Love Is Blind's Nick Thompson reveals he's about to be homeless 'thanks to the show'
Love Is Blind contestant Nick Thompson, who has spoken out against the reality TV show in the past, is now claiming his involvement in it has played a part in his financial issues and potential homelessness.
Thompson, who married co-contestant Danielle Ruhl during the show (they would later divorce), described his experience on the show as having "ruined [his] life completely," citing the filming and living conditions as akin to a prisoner.
Speaking to The Daily Mail this week, Thompson explained his current situation: "I lost my job last November... I'm having an incredibly hard time finding [a new] one. I burned through my savings that cashed out my 401(k). I've got two months left in the bank to pay my mortgage. 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."
Thompson appeared on the reality show in 2021 and said the show required participants to be mic-ed up from waking to sleeping. When the cameras switched off at the end of the day, Thompson alleges contestants were confined to their rooms without their wallets, a key or form of ID.
"You literally are held captive like a prisoner and there is absolutely no reason that you shouldn't be considered an employee when you're technically under the control of your employer for 24 hours a day."
While he was paid $10,000 dollars for his 10-week involvement in making the television show, Thompson says that this figure, when broken down, equates to $7.14 an hour, less than the state-set minimum wage in Illinois. Thompson has said that he does not and has not received any residual payment for the further broadcasting of the show.
"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… and I'm going to be homeless," he's since revealed.
"I wish I could just go back to having a nice life that I had built for myself, instead of wondering whether my mortgage is gonna [sic] get paid. It's a brutal, brutal, brutal industry."
The production company that produced Love Is Blind season 2, Kinetic Content, is no stranger to allegations of "unsafe" working conditions. In April of this year, former contestant Jeremy Hartwell commenced legal proceedings against the product company, citing that they "willfully misclassified" contestants in order to pay them below minimum wage.
"The wellbeing of our participants is of paramount importance to Kinetic. We have rigorous protocols in place to care for each person before, during, and after filming," a statement at the time from the production company read.
"Mr. Hartwell's involvement in Season 2 of Love is Blind lasted less than one week. Unfortunately, for Mr. Hartwell, his journey ended early after he failed to develop a significant connection with any other participant. While we will not speculate as to his motives for filing the lawsuit, there is absolutely no merit to Mr. Hartwell's allegations, and we will vigorously defend against his claims."
At the time of writing, Netflix nor Kinetic Content has replied to Nick Thompson's claims.
You Might Also Like
