‘Love Is Blind’ alum sues producers, alleging they exerted ‘complete domination’ over cast

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A new lawsuit claims that romantic relationships are interfering with a positive work environment. The suit, filed this week, alleges that love is causing problems at the workplace.

Stephen Richardson, who appeared on Season 7 of the Netflix show “Love Is Blind,” is taking legal action against Netflix and the show’s production companies. He claims they didn’t pay him and other contestants minimum wage or overtime, and didn’t provide proper records of earnings or uninterrupted breaks for meals. The lawsuit, which is a class action, was filed in Los Angeles County court on Monday.

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In a recent lawsuit, Richardson claims that the show’s producers intentionally mislabeled him and other cast members as independent contractors to avoid paying them proper wages. He states they routinely worked 20-hour shifts. The lawsuit names Kinetic Content, Delirium TV, and Netflix as the parties responsible.

As a viewer, it really disturbed me to learn how much control the producers had over the people on the show. Apparently, they dictated everything – when we ate, slept, and even when we could contact our families. The lawsuit claims this level of control continued even after filming ended, and describes the whole experience as incredibly unsafe and inhumane. It’s shocking to hear about these conditions.

“Love Is Blind” is a dating show where single men and women try to find love by talking to each other without seeing what the other person looks like – they communicate behind a wall. Once a couple gets engaged, they finally meet face-to-face, often leading to surprising and honest reactions – everything from disappointment and confusion to pure relief.

The show has faced similar legal challenges recently from previous contestants. Last year, Renee Poche from Season 5 and Nick Thompson, a contestant from Season 2, sued the production companies after Poche was punished for talking about her time on the show, which violated her contract.

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Despite only making $8,000 from being on the show, Poche is now facing a $4 million lawsuit, according to USA Today.

Poche claimed the show’s producers removed her from the final series as revenge for her speaking out about the difficult working conditions she experienced. She described feeling trapped while working on the show.

In 2022, Jeremy Hartwell, who appeared on Season 2, filed a lawsuit against the production companies Kinetic Content and Netflix, claiming they broke labor laws and created a harsh and unhealthy work environment. Several former cast members later told Insider in April 2023 that producers made them work extremely long shifts – sometimes 20 hours a day – and restricted their access to the outside world. They also alleged a lack of sufficient food, mental health support, and a disregard for their requests for assistance.

For years, reality TV shows have used legal contracts, like nondisclosure agreements and arbitration clauses, to avoid lawsuits. However, a recent complaint names Richardson, and anyone in a similar situation, as defendants, potentially opening the door to legal action.

The person making the accusation is seeking an unknown amount of money in damages. Representatives for Richardson, Netflix, Kinetic Content, and Delirium TV did not respond to requests for comment from The Times as of Wednesday.

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2025-09-18 01:31