Ben Mezzenga's Friend Claps Back at 'Hired Friend' Accusations from Love Is Blind Fans!

Ben Mezzenga‘s friend isn’t blind to the criticism.

Following allegations that the main cast member from Love Is Blind season eight had intentionally assembled a multicultural group of friends for the show, one of these acquaintances who briefly appeared on the Netflix program, Lana Truong, denied these assumptions.

Lana posted on TikTok, February 23rd: “Ben is not someone I hired for DEI purposes!” She accompanied this statement with a series of photos showing her and Ben’s long-standing friendship over the years. “The time and date stamps serve as proof of our friendship with @Ben Mezzenga.

Closing out her post, she quipped, “If only I was a paid actor!”

Additionally, when a TikTok user asked if Lana had discussions about politics with Ben, whose religious beliefs often clashed with his partner Sara Carton, Lana offered more details about their relationship dynamics.

In her comments, Lana stated, “I always consider both the pre-filming and post-filming phases because, being a woman and a person of color, political issues hold great significance for me.

People wondered if Ben had employed professional actors to pose as his friends, so he could gain Sara’s approval. In episode nine of the season, Sara crossed paths with Lana and four other individuals in Ben’s group. During their encounter, Sara expressed her initial apprehension that Ben’s religious beliefs might clash with her commitment to equality and cause him to resist accepting that her sister was a lesbian.

In reply, Leah Johnson mentioned having a partner, whereas Lana, who identified as agnostic, shared that she had previously discussed similar challenging topics regarding beliefs with the developer.

“We sat and we talked for like 45 minutes,” Lana shared, “and it felt so, like, energizing.”

Following the episode, many fans weren’t buying that Ben knew his onscreen pals all that well.

The first TikTok user suggested that he brought together this mixed team just 20 minutes before the shooting started, as indicated by their initial appearance in a video. The second user claimed that Lana’s statement about referring to religion as ‘faith’ appeared forced and unnatural.

Despite neither Sara nor Ben openly responding to the rumor about their friendship, Sara’s actions demonstrate that her principles remain unchanged since she fell in love with Ben.

In a recent Instagram post on February 23rd, the individual expressed, “Steak, Xbox, dad bods, and obviously equality,” accompanied by pictures from the pods. On slide 3, she mentioned her frustration that she was not wearing her favorite pink sweater at the time.

New episodes of Love Is Blind drop on Feb. 28.

While you wait, catch up on the relationship status of other couples from the franchise.

After being involved in a love triangle with Hannah Jiles, the now well-known art dealer eventually proposed to the author of “Keeping Well.” However, following a brief engagement, they concluded that it was more suitable for them to remain friends instead.

Previously, Brittany expressed to People in a shared interview with Leo that the connection simply didn’t develop between them. “As we initially discussed the potential of our relationship,” she said, “over time during the trip, it became clear that the connection wasn’t forming and we both acknowledged this feeling. Since we are effective communicators, it was not a complicated or stressful situation. It was a smooth, considerate understanding.

Monica discovered shocking explicit text messages exchanged between her boyfriend and another woman, which abruptly ended their relationship upon their return from Mexico. Stephen admitted his mistake during episode eight, and later posted an apology on social media following its broadcast.

In a post on Instagram Stories on October 8th, I expressed my hope that I hadn’t inadvertently spoiled anyone’s day by simply being present. If unintentionally, I caused distress upon your awakening today, please accept my sincere apologies. I wish there was no need for you to rise this morning, but I will continue to hold each of you dear in the same heartfelt manner.

After Hannah and Nick ventured beyond the pods, they experienced a mix of good times and tough periods, including numerous disagreements, as their contributions began to matter equally. (In other words, “Equality in treatment comes with equality in contribution.”)

The situation reached its peak when Hannah chose not to walk down the aisle with him, which left Nick describing their split as one of the most painful experiences he’s ever endured.

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

During an episode of The Viall Files podcast in October, she admitted that she’s gained a lot of insights and identified areas for improvement. For instance, she recognizes her straightforward nature but realizes her approach could use some polishing, especially when it comes to delivery. She emphasized that the way something is delivered is just as important as what is being said.

In a fortuitous meeting reminiscent of two souls brought together in a scientifically inclined universe (symbolized by their coinciding tattoos), Taylor and Garrett found an immediate connection that hinted at a lifelong commitment. However, they encountered a bump in the road when Taylor discovered Garrett had interacted with an old flame’s Direct Message (Garrett claimed he confirmed his engagement and put a swift end to it). This brief hiccup aside, their tale is now etched as a heartwarming chapter in the annals of Love Is Blind.

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

Indeed, you’ve understood correctly: Despite Marissa and Ramses emerging as strong contenders among this season’s potential long-lasting couples, Ramses ended up canceling their wedding following a change of heart.

Marissa expresses her excitement about the future we share, saying she wants to marry him,” she tells her partner, who replies, “I comprehend that falling in love involves taking a chance, and I do.

As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but observe the differences between them, particularly on military matters, which might pose challenges for their union. “Having experienced marriage myself and listened to accounts from other couples,” I find myself pondering. “I sincerely believe that love alone isn’t enough…I feel there must be additional factors that are also harmoniously aligning.

Marissa had attempted to move beyond their views, but once she was certain it was over, she couldn’t hold back her tears. “I wish you hadn’t been here,” she said. “How could I have been so convinced and you weren’t? It’s just awful, I wanted you to pick me.” Regarding their separation, she added, “This is the most miserable day of my life.

Tyler and Ashley were soon adored by many viewers as their casual romance developed on screen. However, a challenge arose in their relationship when Tyler revealed that he had three children, a fact that Ashley referred to as his “babies conceived through sperm donation.” (There’s ongoing discussion online about the degree of his parental involvement, an issue he has yet to address publicly).

By October 2024, during their reunion episode, Ashley and Tyler managed to overcome that particular issue and not only rekindled their connection but ended up getting married and becoming each other’s spouses.

Tyler, seated beside Ashley following their wedding, shares, “Two months ago, we embarked on a journey that transformed everything for us. From now on, we’ll be sharing the remainder of our lives together.

Later on, I was open about the fact that my partnership had ended after more than a year of being married.

In a statement released in January 2025, she expressed that Tyler and herself have been apart for several weeks and have come to the tough conclusion to terminate our marriage. Despite my hope for openness and shared understanding in our relationship, it appears our life goals no longer align, making it impractical for me to carry on with this union.

By the time they returned to Washington, D.C. from Mexico, it appeared as though Alex and Tim had successfully resolved their substantial disagreement and their relationship was stronger than ever. To put the icing on the cake, Tim even had an emotional conversation with Alex’s father that seemed to secure their future together.

After spending time with Tim’s relatives, Alex and Tim had another disagreement, leading to Tim ending their relationship by stating he didn’t want any further contact with Alex. Since this parting, both parties have expressed themselves post-breakup, with Alex clarifying that the separation was not a joint decision on their parts.

Following a handful of spats during the course of the season, it seemed that Chelsea and Jimmy had managed to bury their past differences during their pre-wedding outing at an amusement park.

Jimmy unequivocally expressed his readiness to conclude their rollercoaster relationship, ending his engagement with Chelsea in tears, leaving her taken aback by his choice.

Jimmy openly showed he wanted their rollercoaster relationship to be over, calling off the engagement with Chelsea, who was left surprised and tearful.

Jimmy expressed his deep affection for Chelsea during their date, saying, “I’m deeply in love with you and I long for a relationship together. However, I have this strong desire for our connection to succeed, but I’m just not ready to take that next big step—to walk down the aisle.

He said, “We’ve boiled it down to a single point, but in reality, it involves five or six major problems that have deeply affected me emotionally.” (One of these problems is that Chelsea disclosed Jimmy’s past relationship with his female friend, which caused him distress.)

Following another round of discussions about their past relationships, Chelsea departed, tearfully, expressing her disappointment: “I had been so optimistic about our chances.

The pair were both single during the March 2024 reunion.

As Clay voiced his reservations about marriage, stemming from his perspective on his father’s unfaithfulness, AD offered comfort, suggesting that their relationship would thrive and things appeared to be going smoothly for them.

However, when the moment came for him to declare “I do” for a lifetime at the altar, Clay opted against it, explaining to AD that it wouldn’t be prudent for him to marry, as he wasn’t yet prepared for such a commitment.

Cue the shock.

He assured AD, “I’ll put in the effort for us both, and we’ll navigate this journey together. Regardless of what others may think, I recognize that I’m not yet prepared for marriage, and you deserve nothing less than my best. If I can’t commit 100%, I won’t move forward with you until I am ready…I can’t give you a definite ‘yes’ at this moment.

It turned out to be an eye-opening moment when AD, with tears streaming down her face, admitted that the relationship had been a squandering of her “valuable” or “precious” time.

From my perspective as a lifestyle advisor, I’d say that for Clay, both financial and emotional connections significantly influenced his decision to move on. He candidly confessed, “I stood before the mirror and asked myself, ‘Am I a husband?'” His response was honest and revealing: “No.” Similarly, when he questioned himself about deep, romantic love, the answer was equally clear: “No.

At the reunion gathering, Clay confessed that he had erred by wishing to date AD, yet she appeared evasive about the possibility of reconciling in the future.

AD openly admitted that she went out on a few dates with her co-star Matthew Duliba following the completion of filming, however, they are not currently in a relationship.

The couple from season six who agreed to spend eternity together was Amy and Johnny. Not only did they mark their fresh start with a beautiful ceremony, but they also effortlessly combined their families, resulting in Amy’s father affectionately referring to Johnny’s sister as having “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.

Initially intense, Brittany and Kenneth’s love story lost its spark when they re-entered everyday life.

According to Brittany, things changed significantly upon returning to Charlotte and settling back home. She believes that their relationship in the “pods” was extremely passionate and intense. However, this intensity seemed to subside slightly when they returned home.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but marvel at the enduring friendship between these two ex-fiancés. At the recent reunion, Brittany shared her heartfelt sentiment: “Though our romantic journey has ended, the tie that binds us is one for all time, eternal in its essence.

In the heat of my passion as a devoted fan, let me recount an unfortunate tale: When I discovered that my beloved’s heart still yearned for Sarah Ann Bick, his former pod mate, following their rendezvous during a night out, Laura and Jeramey’s bond was shattered like glass. After a charged altercation between the two, Laura, in no uncertain terms, told Jeramey to hit the road.

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

At the gathering held in March 2024, it was disclosed that Jeramey had an on-and-off relationship with Sarah Ann starting from the time they filmed the show, which has lasted for a year. However, their relationship has ended since then.

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

During season five, the couple faced several challenges – among them was Izzy’s previous relationship with Johnie Maraist, and Stacy’s preference for a certain standard of living, such as no use of paper plates. However, Stacy ultimately decided against marriage because she found Izzy’s untruthfulness about his financial background to be a significant concern.

Although Stacy didn’t say “I do” at the altar, she nonetheless wished to continue the relationship with a heartbroken Izzy.

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

Regarding Stacy, she appreciated Izzy for helping her open up emotionally, yet their future wasn’t completely reassuring for her. She expressed that being “fairly certain” wasn’t sufficient for her to commit to a lifelong decision.

Izzy is now dating surgical assistant Shelby Webb.

Season five’s sole success story came from arguably its most unlikely pairing.

In my expertise as a lifestyle advisor, let me share an intriguing tale. Initially, when the news broke about my connection with Uche Okoroha, Milton’s pod-friend, prior to the show, things seemed turbulent. However, amidst all the chaos, the shared passion for geology miraculously kept Lydia and me together, making us the sole survivors who maintained our relationship post the experiment.

Lydia expressed her joy by saying, “Marrying was a long-held aspiration realized, and now I’m overjoyed! Everything I desire seems to be within reach, making me feel as if I’ve found my sanctuary – secure and content.

As an analytically-minded engineer, Milton concluded, “The analysis of all the data points indicates that this decision is correct.

For this couple, opposites appeared to be drawn together throughout the entire season…that is, until their wedding day arrived. Feeling Paul’s uncertainty, Micah urged him to express his feelings first, and it turned out that he declined the proposal of marriage for Paul.

1) Micah expressed, “I’m in quite a mess right now.” If Paul had proposed, there’s no question that I would have accepted.

2) Micah admitted, “I’m really a hot mess at the moment.” Had Paul asked me to marry him, I wouldn’t hesitate to say yes.

3) Micah confessed, “I’m feeling like everything’s falling apart.” If it were up to Paul, I would have eagerly agreed to be his wife.

4) Micah shared, “I’m a complete mess at the moment.” Given the chance, I would have happily accepted Paul’s proposal.

5) Micah explained, “I feel like everything is going wrong.” If Paul had proposed, I wouldn’t have thought twice before saying yes.

6) Micah confessed, “I’m in a real mess right now.” Had Paul asked for my hand, I would have gratefully accepted.

7) Micah admitted, “I feel like a wreck.” If it were up to Paul, I wouldn’t hesitate to say ‘I do’.

8) Micah said, “I’m in a real shambles.” If Paul had wanted to marry me, there’s no doubt that I would have agreed.

9) Micah confessed, “I feel like everything is going wrong.” If it were up to Paul, I wouldn’t hesitate to say ‘I do’.

10) Micah shared, “I’m feeling quite chaotic right now.” Had Paul asked me to marry him, I would have gladly accepted.

During the gathering, Paul expressed regret for his remark concerning Micah’s role as a mother, which he had shared during a private conversation.

In my opinion, I may have unintentionally been unjust in my previous statement. A more thoughtful approach could be expressing that I don’t envision us taking on the role of parents together.

After wrapping up filming, the pair attempted a short-lived reconciliation, but unfortunately, they couldn’t sustain their relationship. Later on, Paul clarified that their split was permanent when he went to see Micah in Arizona.

In the novel “After the Altar“, Paul disclosed that he had begun dating a fresh lady, who took pleasure in exploring new places and appreciating his culinary talents. Later on, it was confirmed on Instagram that he was in a relationship with eyelash beautician Geneva Dunham.

Regardless of Kwame’s mother not attending the wedding or some questionable discussions he had with Micah, who he also bonded with in the pods, Kwame and Chelsea were among the three pairs who got married at the conclusion of season four.

At the gathering, Chelsea disclosed that she had recently met her husband’s mother, while Kwame extended an apology to his wife and her relatives for his actions, admitting that his conversations with Micah didn’t present him in the best light.

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

It’s often said that love is blind, but sometimes it takes a moment or even a proposal to another woman to see that you’ve chosen incorrectly. This was Zack’s experience when he initially got engaged to Irina Solomonova, eventually leading to the couple separating during their vacation in Mexico.

After requesting a second opportunity from Bliss, they bravely challenged the odds (even going against Bliss’ father’s wishes) and exchanged their vows at the altar. (By the way, they didn’t just watch, they danced for the first time to Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance,” a song that connected them in the pods.)

Following the broadcast of their final episode, Zack posted a picture of the couple on Instagram accompanied by the phrase, “Enduring Happiness.

In November of 2023, the pair announced that they were going to have their first child. Later, in April of 2024, they welcomed their baby girl named Galileo Terri Rayne Goytowski into their lives.

It seems as if this LIB couple is just as destined for each other as Cameron Hamilton and Lauren Speed were in season one!

On their wedding day, the eldest pair in the study, Tiffany who was 36 and Brett who was 37, exchanged their vows, despite an unexpected wardrobe issue for Brett. His trousers didn’t fit correctly, but Lucia, our talented seamstress, came to the rescue and ensured everything ran smoothly! (Big shout-out to Lucia, she’s amazing!)

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.

Yet, as the filming ended, it was discovered that their past romance had been rekindled. This secret relationship surfaced during the reunion special for season three.

After a month of silence, my partner and I found ourselves at a crossroads. Amidst swirling rumors about infidelity against me, we felt it was best to part ways – not an easy decision, but one made with heavy hearts. In the spirit of transparency and respecting the ongoing legal proceedings, we shared our heartfelt goodbye on social media in November. We ask for your understanding and privacy during this challenging period as we navigate these difficult times. Thank you for being a part of our journey and for your unwavering support throughout our relationship.

Spectators looked on in surprise as Jackie decided to provide another opportunity to Josh Demas, the individual she had formed a connection with within the pods, instead of continuing her relationship with Marshall. They met up before Jackie broke off her engagement.

During the reunion, Jackie clarified the sequence of events: “Marshall and I had already parted ways when I ran into Josh at the coffee shop,” she explained. “I may appear to be unfaithful, but let me assure you, I am not a cheater.

Afterward, Jackie admitted her part in ending her relationship with Marshall, stating she is ready to accept responsibility for both her words and deeds. She concluded by expressing that they simply weren’t destined to be together.

Speaking as a die-hard fan, I’ve been following their love story closely, and let me tell you, their romance with Josh was something to behold, especially in “After the Altar.” However, a twist came during her September 2023 Instagram Live when Jackie herself confirmed they had parted ways.

Regarding Marshall, he shared with TopMob that following the show, he had a brief encounter with Kacia Clark. He attempted to maintain contact, but Marshall chose to step away and disconnect from everything related to that experience.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, allow me to share a delightful piece of news: in the captivating narrative titled “After the Altar“, our protagonist, Marshall, confides that he’s been cherishing a blossoming relationship with the remarkable Dr. Chay Barnes for an entire year. His heart brims with the desire to spend an eternity by her side. Their engagement was marked by a magical moment in December 2023.

Nancy and Bartise experienced one of the more dramatic weddings on “Love Is Blind,” not due to the actions of either the bride or groom.

In the season three finale, it turned out that while Nancy was eager to tie the knot, Bartise admitted his doubts about their relationship. This revelation didn’t go down smoothly with Nancy’s family, who vocalized their disapproval of Bartise without reservation.

Regardless of their ups and downs, Bartise and Nancy have kept a rollercoaster-like friendship that sometimes is on, then off again. According to Bartise, he explained to TopMob that their relationship has gone from being close friends, to mere acquaintances, back to no communication at all, only to return to friendship once more.

In April 2023, Bartisse, a contestant from “Perfect Match”, revealed the birth of his child named Hayden. However, he has not disclosed the mother’s identity in public.

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

Nancy is now in a fresh romance, though she hasn’t disclosed the name of her partner to the public yet.

In the final episode of the season, audiences saw Alexa and Brennon exchange vows in a heartfelt ceremony surrounded by their nearest and dearest.

In touching declarations, Alexa exclaimed, “You bring laughter into my life, stimulate my thoughts, but above all else, you bring joy to me.

In January 2024, the couple joyfully shared the news of their impending parenthood, and by July 2024, they had proudly introduced their beautiful newborn daughter, Vienna Ziva Lemieux, to the world.

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

During their romantic relationship, there often seemed to be a lack of agreement between the two, leading to multiple disagreements. Despite reaching the wedding altar together, Zanab expressed her feelings by saying, “You’ve shown disrespect towards me, made insensitive remarks, and critiqued me harshly. To make matters worse, you’ve single-handedly destroyed my self-belief.

Cole later reflected on their tumultuous relationship.

He shared with TopMob News that despite facing numerous obstacles, we were managing and discovering calmer seas. He also expressed his hope that we could carry on our journey, even if we decided not to get married immediately.

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

In the midst of ups and downs that tested our bond, I stood firm with unwavering trust in my relationship. With hearts full of joy, we made the beautiful commitment to spend our lives together, declaring “I do” as a testament to our enduring love.

Colleen explained to TopMob News why she decided to proceed with the wedding: “When I witnessed him crying and sniffing, I thought, ‘He’s mine.’ From that moment, I knew I would say yes, and I did as soon as I saw him.

And for those wondering, Colleen confirmed, “A year-and-a-half later, we’re very, very happy.”

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.

So, any plans for dating in the near future?” he asked. ” frankly, I’m at a loss about how to proceed. I believe the wisest move would be to avoid online dating platforms.

As we know, Deepti and Shake’s time on the show did not end with a happily ever after.

Sunny and Hina Merchant Vempati, Deepti’s brother and partner, have been engaging in a dispute with Shake on Instagram. They wrote, “Shake, pal, you’re just not getting it right,” implying that Shake has been making thoughtless and embarrassing comments about Deepti.

They continued, urging Shake to “stay the f–k away” from their sister.

Looks like Shake will be heading to his Nobu reservation alone!

Despite Natalie and Shayne not getting married during their time on the show, Natalie assured TopMob that the romantic tales portrayed were entirely sincere.

Natalie clarified that it isn’t a reality show,” she said. “Instead, it portrays our genuine lives, authentic emotions, and true connections.

This is why Natalie felt deeply wounded when it appeared that Shayne decided to join the spinoff series titled “Perfect Match” despite their efforts to salvage their relationship following their failed marriage.

She shared on Instagram that he frequently messaged her expressing a desire to quit during filming as he was still emotionally attached to her following our encounter at the reunion show taping. However, she motivated him to carry on with the filming.

Once filming on “Perfect Match” came to a close, I couldn’t help but reach out to the one and only Shayne. However, after some heartfelt conversations, I realized that it was best for both of us not to rekindle our relationship.

Additionally, Shayne had a short-lived relationship with Chloe Veitch, who he met on the show “Perfect Match,” following their connection there.

Danielle initiated a divorce proceedings against Nick at a Chicago court on August 15, 2022, over a year since their wedding which took place on the final episode.

On August 17, 2022, they shared a joint statement on Instagram, saying, “After careful consideration, it’s with a heavy heart that we inform you we are parting ways and initiating divorce proceedings. Despite our feelings for one another, our paths have diverged, and that’s alright. Reaching this decision wasn’t simple, but we remain optimistic about our future individual successes.

In the “After the Altar” spinoff, which premiered in September 2022, the pair admitted that their friendship evolved into a romantic relationship. However, Kyle revealed shortly after that they had parted ways since the filming of the special.

And in April, Kyle proposed to his girlfriend Tania Leanos, whom he did not meet in a pod.

2025-02-25 02:51

Ben Mezzenga’s Friend Claps Back at ‘Hired Friend’ Accusations from Love Is Blind Fans!

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