Contestants on Bachelor in Paradise tend to use producers as scapegoats every time they are seen in a negative light. There has been speculation that producers play a prime role in leading or orchestrating major drama among the contestants. From setting up Salley Carson’s suitcase on the BIP set to bringing Kira Mengistu over to tease Jill Chin, producers have done it all to spice things up on the show. However, sometimes contestants use the producers to cover up their wrongdoings.
Contestants have used the producers as an excuse for all the drama, feuds, and scandals from BIP. If not the contestants, then the viewers blame producers for using contestants as their puppets. On BIP season 4, Corinne Olympios was involved with DeMario Jackson, who was accused of sexual misconduct. Despite not being part of what happened, the producers were also blamed for the controversy. In BIP season 8, when Genevieve Parisi, from The Bachelor season 26, was seen struggling with her dates, fans were pointing fingers at producers for staging Genevieve’s dating troubles. "In the last couple of years or so, contestants have been very quick to blame the producers for their own actions," u/Present-Two-7015 a user from Reddit, said.
Do Producers Really Use BIP Contestants As Their Puppets?
There have been many instances where producers directed contestants according to the show’s needs. However, BIP's producers never influenced contestants to react in a certain way or pushed them to do something they said they didn't want to do. However, there are many moments from BIP season 8 where fans were convinced producers set them up.
When watching Salley's suitcase drama on BIP, it was evident that producers planted her suitcase in the women’s quarters to start a feud over it. However, viewers felt that the suitcase storyline was pretty lame and a waste of time. Fans also speculated the producers planted one of their phones in Ivan Hall’s room during BIP season 7. He found fellow contestant Alexa Caves' room number through the phone. Ivan went to her room to spend time with her, but this led to his exit from the show.
It’s evident that the producers create stories and stage situations, but they never have the authority to fully control how contestants react. The producers may have planted Ivan's phone and Salley's suitcase on Bachelor in Paradise, but it was in the contestant's hands to decide what they wanted to do. Sometimes viewers even like it when the producers meddle in order to create better TV, but sometimes that is not always the case.
Source: u/Present-Two-7015/Reddit