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On December 11, 2024, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed a lawsuit claiming that Love is Blind violated labor laws, including noncompete agreements and confidentiality rules.
NLRB classified contestants on Netflix's Love Is Blind as employees, not independent participants. If contestants are reclassified as employees, they would gain federal rights, such as the ability to form a union, potentially reshaping how reality TV treats cast members.
As per The New York Times, this comes after years of criticism from past contestants who have made similar claims about low wages, difficult working conditions, and psychological suffering. Significant changes may result from the complaint, not only for Love Is Blind but also for other reality TV programs.
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Love Is Blind: NLRB complaint
As per The New York Times on December 11, 2024, the complaint alleges that the production companies behind Love Is Blind, Kinetic Content, and Delirium TV, violated labor laws by imposing overly restrictive contractual terms on cast members. The NLRB specifically discovered problems with noncompete and confidentiality restrictions.
The contracts prohibited participants from appearing in the media or conducting interviews for a year following the airing of their most recent episode. A competitor might also be fined up to $50,000 if they decided to withdraw from the show for what the producers considered an "illegitimate" reasoning.
The NLRB claimed in a statement that these clauses violated the cast's federal labor rights. It also demanded that the production companies reclassify contestants as employees and compensate them for wages lost due to these restrictions.
Among those who filed complaints with the NLRB was season two contestant Nick Thompson. He accused producers of manipulating issues for dramatic effect and criticized the show for its rigorous filming schedule. “Reality TV has escaped labor laws,” Thompson said on his podcast.
Another contestant, Renee Poche from season five, also filed a complaint. Poche has spoken publicly about her experience on the show, including her engagement to a man she claimed was “unemployed with a negative balance in his bank account.”
Poche alleged that when she shared her distressing experience, the production companies initiated arbitration proceedings against her for violating her nondisclosure agreement, seeking $4 million in damages.
Contestants speak out
Former cast members have been increasingly critical of Love Is Blind over the years. Several participants have complained of cruel conditions in addition to their salary, which was believed to be $1,000 per week or $8,000 for their time on the show.
In a class-action lawsuit, another former contestant, Jeremy Hartwell, claimed that the show was paying contestants less than California's minimum wage. Earlier this year, this lawsuit settled for $1.4 million, although the production companies did not acknowledge any wrongdoing.
Attorney Bryan Freedman, who represents multiple reality TV litigants, including Poche, said the NLRB complaint could be a turning point for the industry.
“Cast members are stripped of fundamental rights, gagged from speaking out, denied legal recourse, paid virtually nothing, subjected to the ever-present threat of ruinous liquidated damages, and prevented from working elsewhere,” he stated on Wednesday.
Despite these allegations, Love Is Blind creator Chris Coelen has consistently defended the show’s practices. In a previous interview with People magazine, Coelen said,
“We document the independent choices of adults who volunteer to participate in a social experiment. Their journey is not scripted, nor is it filmed around the clock.”
What’s next for Love Is Blind?
The NLRB's complaint will now be heard by an administrative law judge, who will determine whether the show broke labor laws. If the judge rules against the production companies, they can appeal to the National Labour board Board in Washington, D.C.
This legal dispute arises as Love Is Blind, one of Netflix's most popular reality shows since its 2020 debut, prepares for its eighth season, set to premiere in February 2025. The show features singles dating in soundproof "pods" without seeing each other and has inspired multiple seasons and global spinoffs.
Cast members from various franchises, including The Real Housewives and Vanderpump Rules, have started to speak out against exploitative contracts and inadequate pay.
