“I did the best I could” – Bachelor in Paradise star Hakeem Moulton opens up about his experience on the show

Hakeem Moulton is addressing his short-lived but emotional time on Bachelor in Paradise season 10. Known for his time on The Bachelorette season 20, Hakeem was expected by many fans to make a deep run on the latest season of Paradise.

However, his journey ended almost as soon as it began, following a heated altercation and an early elimination. In a July 8 Instagram post reflecting on the experience, Hakeem shared:

“I know I did the best I could, and I am still grateful for every single moment of this experience,” as he opened up about the highs and lows of his reality TV return.

Bachelor in Paradise returned after a two-year hiatus, and despite some mixed reviews, viewers were excited to see familiar faces back on the screen.

Hakeem, a 31-year-old medical device salesman from Schaumburg, Illinois, joined the cast following his elimination in week three of The Bachelorette.

Hakeem Moulton breaks his silence after early exit from Bachelor in Paradise

On Bachelor in Paradise, Hakeem clashed with fellow season 20 contestant Ricky Marinez during episode 1. The disagreement started after Ricky referred to Hakeem as 'vanilla' during a group activity.

While intended as a joke, the comment struck a nerve with Hakeem, who confronted Ricky and asked the group if anyone liked being called ‘vanilla.' The argument escalated, and both contestants were sent home at the first rose ceremony.

The confrontation visibly turned off the women, and neither received a rose. Hakeem later admitted that the situation affected him deeply.

“Walking out of Paradise a lot sooner than I ever pictured, but feeling so thankful for it all,” he wrote. “I went into this ready to push myself out of my comfort zone, and now I am crawling right back into my shell because rejection and goodbyes on national TV will humble you real quick.”

He acknowledged that the experience had taken a toll on his emotions and that he had been dealing with the loss of a deep bond and the shortness of his stay. Despite not specifically naming Ricky, Hakeem's remarks imply that their falling out persisted off-camera.

“I have done a lot of reflecting, and I know I have work to do, especially when it comes to handling my emotions and not letting them run the whole show. I hope when you see me, you feel a little hope that you can put yourself out there too, face the hard parts, feel the embarrassment and heartbreak, and still come back stronger.”

Hakeem concluded by considering the path ahead with optimism. He claimed that even though his time in Bachelor in Paradise was short, he is choosing to have faith that what is meant for him will come and is accepting the feelings that accompanied it.

He promised fans that his tale isn't finished and gave fans a hint that he would make a comeback in the future, even though this chapter didn't go as expected. Reactions to the post were mostly supportive. Fellow Bachelor in Paradise contestant Spencer Conley commented:

“Absolutely NOTHING to be embarrassed about king!! People can say whatever they want from behind a screen but anyone that knows you knows your heart and what an amazing person you are. Everything happens for a reason. Grateful for you Keem.”

Jeremy Simon responded with a series of broken heart emojis. Meanwhile, Ricky Marinez appeared to throw subtle shade in his own Instagram post. Sharing photos from the show, he captioned it:

“Lesson learned from Paradise? Pick another flavor 🍦🍦🍦 Beyond grateful for this experience, the ppl I met, the craziness leading up to it, everything. Just thankful for it all.”

Though he did not address Hakeem by name, the caption seemed to reference their dispute directly.

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Episodes of Bachelor in Paradise continue to air every Monday on ABC, with next-day streaming available on Hulu.

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