Love Is Blind has faced numerous startling claims concerning its supposed lack of mental health care, and the show’s creator is firing back with a detailed explanation of the support they give contestants. The allegations began in June 2022, when Love Is Blind season 2’s Jeremy Hartwell filed a lawsuit naming Netflix and Kinetic Content, the show’s production company. Jeremy presented a considerable number of allegations that he said created an overall inhumane environment for participants. Then in April 2023, a comprehensive report of multiple former stars mirroring his allegations was released, including from Love Is Blind season 2’s Danielle Ruhl and her ex-husband, Nick Thompson.
One of the more alarming claims against Love Is Blind was Danielle’s accusation that she would face a $50,000 fine if she left the show due to emotional distress. In an interview with Variety, creator Chris Coelen denied this. “She never asked anyone in production ever to leave the show,” he claimed, adding that she supposedly knew she was “free to leave.” As for the fine, Chris said this was true in earlier seasons but apparently only existed because it was common practice for reality TV agreements. He reiterated that they have never executed the $50,000 penalty and never even “threatened” to do so.
Love Is Blind Creator Offered To Pay For Contestants’ Post-Show Therapy
This back-and-forth of accusations between Danielle and the Love Is Blind showrunner has been ongoing, but Chris said that he is still actively trying to help Danielle. “We’ve consistently offered to reimburse the costs of Ms. Ruhl’s post-filming therapy,” he claimed. He also said that he has tried communicating with her “privately” and that the therapy reimbursement offer “still stands.” Danielle hasn’t expressed interest in resolving anything with Chris or Love Is Blind, and perhaps her denial of their financial help speaks to some of her points–that it isn’t necessarily about the money and that the way the show allegedly harmfully affected her should have never happened to begin with.
In early 2022, Danielle claimed that she “begged” producers to leave after experiencing a panic attack. Love Is Blind season 2 aired some of the situations Danielle referenced, but there was some confusion, prompting her to explain the situation. She wrote that her mental health continued to worsen because she “wanted to leave” and “felt trapped.” In response to Chris’ comments that she wasn’t being truthful about what happened, she told Variety that she maintains her side: that she allegedly did inform them of her mental health status and that she requested to exit Love Is Blind early.
A number of Love Is Blind stars have backed Jeremy’s allegations from the short time he was on the show. The lawsuit is ongoing, but he also maintains his accusations, regardless of Chris and Kinetic’s attempts to defend themselves publicly. Most former Love Is Blind stars have remained silent on the matter–not extending public backing to Jeremy, Danielle, or any others but also not arguing against it. It can be hard to take a stand in the entertainment industry in general, so it is important to refrain from invalidating such serious allegations unless they prove otherwise.
Love Is Blind season 5 streams Fridays on Netflix.
Sources: Variety, Danielle Ruhl/Instagram
