Former Bachelor star Ben Higgins is speaking out in defense of Paradise.
Two sources confirmed to PEOPLE on Monday that filming on the fourth season of Bachelor in Paradise had been suspended after a producer raised concerns about an alleged sexual encounter between contestant DeMario Jackson, 30, and a female cast mate.
On Tuesday, Higgins and fellow alum Ashley Iaconetti sounded off on the latest controversy and passionately defended the BiP crew on a special episode of their iHeartRadio podcast, Almost Famous.
“I was never forced into anything. I was talked through as a friend in situations. If I was confused, they would sit with me and allow me to speak my mind and help me process,” Higgins said of his experiences on The Bachelorette and The Bachelor. “Yes, there is producing that is done. It’s a show! There are situations that happen that they need to get something out of, but it’s never a forced situation.
”The reality star — who recently split with his Bachelorette final pick Lauren Bushnell — insisted no storylines are created by the producers before a season is filmed. “The storyline makes itself up each and every day…
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