Bachelor in Paradise’s Brendan Morais and Pieper James Lose Followers as Bachelor Nation Sides With Natasha Parker

Credit: ABC; Courtesy of Pieper James/Instagram; ABC

Bachelor in Paradise’s Brendan Morais and Pieper James Lose Followers as Bachelor Nation Sides With Natasha Parker

Brendan Morais and Pieper James’ Bachelor in Paradise plan to get more Instagram followers is backfiring … but benefitting Natasha Parker? After the couple was caught on camera discussing influencer status and their pre-show romance on the Monday, September 6, episode of the ABC hit, Bachelor Nation has spoken. Brendan, who appeared on season 16 of The Bachelorette, and Pieper, one of Matt James’ contestants, kicked off Monday night with cheeky Instagram captions. “Here for the wrong reasons,” the 31-year-old commercial roofer captioned a photo of himself in a pool. At the same time, Pieper, 24, wrote, “All’s fair in love and war” alongside two snaps of herself posing. The Oregon native also made a TikTok set to Lizzo’s “Rumors,” lip-syncing the lyrics, “All the rumors are true, yeah / What ya heard, that's true, yeah / I f—k him and you, yeah / If you believe I do that / Had to cut some hoes loose, yeah.” Pieper arrived during Monday’s episode with her sights set on Brendan weeks after allegations that they started dating pre-show made waves on the beach. While he downplayed their relationship, which Us Weekly exclusively confirmed in June, Pieper admitted to Natasha, 33, that they had been dating without “labels” for two months. The “Click Bait” podcast cohost, who was dating Brendan on the beach, accused him of being a “liar” and suggested the pair were clout chasers. [jwplayer pBdlZz30-zhNYySv2] ABC subsequently cut to footage of Pieper and Brendan discussing how many followers they have and joking about how Natasha didn’t have other “prospects,” with Brendan implying he did her a favor by giving her a rose even though he was waiting for Pieper’s arrival. “I can’t even watch this bs,” Natasha tweeted during Monday’s episode. “‘Pick-up where we left off?!’ What am I watching? … I’m being referred to as ‘heavy lifting’ ? Wow #rudeaf #BachelorinParadise.” The Bachelor season 24 alum also retweeted a post accusing Brendan of “gaslighting” her and shared another tweet referring to their aforementioned Instagram captions as disrespectful. As the drama played out on BiP, Brendan’s follower count plummeted, with the Bachelorette alum losing more than 29,000 fans via Instagram. Natasha, meanwhile, is up more than 70,000 and Pieper has also lost several thousand followers on the social media platform as the backlash continues from alums. The drama continues on the Tuesday, September 7, episode of Bachelor in Paradise on ABC 8 p.m. ET. Scroll through for Bachelor Nation’s reactions:

Credit: Courtesy of Victoria Fuller/Instagram

Victoria Fuller

“Coincidence? Sick f—k!” the Bachelor season 24 alum claimed after Brendan implied that he didn’t know Pieper was coming. “This guy sux.”

Victoria added via text, “*Me trying to remember the healthy exercises my therapist tried to teach me*.”

She later posted a selfie of herself giving the middle finger, writing, “This one is for u Brandon (SIC).”

Credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin

Onyeka Ehie

“With the combination of gaslighting, lying, clout chasing, and disrespect this situation is just…..embarrassing,” Onyeka tweeted. “The AUDACITY Brendan has Exploding head #BachelorInParadise.”

Credit: ABC/John Fleenor

Mike Johnson

“First n foremost put some respect on @itsnatashajp name @BachParadise,” the Bachelorette alum tweeted.

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Noah Erb

“You’re not a pity party,” Noah said in an Instagram Stories video to Natasha. “I know you wouldn’t want to see anyone dragged through the mud any more than they have to be because that’s just not the kind of person you are and keep the head high, baby.”

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Kenny Braasch

“I got to give a shoutout to my girl Natasha for handling her business very well,” the BiP season 7 cast member said via Instagram Stories. “She’s got those ties to Chicago, that’s what that is right there.”

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Nick Viall

“Brendan and Pieper are the masterminds of a very poorly planned crime #BachelorInParadise,” the former Bachelor tweeted before adding, “Natasha absolutely dominated that episode #BachelorInParadise.”

After a social media user suggested that production was the “masterminds” of the drama, Nick noted, “If the FBI sets a trap the Criminals aren’t let off because there wasn’t actually money in the vault.”

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Rachel Lindsay

After sharing a snap with Natasha and declaring she’s “TEAM NATASHA” via Instagram Stories, the season 13 Bachelorette shared a throwback video of her dog barking over Brendan during his “Bachelor Happy Hour” podcast interview last year, noting, “Both Copper and I tried to tell y’all about him last year.”

Natasha reposted the video, writing, “Uh oh @therachlindsay comes out of bachelor retirement tonight.”

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Demi Burnett

“Protect Natasha at all costs #BachelorInParadise,” the BiP season 7 star wrote. “Natasha handled that like a bad bitch #BachelorInParadise.”

Demi later joked, “Honestly thinking Brendan went on the date with me bc I have the most followers 😭 #BachelorInParadise.”

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Tammy Ly

“The only thing louder than Brendan’s lies is this rainstorm #BachelorInParadise,” the fellow BiP season 7 cast member tweeted. “Not them talking about followers. DO THEY NOT KNOW THEYRE MIC’d?! #BachelorInParadise.”

Tammy added, “We are ALL shocked to hear what was said on this episode. We don’t get to listen in on ‘private’ convos until it gets aired back #bachelorinparadise.”

Credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin

Serena Pitt

Serena, who is friends with Pieper from Matt’s season, tweeted, “Me to Brendan: ‘I think it’ll be fine’ […] Clearly I was on a different beach than everyone else #bachelorinparadiseabc.”

Credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin

Becca Kufrin

“Line em up ABC @NatashaParker,” the season 14 Bachelorette captioned a photo via Instagram Stories.

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Hannah Ann Sluss

“@NatashaParker you deserve it all. The best. The most honest. Greatest love!!!” the Bachelor season 24 alum wrote.

Credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin

Joe Amabile

“Prospects is an understatement,” Natasha’s “Click Bait” podcast cohost and costar wrote via Instagram Stories. She shared the post and added, “Aww Joe don’t make me cry. I did enough of that one the beach ! Lysol.”

Credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin

Deandra Kanu

“Now Brenden and @itsnatashajp had a ‘Friendship’ !??!!? I don’t kiss my friends. #bachelorinparadise,” Deandra, who is on BiP season 7, tweeted. “IS ANYONE HEARING THESE CONVERSATIONS!??! I’m in shock. #bachelorinparadise.”

Credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin

Clay Harbor

“Natasha is intelligent beautiful and funny. Trust me Brendan she has prospects. #bachelorinparadiseabc,” the Bachelorette season 14 alum wrote before shooting his shot. “I would take Natasha out yesterday. #bachelorinparadiseabc.”

In another tweet, Clay wrote: “F***boy book chapter 7: tell her she has selective hearing when you get caught up. #bachelorinparadise.”

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Olivia Caridi

“I’m furious for you,” the Bachelor season 20 alum tweeted at Natasha during the episode.

Credit: Bob D'Amico/ABC

Diggy Moreland

“Brendan told a woman she has selective hearing. I HOPE HE GOT LIFE INSURANCE. @BachParadise #bachelorinparadise,” the Bachelorette season 13 alum tweeted. “They talking about follower counts?!?!? Did they know they had mics on???”