No reality show comes without some controversy, and for Australia’s first season of Bachelor In Paradise, that controversy comes in the form of Blake Colman.
For the uninformed, Blake – who was one of Sophie Monk’s suitors on last year’s Bachelorette, has a history of assault and revenge porn accusations.
In 2015, he was charged with assault after an altercation with Perth resident Tristan Cooper, who ended up needing four staples to close his head wound. He was ordered to pay Tristan $850.
He was also accused by his ex-girlfriend Jen Hawke, a fellow Bachelor alumni, of threatening to sell her nude photos.
After dissent stirred amongst fans over Blake’s inclusion on the new reality show, the Bachelor In Paradise production company Warner Brothers has made a statement to News Corp, defending their decision.
‘Background checks, including police checks, are done on all contestants in reality shows, and these checks are conducted by the relevant production company,’ a rep said. ‘In Blake’s case, his police check was clear.’
Blake also addressed the allegations on Saturday to The West Australian.
‘A lot happened to me after (The Bachelorette) and there are some things I can’t change and I made some mistakes. I just sort of took that time away from social media and I didn’t actually leave the house really for two months. I was invited to all of these events and I couldn’t go because I was just thinking how… I can’t change the past but how can I make the future better.’
So far, Blake remains on the show – he was given a rose by Laurina Fleur during Monday nights episode.
