On "Week 5," several other "Bachelor in Paradise" contestants, including Parker, Joe Amabile, and Demi Burnett, confront Morais and James on the status of their relationship, questioning why the two would join the reality show if they were already committed to each other.
In response, Morais says he and James had only gone on "two or three" dates prior to coming to the show, and had only socialized in group settings beyond that.
"It's not like, 'Hey Pieper, do wanna be my girlfriend,'" Morais explains, while also admitting that he had hoped James would join the show as a contestant.
Parker and Amabile tell Morais that by him hoping to enter into a relationship with James even before she made an appearance on the show, Morais wasn't being "open to the process" of finding love among the other contestants.
Ultimately, Morais and James leave "Bachelor in Paradise" together after the tense conversation, saying they want to explore their relationship "on our terms."
On the car ride away from the beach, Morais again defends his actions: "I didn't intentionally wanna mislead anyone. I just withheld information."