Renee Poche, a contestant on season five of Love is Blind, revealed the shockingly low amount that she was paid for appearing on the top-ranked reality show.
Despite the hugely popular series ranking among the most-watched programs on Netflix, the veterinarian, 32, claims to have only been paid a mere $8,000 for her time on the dating show, in which contestants date and get engaged without seeing each other.
Previously, it was revealed by Variety that cast members were paid a ‘flat rate of $1,000 per week — despite forcing them to work up to 20 hours per day, seven days per week.’
The publication pointed out that the amount ‘works out to as little as $7.14 per hour, well under the minimum wage in Los Angeles County of at least $15 per hour.’
In a lawsuit filed by season two contestant Jeremy Hartwell in July 2022, he accused producers of the show of ‘intentionally underpaying the cast members, depriving them of food, water and sleep, plying them with booze and cutting off their access to personal contacts and most of the outside world.’
Renee Poche, a contestant on season five of Love is Blind, revealed the shockingly low amount that she was paid for appearing on the top-ranked reality show
As a result, his attorney, Chantal Payton, claimed that this ‘made cast members hungry for social connections and altered their emotions and decision-making.’
Despite the questionably salaries, season two alums Deepti Vempati and Natalie Lee both claimed to be making $500,000 a year as influencers since appearing on the show in 2022.
Last year, Lee told Fortune that she was ‘three times’ her corporate salary as a tech consultant since resigning to pursue a career in social media influencing.
Lee explained the bulk of her earnings came from brand deals with companies like Burt’s Bees, SoFi, Fidelity Investments and Lulu’s.
Earlier this year, Poche sued Netflix and production companies Kinetic Content and Delirium TV after allegedly being penalized for ‘breaching her contract by publicly discussing her experience on the show,’ according to USA Today.
The producers — who were also sued by another contestant in October — took out an arbitration against her in November, for ‘some limited public remarks about her distressing time on the Program, including the terrifying experiences she had with Wall.’
In her countersuit, filed on January 2nd by lawyers Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos, Poche shared that she felt like ‘a prisoner’ during her time on the show, and alleged producers matched her with a ‘violent addict.’
‘On her first night in Los Angeles, the Program’s production staff seized Poche’s phone, passport, and driver’s license,’ the suit states, according to Deadline.
Earlier this year, she sued Netflix and production companies Kinetic Content and Delirium TV after allegedly being penalized for ‘breaching her contract by publicly discussing her experience on the show,’ according to USA Today
‘When not filming, Poche was locked in her hotel room, unable to leave without a “castwrangler” accompanying her. She was expressly forbidden from interacting not only with other participants but also with random hotel guests and staff. In some ways, and this is a sentiment shared by many participants, Poche felt like a prisoner.’
‘This dispute is ripe for adjudication because Delirium has initiated arbitration against Poche for purportedly violating her unlawful nondisclosure agreement,’ the suit continues.
‘Poche contends that the Agreement is itself illegal and unenforceable and brings this action to vindicate her legal rights under California law.’
In the lawsuit Poche also claims her pre-determined match, Carter, was ‘unemployed, addicted to drugs and alcohol, estranged from his family, homeless, violent and dead broke’ as per TMZ.
In the reality show contestants go to private pods to meet their dates without being able to see them.
Before they can finally meet the other person they must get engaged.
Poche shared that she got along well with Carter at first, but soon realized he had lied and that Delirium must have known about Carter’s ‘troubling issues’ and ‘mental instability’ since contestants are put through meticulous background checks.
She claims she became scared to spend time with Carter but was forced to film with him for long periods of time by producers.
Poche alleges that Carter was ’emotionally abusive on and off camera, abused drugs and alcohol and threatened a camera operator in Mexico.’
The producers took out an arbitration against her in November, for ‘some limited public remarks about her distressing time on the Program, including the terrifying experiences she had with Wall’; seen in a still from the show
In her suit Poche shared she felt like ‘a prisoner’ during her time on the show, and alleged producers matched her with a ‘violent addict’; (L-R) Poche, Taylor Rue, and Aaliyah Cosby
She goes on to claim that producers threatened her with legal action if she did not move forward with the pair’s engagement.
After the show wrapped filming, Renee claims she was told her and Carter’s relationship would be removed, alleging it was because Carter claimed he would ‘commit suicide if the footage aired.’
Renee has since called off her engagement and spoke about her experience in a number of podcasts, which she believes is why Netflix and Delirium have reportedly claimed that she violated her NDA, and are seeking $4 million from her, despite the fact she only made $8,000 for being on the show.
Poche alleges that her match, Carter, was emotionally abusive on and off camera, abused drugs and alcohol and threatened a camera operator in Mexico as per TMZ; Carter seen in a promotional image
Poche is seeking damages, a jury trial, as well as a court declaration that the NDA is ‘illegal, invalid and unenforceable.’
It’s not the first lawsuit the producers of the show are facing.
In October 2023, they were sued in a case of sexual assault, false imprisonment, and negligence by former season five contestant Tran Dang.
According to TMZ, Dang — who did not make it onto the show after final edits — said the incident occurred in 2022 and was at the hands of fellow contestant Thomas Smith.
In October the show’s producers were sued in a case of sexual assault, false imprisonment, and negligence by former season five contestant Tran Dang
Dang sued the producers for dismissing her after she brought the alleged assault to their attention.
False imprisonment was introduced in the lawsuit as Dang claimed she was forced to be on-call in her hotel room.
At the time Love Is Blind creator Chris Coelen spoke to People, and said he was ‘never told that [Dang] felt unsafe or experienced any of the allegations that she made.’
Delirium TV and Kinetic Content also referred to the claims as baseless.
