“Love Is Blind” quickly became a huge hit for Netflix in 2020 by testing whether true love can form between two people without seeing each other. But just as quickly, the show has become a surprising test case for the growing movement to establish labor protections in reality TV.
The National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint against the reality show on Wednesday, stating that the show's participants have been misclassified and are actually employees who deserve certain employment rights. Under that classification, the labor board said the show's producers committed several labor violations, including illegal contract terms related to confidentiality and non-compete provisions.
The complaint represents an important step forward in the efforts of some unexpected talents to unionize. For the uninitiated, here are some key questions and answers about “Love Is Blind,” the workplace complaint, what it entails, and how it may (or may not) affect other contestants on the reality show.
What is 'Love is blind'?
The Netflix dating series, produced by Kinetic Content, premiered just in time to make viewers fall in love for Valentine's Day 2020. And it quickly became an addictive watch with its crazy premise of hopeful singles finding love talking to a wall No, really. The series begins with 15 single men and 15 single women who divide into pairs and meet, one by one, unseen, in a “capsule” separated by a bright blue wall.
After much talk, those who share a strong connection become engaged and meet face to face for the first time before leaving on vacation to Mexico. Eventually, the couples venture back into the real world, living together and meeting their family and friends. If after all this they are not sick of each other, the couples exchange vows. Of the couples who decided to get married on the domestic version of the show, most stayed married and some started families. It is also not uncommon for some contestants to take advantage of their popularity or notoriety to pursue other reality TV opportunities or outside ventures.
What does the complaint say?
In the complaint, which lists former “Love Is Blind” contestants Renee Poche and Nick Thompson as defendants, the producers of “Love Is Blind” are accused of engaging in multiple unfair labor practices, including misclassifying cast members as non-employee “participants.” This classification, according to the complaint, means that contestants cannot participate in certain activities, such as collective bargaining, and deprives them of labor protections guaranteed to employees under the National Labor Relations Act.
Don't reality show contestants get paid?
Yes, reality TV cast members typically receive some compensation for appearing on camera. But unlike scripted television, there are few industry-wide standards when it comes to pay, in part because, as yet, there is no union that negotiates pay standards or advocates for better workplace conditions. . Compensation varies greatly depending on the format. Popular recurring stars on franchises like “The Real Housewives” can earn six figures for a single season and negotiate larger salaries to reflect their status as prominent reality TV personalities. But it also depends on the type of reality show; For example, competition show contestants typically earn more money the higher they advance, while other reality stars receive modest weekly or daily stipends while they are filmed.
According to participation agreements cited in the NLRB complaint, “Love Is Blind” contestants received a stipend of $1,000 per week, for up to eight weeks, or a maximum payment of $8,000. Participants also gave producers the rights to film them “24/7.”
Haven't they already sued 'Love Is Blind'?
Four years since its debut, the series has been the subject of a growing number of lawsuits and accusations of misconduct by former contestants. A class-action lawsuit filed by Season 2 contestant Jeremy Hartwell accused the show's producers of several alleged labor violations, including failure to provide rest periods and underpayment of wages. In his complaint, Hartwell claimed that while filming the portion of the series, producers “overwhelmed the cast with alcohol and deprived them of food and water, while paying rates below the Los Angeles County minimum wage.” A $1.4 million settlement was eventually reached, which was reportedly divided among 144 former cast and crew members, after attorney fees.
Further allegations of mistreatment were detailed in an Insider report from April 2023, in which several contestants spoke out about the conditions within the Netflix series, alleging that they had experienced “emotional warfare.”
Kinetic Content has denied the allegations in both the lawsuit and the Insider report, but in an interview with Variety, Chris Coelen, Kinetic CEO and showrunner of “Love Is Blind,” defended the show's working conditions. He said that cast members had access to psychological care during filming, alleging that two psychologists were present in the control room during filming in the capsules; post-pods, there is a hotline for a specialist that is available 24/7. Coelen also responded to the report's claim that cast members would be subject to a $50,000 fine if they left the show early, saying that the production never enforced the clause and that the penalty was removed from the contracts in the last seasons.
In another lawsuit, season five contestant Tran Dang sued Kinetic Content and Delirium TV, another production company behind the show, over allegations of sexual assault, false imprisonment and negligence. This year, Poche, who appeared in season 5, filed a lawsuit against Netflix after allegedly being penalized $4 million for violating her contract by publicly discussing her time on the show. (She earned $8,000 for her participation in the show, as noted in her submission.)
What have Netflix or the production companies that make 'Love Is Blind' said about the complaint?
Nothing. At least not yet. Netflix declined to comment Thursday. Kinetic Content and Delirium TV had not responded to a request for comment as of this story's publication.
So what happens next, from a legal perspective?
Unless a settlement is first reached, an NLRB administrative law judge will hear the case and decide whether the producers of “Love Is Blind” violated the National Labor Relations Act. The hearing is scheduled for April 22, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. If the judge decides that producers violated the law, he can order reparations to “undo the harm created by unfair labor practices,” including back pay for employees.
Once that decision is issued, an appeal can be made to the national board. Further appeals can be made to federal court and even to the Supreme Court.
What happens if 'Love Is Blind' contestants are classified as employees?
If “Love Is Blind” contestants are classified as employees, they will be entitled to certain protections under the National Labor Relations Act, including the right to take collective action to improve their wages and working conditions. They would also have the right to participate in activities such as strikes and protests, and to discuss their salaries among themselves, rights that are not guaranteed as mere “participants.”
While the decision will only pertain to “Love Is Blind,” it would set a precedent for other producers and potentially galvanize the movement to unionize reality TV talent.
