Love Is Blind’s Blake Anderson Shares Why He Left the Show Early

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Blake Anderson is opening fans’ eyes to the real reason for his early exit on Love Is Blind.

Even though he developed relationships with Anna Yuan and Megan Walerius, the accountant unexpectedly left season nine of the Netflix show (released Oct. 1) without proposing-and didn’t even say farewell before leaving the pods.

Now, Blake is sharing why he thought leaving was the “right thing” to do.

Speaking about the short timeframe, he admitted to initially being doubtful, he told TopMob News in an exclusive interview. “However, as you go on dates and start enjoying yourself, and building connections with people, you begin to feel hopeful. You start to think, ‘Perhaps this could actually work out for me.'”

However, the 34-year-old quickly understood that he wouldn’t be proposing to any of them.

I can be overly practical at times,” he said, “and this situation was the same. You were thinking about that deadline, and as the days passed, I came to the conclusion that I likely wouldn’t be receiving a proposal.

Blake shared that the Love Is Blind team actually advised contestants to exit the show if they weren’t forming meaningful bonds.

He explained that throughout the experiment, it was made clear that if someone wasn’t actively committed, they shouldn’t participate. “So, I genuinely believed I was doing what was best,” he said. “At the time, I thought the best course of action was to ask them to withdraw from the experiment.”

As he put it simply, “I didn’t feel like I was close to a proposal with any of my connections.”

Even though Blake supports his decision to leave, he does feel bad about leaving so abruptly, leaving his fellow cast members with questions that went unanswered. He wishes he could have handled the departure with more clarity and communication, addressing their concerns before leaving. It was a difficult situation, and he acknowledges that his sudden exit caused some confusion and hurt feelings.

Thinking about it now, I didn’t fully consider what would happen next, and finding out the details the following day, I definitely felt like things could have been handled more smoothly,” he confessed. “So, in retrospect, would I have done things differently? Perhaps. However, I believe I ultimately made the best choice for myself.

Even though Blake supports his decision to leave, he does feel some sadness about how quickly he left, leaving his fellow cast members with questions that went unanswered. He wishes he could have handled the departure with more clarity.

Looking back, I realize I didn’t fully think through what would happen next, and finding out the details the following day, I definitely felt it could have been handled more smoothly,” he admitted. “Would I change it if I could? Perhaps. But overall, I believe I made the best choice for myself at the time.

Find out what’s next for the other Denver singles when new episodes drop on Netflix Oct. 8.

In the meantime, read on for a status check on more couples from Love Is Blind:

Their relationship didn’t develop as hoped after they arrived in Honduras. Dave explained that he and his then-fiancĂ©e shared some friends. However, the issue wasn’t their overlapping social circles; it was Dave’s reluctance to continue the relationship after he learned that Lauren had previously been with someone they both knew, before filming the show.

Furthermore, Dave was hesitant to introduce Lauren to his friends and family. He mentioned that his dad was still unaware of their engagement, and his sister-who would later become a source of significant conflict-completely disapproved of their relationship.

Many viewers thought Monica and Joey were a perfect match and expected them to get married. But when the time came to say “I do,” Monica surprisingly said, “I don’t right now.”

“Right now, I’m completely sure,” she said, crying, “but it feels like neither of us is fully ready yet.” Joey, for his part, completely agreed with everything she said. He was on the same page.

“That’s perfectly alright,” he said after embracing her. “I believe we both care deeply for one another, and it shows. However, I feel like there are more important things and opportunities for us to grow. And you’re right, I don’t think I’m prepared right now. To be honest, I’m not fully there yet either.”

Despite significant differences in key areas of their lives, like religion and politics, Ben and Sara appeared to be in agreement as their wedding day approached. However, they eventually made the difficult decision to separate and end their relationship.

As Sara-who previously told me she doesn’t see a future with Ben-explained, “Ben, I care about you deeply, but I’ve always envisioned a partner who shares my outlook on life, and that just isn’t possible for us. I’m truly sorry if this isn’t what you wanted to hear.”

Oh my gosh, she said the *sweetest* thing! She basically admitted that what we have is so real, like, she *feels* it with her heart. But then
 she said when they talked about what’s really important to her, what she truly believes in, she just couldn’t ignore what her mind was telling her. It’s heartbreaking, but at least she was honest about where her head was at! I just
 I need to replay that whole thing again and again. It’s just… so much.

Devin and Virginia, another couple who appeared to be looking forward to their future together after the pods, were getting along wonderfully-except when the conversation turned to whether they should get a prenuptial agreement.

However, more significant problems arose, ultimately causing Virginia to decide against spending her life with Devin.

“I feel like throughout our relationship, my priority was often shielding Devin,” she explained, while crying, after they left the altar. “I’m not sure if it’s due to my background, but it’s always been really important to me to protect him. There were even subjects he didn’t want to discuss, such as politics-certain things he didn’t want me to press him on. Because of that, we never really explored all aspects of our connection. We just didn’t reach that level of intimacy.”

You know, amidst all the hustle and bustle, it’s always lovely to hear good news! I was so thrilled to learn that at least one couple decided to make it official – to say ‘yes’ to a lifetime of love that extends well beyond the holiday season. That couple was Daniel and Taylor, and I wish them all the best!

Despite a rocky start – Taylor believed Daniel had briefly unfollowed her on Instagram before meeting, suggesting he already knew what she looked like – they were able to overcome this initial issue. It seemed like a significant hurdle, but they managed to clear that particular obstacle.

Following heartfelt vows, the couple had a lovely wedding ceremony and a joyful reception to celebrate.

I was so thrilled to hear Daniel say, “We did it,” as he sat with Taylor right after their wedding! And Taylor was beaming, adding, “We’re so excited to start the next chapter.” It was such a beautiful moment, and I’m so happy for them both!

Even though the now-well-known art dealer proposed to the author of Keeping Well after being involved in a love triangle with Hannah Jiles, they eventually decided, following a brief engagement, that they were better suited as friends.

“There just wasn’t a connection,” Brittany shared with People in an interview with Leo. “We discussed at the start if a relationship could work, but as time passed during the trip, we realized we didn’t have that chemistry. We both felt it. We’re good at talking things through, so it wasn’t a difficult conversation. It was a calm and respectful understanding.”

Soon after being on the Netflix dating show, Brittany began dating musician Mod Sun in November 2024. However, she revealed in July 2025 that they had broken up a few months earlier, in April.

The relationship between Monica and Stephen ended abruptly when she found very explicit text messages her fiancé had sent to another woman. This happened soon after they returned from a trip to Mexico, leading to their breakup. Stephen offered an apology during the eighth episode, and later posted a message on social media after the episode was broadcast.

In a post on Instagram Stories on Oct. 8, he wrote, “I hope my presence didn’t spoil anyone’s day, and if it did, I apologize that you had to start your day. I wish that wasn’t the case for you, but I’ll still care for you all.”

After Hannah and Nick left the pods and started building a life together, they experienced plenty of both good times and challenges-along with some arguments, of course. As Hannah previously stated,

Everything fell apart when Hannah realized they wouldn’t get married. Nick described the split as “one of the most painful experiences of his life.”

Since then, Hannah has admitted the show forced her to do some self-introspection.

“I’ve grown a lot and realized I have areas where I can improve,” she shared on the October episode of The Viall Files podcast. “I’m a very straightforward person, and I’m aware of that. However, I’ve come to understand that how you say something is just as important as what you say. I’ve learned that delivery is everything.”

Taylor and Garrett instantly connected – it felt like fate, especially considering their matching tattoos! Their relationship seemed destined for marriage. They did experience a difficult moment when Taylor discovered Garrett had responded to a message from a former girlfriend (Garrett claims he quickly confirmed his engagement and ended the conversation), but after that, their story became Love Is Blind history.

The pair were still married at the Love Is Blind reunion in October 20224.

That’s right! While Marissa and Ramses initially seemed like a strong frontrunner couple who were likely to succeed, Ramses eventually called off their wedding because he began to have doubts.

“I see a wonderful future for us, and I want to spend my life with you,” Marissa said to her fiancĂ© after they had a serious conversation. He replied, “I know that falling in love always carries a risk, and I accept that.”

However, he pointed out that their disagreements-such as differing views on the military-might be too significant to overcome. He explained, “Having been married myself and observing other marriages, and after talking to other married couples,” that “simply loving someone isn’t enough
 other important factors also need to be in place for a relationship to succeed.”

Regarding Marissa, even though she attempted to move past their differing viewpoints, she began to cry once she realized the relationship was truly over. She told him, “I don’t think you should’ve come to this experience.” She continued, questioning, “How could I feel so certain, and you don’t? It’s awful; I really wanted you to choose me,” and added about their breakup, “This is the worst day of my life.”

Tyler and Ashley quickly won over viewers and became a popular couple as their romance developed smoothly. But things became difficult when Tyler revealed he had three children, which Ashley controversially called his “sperm donor babies.” (There’s been a lot of discussion online about how involved he is as a father, but he hasn’t spoken about it publicly).

By the October 2024 reunion show, Ashley and Tyler had resolved their differences and not only reconnected, but actually got married.

“It’s been two months since we began this adventure, and it’s completely transformed our lives,” Tyler shared, sitting with Ashley after their wedding. “Now, we’re excited to spend the rest of our lives as husband and wife.”

However, Ashley later shared that the pair had called it quits following over one year of marriage. 

“After much reflection, I want to share that Tyler and I have been separated for several weeks and have now made the difficult decision to end our marriage,” she told People in a January 2025 statement. “While I had hoped for mutual understanding and transparency in our relationship, it has become clear that our paths are no longer aligned, making it impossible for me to continue in this marriage.”

Alex and Tim appeared to resolve their significant argument while they were in Mexico, and their relationship seemed stronger than before when they returned to Washington, D.C. Notably, Tim had a heartfelt conversation with Alex’s father, which likely solidified their plans for the future.

However, things fell apart after Alex met Tim’s family, leading to another fight. Tim then ended their engagement, telling Alex he never wanted to see her again. Since the breakup, both Alex and Tim have publicly shared their sides of the story, with Alex clarifying that the split wasn’t a mutual decision.

Following a handful of arguments during the season, Chelsea and Jimmy seemed to resolve their issues before their wedding while on a date at an amusement park.

However, Jimmy signaled he was ready for their tumultuous relationship to be over, calling off his engagement with Chelsea, who was visibly upset and shocked by his choice.

You know, as someone who spends a lot of time observing relationships, I’ve definitely seen this pattern before. On their date, Jimmy was incredibly vulnerable with Chelsea, telling her, “I love you to death and I want a relationship with you,” but then added a really important caveat – “and it want it work so bad-but I don’t want to go to the altar. I can’t.” It’s a classic case of wanting connection but having a firm boundary around marriage, and it’s something they’ll definitely need to navigate if they want things to work. It shows a lot of honesty, but also highlights a potential disconnect in their long-term visions. Understanding these differences early on is key!

He shared, “We’re simplifying things to focus on one main point, but it originally involved five or six major problems that were personally upsetting.” (For example, Chelsea let slip Jimmy’s secret regarding his previous relationship with a female friend.)

Following another exchange about their past relationships, Chelsea ultimately left, crying, and said, “I really thought we had a chance.”

The pair were both single during the March 2024 reunion.

Clay was reluctant to marry because of his experiences with his father’s infidelity, but AD comforted him, promising they would overcome any challenges together. Things appeared to be going well for the couple.

However, when it came time to say “I do” at their wedding, Clay said don’t instead. He told AD that marrying her wouldn’t be a “responsible” decision, as he wasn’t prepared for marriage.

Cue the shock.

“I’ll handle the effort needed,” he told AD, “and we’ll work through this together. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks; I’m completely sure I’m not prepared for marriage, and you deserve someone who is. If I can’t give you my all, I won’t move forward with you until I am ready
 I just can’t say yes right now.”

The discovery was shocking, leading AD to express, through tears, that the relationship had been a complete waste of her time-using strong language to emphasize her feelings.

Clay also explained that both financial and emotional connections significantly influenced his decision to leave. He confessed, “I had to ask myself, ‘Am I a husband?’ and the honest answer was no. I also had to admit, ‘Am I truly in love?’ and again, the answer was no.’”

At the reunion, Clay admitted he’d made an error in judgment and hoped to date AD, but she remained noncommittal about the possibility of rekindling their relationship.

AD admitted she did go on a few dates with her Matthew Duliba after they finished filming, but they are no longer a couple.

The sole couple from season six to commit to a lifetime together was Amy and Johnny. They marked the start of their new life with a beautiful wedding and effortlessly blended their families. A particularly touching moment was when Amy’s dad told Johnny’s sister that he now feels as though he has “multiple daughters.”

As for Johnny, he too declared at his reception that his father-in-law was his “new dad.”

They were still married during the reunion episode.

I was really rooting for Brittany and Kenneth at first! Their connection seemed so strong when they first got together. But honestly, things just didn’t work out once they had to face everyday life. It’s sad to say, but their relationship just fizzled out after the initial excitement wore off.

Oh my gosh, when I read what Life & Style said, it just *broke my heart*! Basically, Brittany explained that things changed so much when they finally got back to Charlotte and, you know, *home*. She said that while they were in the pods, it was just
 everything was so passionate and intense. But then, coming back to the real world, that amazing spark just
 faded a little bit. It’s so sad to hear, honestly! I was really rooting for them in the pods, it felt so real!

The ex-couple have stayed friends, and Brittany shared at their meeting, “Even though we’re not together anymore, the connection we share will last forever.”

Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe what happened! I was *so* rooting for Laura and Jeramey, but it all went up in flames! Apparently, Jeramey reconnected with Sarah Ann Bick – *another contestant* – while they were out one night. Can you even imagine?! Laura found out, and they had this *huge* fight. Honestly, I heard she basically told him to get lost! She told Jeramey to kick rocks, and I’m totally on her side! I’m devastated for her, but she deserves so much better!

But instead of that, he went off to ride jet skis with Sarah Ann. 

At the reunion in March 2024, Jeramey shared that he and Sarah Ann had been occasionally dating for a year-starting right after they finished filming the show-but they are no longer together.

Laura is dating someone else, who she did not identify at the reunion.

Despite overcoming several challenges-such as Izzy’s initial bond with Johnie Maraist and Stacy’s insistence on a certain standard of living (she really didn’t want paper plates!)-Stacy ultimately decided not to marry Izzy because he wasn’t truthful about his financial history.

Even though Stacy and Izzy didn’t get married, Stacy still hoped they could stay together, despite Izzy being very upset.

“We’re at different spots,” he told her. “It really breaks my heart.”

I’ve been following Stacy and Izzy’s story closely, and it’s been so interesting to watch. Stacy has said she’s really grateful to Izzy for helping her open up emotionally, which is wonderful. However, she’s not completely sure about a future with him. She told him, and it broke my heart a little, that “Fairly certain isn’t good enough for me to say yes for the rest of my life.” It’s a tough situation, but she’s being honest with herself and with him, and I respect that so much. She needs to be absolutely certain, and she deserves that peace of mind. I’m hoping for the best for both of them, but it’s clear she needs more than just a feeling of being “fairly certain” before making such a big commitment. #stacyandizzy

Izzy is now dating surgical assistant Shelby Webb.

The one bright spot of season five took a disappointing turn when Lydia revealed on a podcast called What’s the Reality, hosted by fellow AD Smith, in June 2025 that she was divorcing Milton after less than three years of being married.

“It wasn’t a single issue,” she explained. “It was a buildup of various circumstances and events. When I informed him that I would tell him when the divorce documents were finalized, he replied, ‘I won’t sign anything unless there’s a non-disclosure agreement.’”

“I’ve kept things to myself for a long time,” she explained, referring to her choice to announce the news. “I felt it was important to speak up about what I’ve been going through and share my experiences, because the pain I’ve endured in silence had become overwhelming and I couldn’t stay silent any longer.”

Lydia stated that while they were married, women also claimed that Milton, 26, was “heavily flirting” and “buying drinks” for them at bars. Lydia explained that he refuted the accusations, but instead of addressing them, he “flipped it” on her, questioning why she would “even entertain” the rumors.

This couple seemed drawn to each other all season long, despite being very different…but things fell apart when they reached the final moment. Noticing Paul’s uncertainty, Micah asked him to speak first, and he ultimately decided not to get married. 

“I feel like a complete mess,” Micah confessed. “If Paul had proposed, I definitely would have accepted.”

At the get-together, Paul said he was sorry for what he’d said privately about not picturing Micah as a mom.

“I realize I said that in a way that wasn’t fair to her,” Paul explained. “A better way to put it is that I don’t think we’d make good parents.”

Although the two got back together for a short time after filming finished, they eventually couldn’t maintain their relationship. Paul shared that they officially split up when he went to visit Micah in Arizona.

In After the Altar, Paul shared that he was seeing someone new-a woman who loved to travel and appreciated his ability to cook. He later publicly confirmed their relationship on Instagram with Geneva Dunham, who works as an eyelash beautician.

Even though Kwame’s mother didn’t come to the wedding, and he had some potentially questionable chats with Micah – whom he’d also gotten to know in the pods – Kwame and Chelsea were still one of the three couples who got married at the end of season four.

At the reunion, Chelsea shared that she had finally met her husband’s mother. Kwame also apologized to his wife and her family for how he had acted, explaining that his conversations with Micah “weren’t the best representation” of him.

The couple is living in Seattle with their beloved dog Rocky.

It’s often said that love is blind, but sometimes it takes a while-or even getting engaged to someone else-to realize you’ve made a mistake. This happened to Zack, who first became engaged to Irina Solomonova, but they ended their relationship while on a trip to Mexico.

Despite initial challenges, after asking Bliss for another chance, the couple proved everyone wrong – including Bliss’ father – and both said “I do” at their wedding. (And they definitely didn’t skip their first dance, happily taking to the floor to Lee Ann Womack‘s “I Hope You Dance,” the song that originally brought them together in the pods.)

Following the final episode, Zack posted a picture of the couple on Instagram, writing “Eternal Bliss” in the caption.

In November 2023, the couple announced they were going to have a baby. They then welcomed their daughter, Galileo Terri Rayne Goytowski, in April 2024.

Wow, it feels like ages since season one’s Cameron Hamilton and Lauren Speed – this LIB pairing truly feels like a perfect match!

The oldest couple in the study-Tiffany, 36, and Brett, 37-got married, despite a bit of a wardrobe mishap for Brett when his pants didn’t fit on their wedding day. (Huge thanks to seamstress Lucia-you saved the day!)

Since filming wrapped, Tiffany and Brett moved to Portland and are still perfect! Phew!

After SK said “I don’t” at their wedding, he and Raven seemingly parted ways.

Despite their breakup being filmed, the two reconnected after filming wrapped up. They surprised everyone by announcing they were dating again during the season three reunion show.

I was absolutely *devastated* when, just a month after everything seemed perfect, they announced they were splitting up! They said “we have decided to go our separate ways,” and then… then the rumors started flying about SK being unfaithful. It was awful. They put out a joint statement on social media in November, and it just broke my heart. They said, “Due to on-going legal proceedings surrounding these allegations, we cannot provide additional details and ask that you please respect our privacy during this hard time.” Can you believe it? They couldn’t even tell us what happened! It ended with, “Thank you for following our love story and believing in us,” and honestly, it felt like a goodbye to everything I thought was real. I just wanted them to be happy, and this
 this is just too much. I still can’t believe it. It’s just heartbreaking. I really thought they were meant to be.

Viewers were upset when Jackie decided to reconnect with Josh Demas-the other person she felt a connection with while in the pods-and meet with him before officially breaking things off with Marshall.

During the reunion, Jackie clarified what happened and when. She explained, “I ended things with Marshall *before* I met Josh at the coffee shop.” She continued, “It might *look* like I was unfaithful, but I want to be clear: I am not a cheater.”

Jackie then spoke about the end of her relationship with Marshall, stating she takes responsibility for her own words and behavior. She simply explained, “We just weren’t a good match.”

Regarding her relationship with Josh, they were still together and cohabitating in After the Altar. However, Jackie revealed in a September 2023 Instagram Live session that they had ended things.

Marshall shared with TopMob that he had a short connection with fellow contestant Kacia Clark after the show ended. He said, “We tried,” but added that he needed to create some space for himself after going through that experience.

As a lifestyle expert, I was so thrilled to hear the news from After the Altar! Marshall shared that he’s been happily dating Dr. Chay Barnes for a whole year now, and he’s clearly head over heels – he wants a future with her! They took their relationship to the next level and got engaged in December 2023, which is just wonderful.

Nancy and Bartise’s wedding on Love Is Blind was particularly dramatic, but the conflict didn’t come from the bride or groom themselves.

In the season three finale, Nancy was eager to get married, but Bartise admitted he had doubts about their relationship. This news upset Nancy’s family, and they didn’t hold back in voicing their disapproval of Bartise.

Even with all the ups and downs, Bartise and Nancy have continued to be friends at times, and distant at others. He explained to TopMob, “We’ve had different levels of connection – starting as friends, then just acquaintances, even periods of no communication at all, and now back to being friends again.”

In April 2023, Bartisse, known from the show Perfect Match, welcomed his son, Hayden. However, he has not yet revealed the identity of Hayden’s mother to the public.

Several months later, he debuted his new romance with Cait Vanderberry on Instagram.

Nancy has also entered a new relationship, but has yet to publicly reveal her boyfriend’s identity. 

 

As a huge fan, I was completely captivated during the season finale! It was so beautiful to watch Alexa and Brennon get married, surrounded by all the people they care about. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a more perfect ending to their story. It was magical!

With touching vows, Alexa sweetly shared, “You bring joy to my life with laughter, challenge me to grow, and most importantly, you fill me with happiness.”

The couple shared the happy news in January 2024 that they were going to have a baby, and they welcomed their daughter, Vienna Ziva Lemieux, in July 2024.

Well, we can’t say we’re surprised by this breakup.

Throughout their dating period, Zanab and Cole often seemed to misunderstand each other, which led to frequent arguments. Despite eventually reaching the wedding, Zanab stopped the ceremony and stated, “You have disrespected me. You have insulted me. You have critiqued me. And for what it is worth, you have single-handedly shattered my self-confidence.“

Cole later reflected on their tumultuous relationship.

We were facing some challenges, but we were actively working to resolve them and hoped things would improve,” he explained to TopMob News. “I was hoping we could at least keep going as a couple even if we didn’t end up getting married that day.”

Colleen and Matt successfully exchanged vows in the season three finale.

Even though they experienced both good times and challenges while dating, the couple was secure in their love for each other and joyfully exchanged vows, saying “I do.”

In a 2022 interview with TopMob News, Colleen explained her decision to proceed with the wedding. She said, “The moment I saw him cry and snort, I just knew he was the one. I realized I would say ‘yes’ right then and there.”

However, the couple decided to separate nearly four years after getting married. In a May 2025 Instagram post, they stated, “This was an incredibly difficult decision, not one we made lightly.” They continued, “It came with a lot of thought and it’s been an emotional process for both of us.”

During the season finale, Sal wasn’t able to say, “I do.”

In an TopMob News interview, he revealed that he was single after filming.

He just *said* the most insightful thing ever! “Dating in the future now?” Like, seriously, I feel that so hard! He admitted he’s totally lost – doesn’t even know *how* to begin! And you know what? He’s right! The *best* thing to do, according to him (and me, obviously!), is to just stay off the dating apps. It’s the only way! I knew he was a genius!

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2025-10-02 04:21