Pieper James, a contestant on Bachelor In Paradise, explained an important "point of contention" after her chaotic Bachelor experience with Brendan Morais. As fans of Paradise know, Brendan was rejected by Bachelor Nation after he was caught lying about his relationship with Natasha Parker. Once a beloved contestant, Brendan has destroyed his reputation within Bachelor Nation, leading a surge of drama in season 7.
While fans have followed a number of controversial moments with Demi Burnett and plenty of tears from Tammy Ly, the most dramatic and controversial happenings of the season come back to Brendan and his relationship with Pieper, both before and during the most recent season. Blamed for stealing opportunities from both Natasha and Demi, both the cast of the series and fans have joined to unanimously disapprove of Brendan's behavior. Even though Brendan has apologized for his actions on BIP, he is still facing backlash and is currently under increasing scrutiny, both in person and online.
As reported by Us Weekly, Pieper appears to have more to add to the conversation surrounding her relationship with Brendan, addressing "one final point of contention." Pieper confirmed on Instagram that both herself and Brendan "were not in an exclusive relationship...before filming." Demi and Natasha, both involved with Brendan at points throughout the season, blamed Brendan for abusing the system and disrupting the order of Bachelor In Paradise, yet Pieper said just the opposite. In light of the circumstances and the pair's appearance in season 7, Pieper explained, "I had no idea what I was walking into...obviously [if] you like somebody, you hope that they are waiting for you...so whatever he had to do beforehand, that had nothing to do with me." While united on-screen, Pieper appears to be distancing herself from Brendan's behavior, honestly sharing her truth on the matter.
Brendan and Pieper have lost followers and fans because of their supposed deception, misleading both the cast and loyal audience. While the show is known for its casual hookups and scandalous flings, the majority of the season 7 cast have made it clear they are on Bachelor In Paradise to find love and connection, free of ulterior motives and career aspirations. Now ostracized from Bachelor Nation, both Brendan and Pieper continue to defend themselves, despite clear and damaging evidence of their dishonesty about their journey on Paradise.
Having left abruptly in the most recent episode of the season after accusations of lies and deceit, Brendan and Pieper appear to be running away from their problems, unable to face the criticism of their peers. Since their relationship before the show has come into question, Natasha has been critical of Brendan and Pieper. The burned contestant has been active on social media, calling out the couples' clearly inappropriate actions. Those who are involved with Bachelor Nation have it clear that social media fame is certainly not the goal of Bachelor In Paradise; love and genuine connection are the only desirable outcomes for contestants.
Bachelor In Paradise airs Tuesdays at 8pm on ABC.
Sources: Us Weekly, Pieper James/Instagram