Love Is Blind’s Stephen Richardson Sues Netflix Over Work Conditions

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Stephen Richardson is taking legal action. 

A former contestant from season seven of *Love Is Blind* is suing Netflix, claiming the show’s producers created a hostile and “inhumane” work environment, according to a report from *Entertainment Weekly* published on September 17th.

The lawsuit claims that the show classified participants as independent contractors – using titles like ‘contestant’ or ‘cast member’ – when they should have been considered employees. The suit also names production companies Kinetic Content and Delirium TV.

As a big fan of *Love Is Blind*, I was shocked to read the claims made by one of the contestants. They said the show’s creators basically controlled every aspect of our lives while we were filming – everything from what we ate and when, to when we could even sleep or talk to family and friends. It sounds like they had total control over our time and schedules, which is pretty concerning.

Richardson, 35, claimed the show’s producers confiscated contestants’ IDs, wallets, phones, and credit cards to prevent them from leaving the hotel or filming location.

According to court documents, Richardson claims the production companies intentionally tried to get the performers drunk by only providing alcohol, soda, energy drinks, and mixers instead of proper food and water.

The electrician, who proposed to Monica Davis on the show but didn’t end up marrying her, believes this was a strategy to keep things controlled and influence the contestants into making choices that would create more drama for viewers.

Richardson has filed a class action lawsuit aiming to recover lost wages and additional damages for himself and other participants from seasons 6 through 9 of the show. He is also seeking to have the court cover his legal fees and any other fair compensation the court deems necessary.

TopMob News contacted Netflix, Kinetic Content, and Delirium TV for a statement, but they haven’t responded yet.

Despite the legal issues with Richardson, the ninth season of the show-filmed in Colorado-will premiere on Netflix on October 1st. For updates on other cast members from *Love Is Blind*, continue reading.

Dave and his fiancée’s relationship started to fall apart after they arrived in Honduras. While they discovered they had friends in common, that wasn’t the main issue. Dave struggled to move past learning that Lauren had previously been with someone they both knew before filming the show.

Plus, Dave hadn’t wanted to introduce Lauren to his friends or family. He hadn’t even told his dad about their engagement, and his sister, who would later cause a lot of problems, didn’t approve of the relationship at all.

Many fans thought Monica and Joey were a perfect match and expected them to get married. But when the time came, Monica decided she wasn’t ready to commit just yet.

She said, crying, that she was completely sure of how she felt, but felt they both still had a ways to go. Joey wholeheartedly agreed.

He hugged her and reassured her, saying it was alright. He felt they clearly cared for each other deeply, but believed they both needed to focus on personal growth right now. He admitted he wasn’t ready for a relationship, and wasn’t sure when he would be.

Despite having significant differences in beliefs and values – like religion and politics – Ben and Sara appeared to have resolved them by the time of their wedding. However, they eventually decided to separate and end their relationship.

Sara, who previously told me she doesn’t see a future with Ben, explained to him, “Ben, I care about you deeply, but I’ve always envisioned a partner who shares my outlook on life. Because of that, I can’t continue this relationship. I’m truly sorry if that’s not what you wanted to hear.”

She explained that while she deeply cares for him, their core beliefs are too different for her to continue the relationship. Although it’s difficult, she knows in her heart this is the right decision.

I’ve been following a few couples navigating life after being in those isolation pods, and Devin and Virginia seemed to be doing really well – a true success story, honestly. That is, until they started talking about a prenuptial agreement. It just opened up a can of worms, and things got tricky fast. It’s a surprisingly common issue, even for couples who seem totally aligned on everything else!

Ultimately, more significant problems led Virginia to end her relationship with Devin and decide against marrying him.

After leaving the altar, she explained, through tears, that she often felt the need to shield Devin throughout their relationship. She wasn’t sure if this stemmed from her upbringing, but protecting him was always a priority. This meant avoiding certain subjects, like politics, or any topics he didn’t want to discuss, which ultimately prevented them from fully connecting and getting to know each other on a deeper level. They simply didn’t reach that level of intimacy.

In the end, Daniel and Taylor were the couple who committed to a lifetime of love, promising to stay together long after the holidays were over.

Honestly, I was really worried about Taylor and Daniel at first! She thought Daniel had been playing games, following and then *unfollowing* her on Instagram before they even met on the show, and she was convinced he already knew what she looked like. It seemed like a weird hurdle, but thankfully, they were able to move past it!

After sharing heartfelt vows, the couple had a lovely wedding and celebrated with a reception.

“We did it!” Daniel exclaimed, sitting with Taylor after their wedding. Taylor added, with excitement, “We can’t wait to start our life together.”

The art dealer, now well-known in his field, proposed to the author of *Keeping Well* after a complicated relationship involving Hannah Jiles. However, they eventually realized they were better suited as friends and ended their brief engagement.

Brittany and Leo realized they didn’t have a romantic connection, as Brittany explained to *People* magazine. They discussed the possibility of making things work at the start of their time together, but as things progressed, they both felt a lack of chemistry. Because they communicated well, the realization wasn’t difficult or dramatic – it was a respectful and mutual understanding.

Soon after appearing on a 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.

Monica and Stephen split up after she discovered explicit text messages between her fiancé and another woman while they were still on vacation in Mexico. Stephen initially apologized on the show, but later posted a message on social media after the episode was broadcast.

Okay, so he posted this thing on Instagram Stories yesterday, and it just… wrecked me. He basically said he hopes he didn’t ruin anyone’s day just by *being* here, and if he did, he’s sorry you even had to get out of bed! Like, he wishes you hadn’t woken up at all! It’s so heartbreaking, but then he adds that he’ll still love us, which… I just can’t even. It’s like he feels so much pain, but still cares about *us*. I’m completely obsessed, obviously.

After leaving the pods, Hannah and Nick definitely experienced their share of challenges and arguments. Hannah famously noted that she felt like an equal only when she contributed equally to the relationship.

Everything fell apart when Hannah realized she didn’t want to marry Nick. He described the split as incredibly painful, saying it was one of the worst moments of his life.

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

You know, through some recent self-reflection, I’ve realized I have areas where I can grow. I’ve always been a very direct person – I get straight to the point – but I’m starting to understand *how* I say things is just as important as *what* I say. It’s a big lesson for me: delivery is truly everything! I’m working on softening my approach a bit, and it’s making a real difference.

Taylor and Garrett instantly connected, and it felt like they were meant to be together-especially considering their matching tattoos! They did have one difficult moment when Taylor discovered Garrett had responded to a message from a former girlfriend, but he assured her he quickly reaffirmed his commitment and ended the conversation. After that, their relationship blossomed, becoming a memorable love story from the show *Love Is Blind*.

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

You’re not mistaken! Marissa and Ramses initially seemed like a strong couple who would make it to the end, but Ramses ultimately decided to cancel their wedding because he had doubts.

After a heartfelt conversation, Marissa excitedly told her fiancé, “I can’t wait for our future together-I want to marry you!” He replied, simply, “I know loving someone always involves taking a chance.”

He acknowledged that their disagreements – including differing views on the military – might be too significant to overcome. He explained that, based on his own marriage and what he’s learned from others, love isn’t always enough for a successful relationship; other factors need to align as well.

Marissa tried to stay strong, but once she realized the relationship was truly over, she started crying. She told him, “I wish you hadn’t come here.” She was confused and hurt, saying, “I thought we were certain, but you’re not? It’s awful-I really wanted you to pick me.” She also admitted that this was the worst day of her life.

Tyler and Ashley were quickly embraced by viewers as a popular couple, enjoying what seemed like a smooth and comfortable relationship. Things became complicated when Tyler revealed he had three children, a revelation Ashley referred to with a controversial label. Online, people are debating the extent of Tyler’s role as a father, but he hasn’t publicly commented on the discussion.

By the October 2024 reunion show, Ashley and Tyler had resolved their differences, reconnected, and eventually married.

“These past two months have been incredible and have completely changed our lives,” Tyler shared, sitting with Ashley after their wedding. “And now, we’re so excited to spend forever together.”

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

In a statement released in January 2025, she announced that she and Tyler have separated and are divorcing. She explained that despite hoping they could work through their issues with open communication, they’ve realized they want different things and can no longer stay married.

Alex and Tim appeared to resolve their big disagreement during their trip to Mexico, and their relationship seemed stronger than before when they returned to Washington, D.C. Things got even better when Tim had a heartfelt conversation with Alex’s father, suggesting a promising future for them.

After Alex met Tim’s family, they had another fight, and Tim broke off their engagement, telling Alex he never wanted to see her again. Since then, both Alex and Tim have publicly shared their sides of the story, with Alex clarifying that the breakup wasn’t a joint decision.

Chelsea and Jimmy had a few arguments during the season, but it seemed they resolved their differences on a fun date at an amusement park just before their wedding.

Jimmy ended his engagement with Chelsea, leaving her shocked and in tears, as he was ready to move on from their turbulent relationship.

Jimmy confessed to Chelsea during their date, ‘I’m completely in love with you and really want a relationship, but I don’t see myself getting married-it’s just not something I can do.’

He said they were simplifying a complex situation, but it stemmed from several deeply upsetting issues – around five or six of them. One example was Chelsea sharing a private secret about Jimmy’s past relationship with a friend.

After a final, emotional argument about their past relationships, Chelsea broke down in tears and left, saying, “I really thought we had a chance.”

The pair were both single during the March 2024 reunion.

Clay was reluctant to get married because of his father’s past infidelity, but AD comforted him, assuring him they could overcome any challenges together, and things seemed good between them.

However, when it came time to say “I do” at their wedding, Clay unexpectedly said he didn’t want to marry AD. He explained that it wouldn’t be fair to either of them to get married when he wasn’t prepared.

Cue the shock.

He told AD he’d do the necessary work to figure things out, and they would face it together. He emphasized that he wasn’t ready for marriage, and she deserved someone who was. He explained he wouldn’t commit until he could give her his all, and he couldn’t say yes to her proposal right now.

The discovery caused AD to break down in tears, angrily stating the relationship had been a complete waste of her time.

Clay explained that both financial and emotional connections were major factors in his decision to leave. He honestly admitted, “I had to ask myself if I was still a husband, and the answer was no. I also realized I wasn’t truly in love anymore.”

At the reunion, Clay told AD he regretted their breakup and wished they could try dating again, but she didn’t give a clear answer about whether she’d be open to getting back together.

AD admitted she went on a few dates with her costar, Matthew Duliba, after they finished filming, but they are no longer seeing each other.

Amy and Johnny were the only couple from season six to get married, and their wedding was beautiful! They also blended their families together wonderfully – Amy’s dad even shared that he now feels like he has several daughters, including Johnny’s sister.

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.

Brittany and Kenneth’s relationship began passionately, but it didn’t last after they faced the challenges of everyday life.

Brittany explained to *Life & Style* that things changed once they left the pods and returned to Charlotte. She felt they had a very strong connection while isolated, but that passion faded somewhat when they went back to their normal lives.

Brittany and her ex-fiancé have stayed friends. At a recent get-together, she explained that even though their romantic relationship ended, they’ll always share a strong connection.

Laura and Jeramey’s engagement ended abruptly when Laura discovered Jeramey had spent time with a fellow castmate, Sarah Ann Bick, while they were out one night. Following a heated argument, Laura broke up with him.

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

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

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

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following this couple from season five, and it seemed like they were navigating some tricky spots. They dealt with everything from Izzy’s initial connection with Johnie Maraist to Stacy’s very specific preferences – she *really* wasn’t a fan of paper plates! But ultimately, Stacy told me the dealbreaker was Izzy not being upfront about his financial history. It was a big enough issue for her that she decided against marriage.

Even though the wedding didn’t happen, Stacy still wanted to continue her relationship with the heartbroken Izzy.

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

Stacy appreciated Izzy helping her become more open with her feelings, but she wasn’t completely sure about a future together. She explained that she needed to be absolutely certain before committing to a lifelong relationship, and ‘fairly certain’ just wasn’t enough.

Izzy is now dating surgical assistant Shelby Webb.

The only bright spot from season five dimmed when Lydia revealed on an interview with former castmate AD Smith’s podcast, *What’s the Reality*, in June 2025 that she was divorcing Milton after less than three years of marriage.

She explained it wasn’t a single event, but rather a series of ongoing issues that built up over time. When she informed him she’d let him know when the divorce papers were finalized, he replied that he wouldn’t sign them without a non-disclosure agreement.

She explained that she decided to go public with the news because she’d been holding it in for too long. She felt it was important to share what she’d been going through, as keeping it to herself had become unbearable.

Lydia stated that while they were married, other women accused her husband, Milton, 26, of being overly flirtatious and buying them drinks at bars. Milton denied these claims, but instead of addressing them, he questioned why Lydia would even consider the rumors to be true.

Throughout the season, Paul and Micah seemed like a perfect match despite their differences-but things fell apart at their wedding. Micah, noticing Paul’s uncertainty, asked him to speak first, and he ultimately decided not to marry her.

Honestly, I was really down in the dumps after things ended with Paul. It’s funny, because if he *had* proposed, I know I would have said yes without hesitation. It just felt like a huge missed opportunity, and I was pretty heartbroken about it.

At the reunion, Paul apologized for a hurtful comment he’d made privately about Micah not fitting the role of a mother.

Paul admitted he hadn’t been fair to her when he spoke earlier. He clarified that his real concern is he doesn’t envision them having children together.

Although they got back together for a short time after filming, Paul and Micah eventually split up permanently. Paul said the final breakup happened when he went to visit Micah in Arizona.

On the show *After the Altar*, Paul shared that he was seeing someone new-a woman who loves to travel and appreciates his cooking. He later publicly confirmed their relationship on Instagram with Geneva Dunham, who works as an eyelash technician.

Okay, so even though Kwame’s mom *didn’t* show up to the wedding – can you believe it?! – and he was, like, totally talking to Micah, that girl he initially connected with in the pods, Kwame and Chelsea actually *did* get married! They were one of the three couples who made it to the end in season four, and honestly, I was screaming! I just *knew* they had something special, despite all the drama.

At the reunion, Chelsea shared that she’s now met her husband’s mother. Kwame also apologized to his wife and her family for how he’d acted, explaining that his conversations with Micah hadn’t been his best moment.

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 initially proposed to Irina Solomonova, but they ended up breaking up while on a trip to Mexico.

Despite facing challenges, including opposition from Bliss’ father, the couple got their happy ending and married. They even shared their first dance as husband and wife to Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance” – the same song that brought them together during their time in the pods.

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

The couple announced in November 2023 that they were expecting a baby, and welcomed their daughter, Galileo Terri Rayne Goytowski, in April 2024.

As a lifestyle expert, I have to say, it feels like ages since we’ve seen a *Love is Blind* couple with such instant chemistry! It really reminds me of Cameron Hamilton and Lauren Speed from the very first season – they just seemed perfectly matched from the start!

Oh my gosh, Tiffany and Brett, the sweetest couple! They actually GOT MARRIED! It was SO cute, even though Brett had a little wardrobe malfunction – his pants were too tight! Thankfully, a total angel named Lucia the seamstress saved the day. Seriously, Lucia is a lifesaver, and they looked amazing! I was seriously tearing up, it was perfect!

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.

Once the show stopped filming, the ex-couple got back together and announced they were dating again during the season three reunion show.

A month later, the couple announced their separation following accusations of infidelity against SK. In a joint social media statement in November, SK and Raven explained they couldn’t share details due to ongoing legal issues and asked for privacy during this difficult time. They thanked their followers for supporting their relationship.

It was honestly heartbreaking to watch. I was so invested in Jackie and Marshall, and then to see her reach out to Josh Demas – the other guy she seemed to have a connection with in the pods – *before* officially ending things with Marshall? It felt like a huge betrayal and really hurt to see her give him a second chance like that. As a fan, it was just a tough moment.

During the reunion, Jackie clarified what happened with her relationships. She explained, “I ended things with Marshall *before* I met Josh at the coffee shop. It might seem like I was unfaithful, but I wasn’t.”

Jackie explained that she takes responsibility for her part in the breakup with Marshall, stating simply, “We just weren’t a good match.”

Jackie and Josh were still a couple and sharing a home during the *After the Altar* series. However, Jackie revealed on Instagram Live in September 2023 that they had ended their relationship.

Marshall shared with TopMob that he and fellow contestant Kacia Clark connected briefly after the show ended. However, he said, “I just needed to create some space between myself and that whole experience,” and things didn’t work out.

Marshall shared on *After the Altar* that he’s been dating Dr. Chay Barnes for a year and hopes to marry her. They got engaged in December 2023.

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

In the season three finale, Nancy was excited about getting married, but Bartise admitted he had doubts about their relationship. Nancy’s family was upset by this news and didn’t hesitate to express their disapproval of Bartise.

Even though their relationship has been rocky, Bartise and Nancy have continued to be friends at times, with periods where they weren’t close. As Bartise explained, they’ve gone through phases of being close friends, just acquaintances, not speaking at all, and then becoming friends again.

In April 2023, Bartisse, known from the show *Perfect Match*, welcomed his son, Hayden. He hasn’t yet revealed who Hayden’s mother is.

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. 

 

At the season finale, Alexa and Brennon exchanged vows and got married, surrounded by family and friends.

Alexa shared sweet vows, telling her partner, “You make me laugh, challenge my mind, and most importantly, bring me joy.”

The couple shared the exciting news in January 2024 that they were expecting a baby. They welcomed their daughter, Vienna Ziva Lemieux, in July 2024.

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

Zanab and Cole had trouble connecting throughout their relationship, leading to frequent arguments. Despite getting married, Zanab stopped the ceremony to express her hurt, telling Cole he had consistently disrespected, insulted, and criticized her, ultimately destroying her self-esteem.

Cole later reflected on their tumultuous relationship.

We were facing some challenges, but we were actively working to resolve them and find a more stable situation,” he explained to TopMob News. “I was hoping we could at least keep trying to make things work after the wedding, even if we didn’t actually get married that day.

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

Even though they had their share of ups and downs while dating, the couple was sure of their love for each other and joyfully got married.

I’ll never forget when Colleen explained why she decided to marry him. She told TopMob News back in 2022 that the moment she saw him cry – and she specifically said he *snorted* while crying! – she just knew. She said she was going to say ‘yes’ right then and there, because that vulnerable, real moment sealed the deal for her. It was honestly so sweet and relatable!

After nearly four years of marriage, the couple announced their separation in May 2025. In a statement posted on Instagram, they explained it was a very tough decision, made after careful consideration and a lot of emotion for both of them.

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 wondered if it was even possible to date these days. He admitted he wasn’t sure how to go about it, and thought avoiding dating apps altogether was probably the best strategy.

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2025-09-17 23:22