Why does this outlined text blend with the shape behind it?

I have a rectangle that goes from 100% white filled  opacity on the left side to 0% on the right. I positioned some text that I made into outlines on top of it and brought the outlined text to the front of the stacking order. The outlined text also has a lowered opacity. The outlined text that overlaps the shape now seems to have different amounts of opacity based on the shape blending in with it from behind, even the the blending modes are set to normal and both the shape and text are filled with white. What is going on?

Thanks.