When two worlds collide, sparks fly and social media buzzes. Brendan Morais and Serene Russell have knocked Bachelor Nation off its axis with their unexpected love story, and the reactions are pouring in from all corners.
- Mar 22, 2025
AceShowbiz - On Wednesday, March 19, fans of "The Bachelor" franchise were in for a shock when alums Brendan Morais and Serene Russell made their relationship Instagram-official.
The pair, known from their respective seasons on "The Bachelorette" and "The Bachelor", posted multiple photos and videos of them as a couple, simply captioned with a white heart emoji.
Host Jesse Palmer enthusiastically reacted, "So happy for you Serene!!!" while season 17 runner-up Justin Glaze chimed in with a series of applause emojis.
Meanwhile, one fan encapsulated the general sentiment, writing, "This was NOT on my bachelor bingo card," reflecting the widespread surprise.
The celebration was indeed not universal. Brendan's ex-girlfriend, Pieper James, posted a cryptic and now-deleted Instagram Story the same day. In a mirror selfie donning a leopard print dress, she hinted at sharing her side of the story with the caption, "Guess it's time for a story time đź‘€."
This follows a TikTok from October 2023, where she hinted at the difficulties and emotional fallout from her relationship with Brendan, captioned, "When they say 'go to hell' but I'm still recovering from the whiplash my last relationship caused me."
Brendan and Pieper's relationship was not without controversy. The two met on season 7 of "Bachelor in Paradise", where Brendan ended his connection with Natasha Parker to pursue Pieper.
This move drew criticism and accusations of deceit and manipulation from Parker and viewers alike. Despite the backlash, Brendan and Pieper dated for two years before seemingly parting ways.
Serene Russell's romantic journey has also been a roller coaster. She was engaged to Brandon Jones following "Bachelor in Paradise" season 8, but the couple ended their engagement less than a year later.
As Brendan and Serene find love with each other, Bachelor Nation watches with bated breath, dissecting every detail and waiting for the next chapter to unfold. Whether this relationship will weather the storm remains to be seen, but for now, the couple's newfound happiness takes center stage, leaving fans and former flames alike to navigate their own paths.
