The producers of “The Bachelor” are clearing the air on claims and reports emerging from the taped reunion of former couple Jake Pavelka and Vienna Girardi.
“Former ‘The Bachelor’ participants Jake and Vienna taped an interview last night. As this was the first time the two had seen one another since their recent breakup, the atmosphere was emotionally charged,” producers said in a statement to Access Hollywood on Thursday. “However, and contrary to reports that have surfaced about the interview, at no time was anyone ever physically in harms way, nor was anyone ever threatened with physical violence.”
The interview between the former couple, who became engaged at the conclusion of the ABC show’s last season, is set to air on “The Bachelorette” on July 5.
The producers’ statement came in response to a number of differing online reports that emerged on Thursday afternoon regarding the dramatic taping.
Earlier on Thursday, a source reportedly told Us Weekly that Jake was “calm and collected” during the sit-down, also denying online reports that the former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant had raised a fist to his former fiancee.
“It did not happen,” the source told the mag, adding that the discussion had, however, turned into a blow-up.
“He couldn’t get a word out – it was very reflective of their relationship,” the source added. “Vienna was on the defense. She was trying to play victim.”
Earlier, Star Magazine reported a different version of the events with its own source.
“Vienna was confronting him, exposing all his lies,” Star’s source reportedly said. “He started screaming at her: ‘Shut up! Don’t belittle me! Don’t question me! Shut up!’ And all of a sudden, he literally jumped out of his chair, pulled back his fist and lunged at her!”
TMZ also reported that Jake reportedly “cocked his arm and made a fist in Vienna’s direction.” Radar Online reported yet another similar account.
In an earlier People report, Jake said his relationship with Vienna had been getting in the way of his budding career on the small screen and that he was forced to end it by phone this past Monday night. According to Jake, he was having trouble immersing himself into his role on the Lifetime series while dealing with his “trust issues” with Vienna.
“One of the keys to acting is you have to get out of your head,” Jake told People. “[‘Drop Dead Diva’] didn’t hire me to be Jake, they hired me to play Toby Davlin. I can’t be Jake and sell this character.”
“I’ve been trying to put all that aside so that I can give this character justice,” he continued. “It’s been a struggle thinking about my relationship and going in front of the camera and shooting… It was a difficult conversation on the phone. But the relationship was headed in that direction.”
Jake’s guest spot on “Drop Dead Diva” will air on August 22 at 9 PM on Lifetime.
However, Vienna claims she, in fact, ended the relationship, telling Star magazine that as a couple, they hadn’t been intimate with each other in months.
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