A ‘Love Is Blind’ Star Claims He Was Treated ‘Like A Prisoner’ On The Show
A former Love Is Blind contestant has spoken out about the show he made his name on, suggesting his stint on the series has left him unable to find a job.
For a little refresher on which contestant this is, let me re-introduce you to Nick Thompson, who appeared on the popular dating show in 2021 and proposed to his match Danielle Ruhl through a wall before getting married at the close of the season.
Their marriage came to an end in 2022, just over a year after they tied the knot. Sadly, it seems that a broken heart wasn’t the only thing Nick was left with.
Image Source: Instagram/@nthompson513
In an interview with the Daily Mail, he said he was only paid $10,000 USD for his time on the show, and claimed he was “treated like a prisoner” for 10 weeks. Reality stars don’t typically receive residual payments for being on the show, even though Netflix will continue to receive streams for years to come.
The show is extremely popular, and fans can’t get enough of the format. According to Nielsen, Season 4 racked up 1.2 billion viewing minutes from April 17 to 23 alone.
“When you think about the amount of money that’s being made, and the way that it’s the path for future seasons, and the fact that anyone can go on and watch me [on Netflix]… and I’m going to be homeless,” Nick told the Daily Mail. “I lost my job last November. I’m having an incredibly hard time finding [another job].”
Nick claimed he will only be able to pay his mortgage for another two months, and suggested his stint in the public eye has turned employers off.
“I can’t get a job because people don’t take me seriously. I was a VP in software for five years, so it’s not like I don’t have [a] track record of experience or success.”
Image Source: Netflix, Love Is Blind
Why are reality TV stars talking about “residuals”?
Hollywood is currently on hold, due to the WGA writer’s strike and the SAG-AFTRA strike. While many actors and writers have been vocal about not getting fair residuals in the new streaming era, some reality TV stars have jumped on board to advocate for protections for shows like Love Is Blind.
Bethenny Frankel, who started her reality TV career on The Apprentice and The Real Housewives of New York City, has engaged two high-profile attorneys to help establish a newer, fairer system.
“Just because you can exploit young, doe-eyed talent desperate for the platform TV gives them, it doesn’t mean you should,” Bethenny told Variety. “They don’t know what they don’t know. I was playing chess, but how do I help people who may not know the game?”
Image Source: Netflix, Love Is Blind
Nick’s criticisms of the Love Is Blind production.
While the idea of being on TV can seem glamorous and exciting, Nick told the Daily Mail that his experience wasn’t like that at all.
“You are filming 18 to 20 hours a day… and that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re always going to be on TV, but you’re mic’d up from the moment you get there in the morning, and you’re mic’d up all the way until you leave,” he claimed.
“When you go home at the end of the day, you’re locked in your hotel room without a key without your wallet, without money, without identification.”
Yikes.
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Image credits: Netflix, Love Is Blind, Instagram/@nthompson513