Bringing their feud online! Josh Murray and Nick Viall had friction in Bachelor in Paradise’s Monday, August 8, episode, due to them both having eyes for Amanda Stanton. After the episode aired, Murray took to Twitter to not only defend his actions but also question his rival’s motives.
Murray, 31, arrived on the beach in the August 8 episode and instantly took a shine to the Bachelor season 20 castoff Stanton, who Viall had just gone on a date with. The Bachelorette season 10 winner then went on a sailing date with the single mom and later kissed her in front of their costars, leading Viall to accuse Murray of pursuing Stanton just to spite him. (Murray and Viall had previously butted heads while battling for Andi Dorfman’s affection on season 10.)
“I was there to find a connection with an amazing woman, period,” Murray tweeted after the episode on August 8. “Intentions are 100% pure.”
He wrote about Viall, “Funny how someone who is pursuing acting is questioning my intentions and whether or not I’m acting.” This is a reference to Viall’s move to Los Angeles, where he has taken acting classes and has worked as a model.
Murray added about Viall, 35, and Stanton’s connection: “They weren’t an item, they both agreed to date other people after first rose ceremony, so there’s your truth. Aside from the unnecessary drama, my first date with @amandastantonnn was the best first date of my life, what an amazing woman!”
The Famously Single alum also claimed that his exchange with Viall in the episode about Stanton was heavily edited. “Bahahahaha that whole Nick vs me talk when I returned from my date was cut up so much, cracks me up — if y’all only knew what was said,” Murray tweeted.
For his part, Viall largely stayed above the fray on Twitter regarding the episode, but he did tweet a response to Murray’s comment in the episode that Viall is a sheep and Murray himself is a lion.
“Just to review the food chain. Lions hunt gazelle. Wolves hunt sheep. Carry on. #BachelorInParadise,” Viall tweeted.
Murray was certainly the talk of the episode, as viewers in particular were baffled by his odd kissing sounds while he smooched Stanton. (Click here to hear his most memorable moans.)
Tell Us: Did Josh Murray cross a line by asking out Amanda Stanton?
Bachelor in Paradise airs on ABC Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
