Meredith Phillips, star of the second season of “The Bachelorette,” claims that she was drugged and sexually assaulted during production of the show in 2003, PEOPLE reports.
She shared these allegations for the first time during a an episode of the “Reality Steve” podcast, which aired on Wednesday.
According to Betches, Phillips recalls notifying produced that she felt fatigued, and a massage therapist, who was hired by the show, was sent to her room to help alleviate some stress. Â
Phillips alleged that she was “roofied” and “kind of accosted” by this unknown female massage therapist.
“I just assumed it was an aspirin or something to loosen up my back, or Tylenol, or something. And it definitely wasn’t that, that’s for sure,” Phillips said during the podcast.
She recalled being pulled into the tub in her room, naked, and then sexually assaulted.
“The last thing I remember was she got naked and she was in the tub with me, and rubbing my back and rubbing areas probably she shouldn’t have. And then I was put in bed. I woke up naked. Don’t remember much,” Phillips said.
According to PEOPLE, Phillips said she did not report these allegations at the time because she “wanted to protect the franchise, which is f—ed-up.”
The former Bachelorette shared this encounter on the podcast after being asked what was the “hardest thing” she had to deal with during her time on “The Bachelorette.”
“This is hard for me to talk about. I think I’ve put it somewhere else in my brain so when you bring this up, it’s definitely right there in the forefront as we’re speaking,” Phillips said. “I remember everything until a certain point and when the pill kicked in I literally couldn’t even move my body, so I have no idea what the pill was at all.”
“It is a huge deal. I have worked through it and thrown it in the back of my mind. I had no control. Zero,” she said. “I think that was the hardest part for me, that I couldn’t even lift my arms to say no.”
According to Betches, Phillips revealed that another woman working on the show confided in her, saying she had been drugged and assaulted in a tub as well.
These accusations come a year after filming for “Bachelor in Paradise” season four was temporarily suspended when after two sow producers voiced their concerns about a sexual encounter between contestants Corinne Olympios and DeMario Jackson, PEOPLE reports.
After a brief investigation, no evidence of misconduct was found and filming resumed.
The next season of “The Bachelorette” starring Becca Kufrin premieres this Monday, May 28, on ABC. Hopefully the show will ensure that all contestants, including the Bachelorette, are safe.