire day of filming when she ended up naked in the swimming pool with DeMario. Although DeMario remembers everything -- from "rubbing, touching and fingering" to licking her genitals -- she says she remembers nothing.

We're told the day after the swimming pool incident she claims fellow cast members began telling her stories of what went down with DeMario. She says several cast members told her they had voiced concern to people on the production crew that she was in no position to consent to sexual activity, but the crew did not heed their warnings.

Production sources insist other cast members did not complain to anyone that Corinne was too drunk to form an intent to have sexual contact with DeMario.

Corinne has told her friends she has a boyfriend and wouldn't have done what she did -- especially with cameras rolling -- to jeopardize that relationship.

As we reported, sources familiar with the footage say she appeared "fully engaged." Corrine doesn't fully blame DeMario because he too was drunk. She blames producers and has lawyered up.

"Bachelor in Paradise" has been shut down as Warner Bros investigates.

"Bachelor in Paradise" stars Corinne Olympios and DeMario Jackson pushed the envelope too far, and "the truth came to light" ... so says 'Bachlorette' star Eric Bigger.

Eric was leaving Nightingale Sunday night and chimed in on the 'BiP' controversy that shut down production. He believes Corrine and DeMario probably were having fun, until things got out of hand.

TMZ broke the story ... a producer complained about the contestants getting extremely sexual in a swimming pool. Warner Bros halted production and launched an investigation.

"Bachelor in Paradise" was shut down after a producer complained about 2 contestants getting extremely sexual in a swimming pool ... this according to sources connected to contestant DeMario Jackson, but there are different versions and Warner Bros. has launched a full investigation.

Here's DeMario's version of events, as told by people with whom he spoke:

Last Sunday -- the first day of production at a Mexican resort -- DeMario Jackson and Corinne Olympios were told by producers one of the story lines would be the 2 of them hooking up ... especially entertaining because both are considered villains from previous shows.

We're told the 2 met at the bar and the alcohol was flowing. DeMario says Corinne jumped in his lap and started making out with him. We're told there was lots of "intense rubbing."

DeMario says Corinne then suggested they retreat to the pool, with the cameras rolling. They took off their clothes, started making out and "rubbing, touching and fingering." He says she put her genitals in his face and he began licking, but we're told this allegation is a big point of contention and others disagree with his account. He says he was not able to engage in intercourse because of the alcohol.

DeMario says the next day everything was fine and he and Corrine were actually getting along well, but on Tuesday they were called in by the Executive Producer and told one of the show producers had seen the film and was "uncomfortable" with what was shot.

The producer has filed a formal complaint with Warner Bros. Warner brass immediately suspended production, launched an investigation and released DeMario and Corrine. Two days later Warner Bros. released the entire cast while they investigated alleged "misconduct."

Production for 'Bachelor in Paradise' has been suspended after allegations of misconduct were reported ... which puts a halt to filming for the upcoming season indefinitely.

Warner Bros. execs for the show said Sunday that they had been alerted to some sort of misconduct on the set of 'BiP', which is currently shooting in Mexico.

As a result of the allegations -- which at this point have not been made public -- WB has put a temporary halt to the show and is now investigating. They've said they will also take appropriate action upon completing the investigation.

This season of 'BiP' is highly anticipated, especially after Nick Viall's recent stint on 'The Bachelor.' Some of his axed ladies like Raven Gates, Corinne Olympios and Taylor Nolan were cast, as was Amanda Stanton from Ben Higgins' season. Some of the guys cast were Derek Peth, Nick Benvenutti, Ben Zorn and DeMario Jackson.

Rachel Lindsay was done with the 'Whaboom' guy, Lucas, and his arch-nemesis, Blake, on "The Bachelorette" ... but they weren't done clowning each other.

After each guy got stiffed in Monday night's rose ceremony, Lucas and Blake went after each other. They've beefed all season, but instead of going out with a brawl -- or even clever insults -- they traded goofy-as-hell shots.

Lots of yelling back and forth, and playground mocking ... but Lucas didn't even get in 1 last WHABOOM!

Honestly, we got enough in episode 1.

'Bachelorette' Rachel Lindsay has Bachelor Nation up in arms because a video of her partying with a dude ... appears to totally SPOIL the ending of her season.

For the uninitiated ... a video posted the same night as Rachel's premiere episode showed her kicking it with a handsome guy with facial hair. No biggie, until fans noticed the guy has a strong resemblance to Peter Kraus -- one of the front-runners to win Rachel's hand.

Fans are pissed ... thinking Rach gave away all the mystery. After all, she's already admitted she got engaged to one of the guys.

Take a pill, fans ... sources at the party tell us the guy in the background is a friend of a friend of Rachel's ... and absolutely NOT Peter. If it were him, Rachel would be in hot water with producers. She's banned from hanging with ANY of the contestants while the show's airing.

Soooo ... no spoiler in the video.

Still, don't count Peter out of the running, for obvious reasons ...

Michael Nance -- a contestant on season 8 of "The Bachelorette" -- was found dead early Monday morning in Texas.

According to the Austin PD ... the death is not suspicious, but the manner will be determined later by the medical examiner. Officers were called to a residence at 2:10 AM Monday to check on an unresponsive male. They say Nance was pronounced dead less than an hour later.

Michael competed for Emily Maynard back in 2012, before she eventually sent him home mid-season.

Michael was 31.

'Bachelorette' Rachel Lindsay's loudest suitor, the "Whaboom" guy, is already such a breakout star ... he's got fans in the streets, and haters trying to take him out on the show.

"Whaboom," whose real name is Lucas Yancey, made such an impression on Monday's debut he's gotten shout-outs from late night hosts, and when we saw him in Santa Monica ... even random German dudes were showing him love.

Lucas gave us a quick tutorial on his catchphrase -- which he says is more of a lifestyle -- and takes a shot at one of his 'Bachelorette' competitors.

Bottom whaboomline -- ya either got it or ya don't.

Rachel Lindsay got to meet all her guys on the premiere of "The Bachelorette" -- and none stood out more than Lucas for one reason ... Whaboom!

Lucas was the last of Rachel's suitors to be introduced Monday night, and he certainly has a unique personality ... not mention a standout job. According to his "Bachelorette" profile, his occupation is listed as just, well, Whaboom.

The new "Bachelorette" just surfaced before her new season kicks off Monday night with what appears to be a tiny engagement ring ... but she's got an explanation.

We got Rachel Lindsay leaving LAX, and our photog calls out the obvious -- she's wearing a sliver of metal around the finger where a huge rock would normally be if you were engaged.

Rachel's already confirmed she is in fact set to be hitched to someone from the "Bachelorette," but explains this one away with a simple answer ... it ain't a ring.

Britney Spears might be taken but that's not stopping her from picking famous, freshly single bachelors out of the crowd at her Las Vegas show.

"Bachelor in Paradise" star Josh Murray, who also won Andi Dorfman's 'Bachelorette' season, got the "Slave 4 U" serenade from Brit at her Wednesday night concert. It's a part of the act ... Brit picks someone in the crowd, dresses 'em up in straps and makes 'em dance.

Lance Bass has done it, but doesn't look like Brit knew she had a celeb onstage ... based on what she says to him at the end of the routine.

'Bachelorette' Rachel Lindsay went on a horse date in Beverly Hills of all places.

Rachel was shooting a segment of her show Thursday at Beverly Gardens Park with one of her 25 suitors. It's pretty hilarious ... check out the tudor-style mansions in the background.

It is, after all, the wild wild West in them thar hills ... and just a stone's throw from the Polo Lounge.

"The Bachelorette" will offer Rachel Lindsay clear choices ... if race is a factor.

The photo was snapped behind the scenes on the first night of taping, showing about 14 contestants, and there is a mix ... but looks like she's trending black.

It's pretty clear from the finale of "The Bachelor" ... producers are going to make race a central story line ... looks like mission accomplished.

Ex-'Bachelor' Ben Higgins is crossing his fingers ... hoping the new 'Bachelorette' does not get racial.

Ben's reacting to one of Rachel Lindsay's suitors, who blurted out this week, I'm ready to go black, and I'm never going to go back."

We got Ben leaving Barton G. in L.A. where he as much as said it was a bonehead statement.

Ben believes you can find love on the show and apparently, he did. He and his final rose from season 20, Lauren B., are still going strong.