“Love Is Blind” creator Chris Coelen is responding to allegations that contestants were deprived of food, water, and sleep while filming the widely popular Netflix reality show.
Former season two contestants Nick Thompson, Danielle Ruhl, and Jeremy Hartwell have all spoken up about mistreatment they allege happened while filming, with the latter filing a lawsuit against Netflix claiming that they were deprived of sleep, water, and food while on set.
‘Love Is Blind’ Creator Responds To Netflix Lawsuit From Former Contestants
Instagram | Nick Thompson
After Jeremy Hartwell filed a lawsuit against Netflix and the production company Kinetic Content in 2022, Danielle Ruhl and Nick Thompson alleged further mistreatment in an interview with Business Insider, with Danielle even going as far as to say that she was denied medical treatment after coughing up blood.
In a statement to Entertainment Weekly made at the time, Kinetic Content responded to the Business Insider report, saying, “The wellbeing of our participants is of paramount importance to Kinetic.” The company added, “We have rigorous protocols in place to care for each person before, during, and after filming.”
Kinetic also claimed that Jeremy’s allegations had “absolutely no merit” and vowed to “vigorously defend against his claims.”
Instagram | Nick Thompson
In a September 2023 interview with Variety, “Love Is Blind” creator Chris Coelen also slammed the allegations. Although Hartwell alleged in his lawsuit that contestants were locked alone for hours “with no access to a phone, food, or any other type of contact with the outside world,” Chris insists that the idea that he was held “prisoner” is “insane” because production is “really transparent about the detail of what participating in Love Is Blind entails.”
“We tell them that they won’t be able to travel freely while they’re in the pods,” Chris explained. “We tell them they won’t have phones or TV or internet service in the pods or in their hotel rooms where they stay or in the romantic getaways. You’re asked to stay in your hotel to protect the integrity of the experiment. We disconnect their phones and internet so they can’t get online because people are tempted to look people up.”
Jeremy Hartwell Stands By What He Claimed In His 2022 Lawsuit
Instagram | Jeremy Hartwell
Chris also maintained that they were never deprived of food, water, and sleep on set. Although Jeremy alleged that they worked twenty hours a day, Chris insisted that contestants were never filming for more than sixteen hours a day. He also said that contestants were allowed to sleep in the lounge if they felt tired and could take a shuttle back to the hotel at any time.
The “Love Is Blind” creator also slammed allegations that they were denied food while filing. He said that production provided catered meals to the set and included free bottled water in the lounge for contestants to drink at any time. Although Jeremy insisted that there was “an excess of alcohol” on set, Chris says that they actually have encouraged contestants not to drink before making major decisions.
Instagram | Jeremy Hartwell
“Every season, I say … ‘I personally recommend that you don’t drink to excess, because I personally don’t think that’s a good way to connect with your potential spouse — especially doing it through a wall,” Chris claimed. “‘Whether you want to drink or don’t want to drink, it’s up to you.’”
In a statement to Variety, Jeremy Hartwell insisted that he stands by what he said in his lawsuit, adding, “I will continue to act in the best interest of the class in the pursuit of truth and justice. I have no further comment beyond this as the evidence and eventual outcome of the lawsuit will stand on its own merit.”
‘Love Is Blind’ Creator Addresses Danielle Ruhl’s Mental Health Accusations
Instagram | Danielle Ruhl
Chris also spoke up about Danielle Ruhl’s allegations about her mental health. Although she claimed she had a panic attack in Mexico and asked to leave, Chris insists that not everything she said was true. “She didn’t inform the production team that she was having any thoughts of self-harm. If she had, we wouldn’t have continued to film with her,” he said.
“She never asked anyone in production ever to leave the show. She was free to leave the experiment at any time, as many participants have in the past,” he continued. “I urge all potential participants to always prioritize their own well-being, above being on TV, or participating in this experiment, no matter how great the upside might potentially be.”
Instagram | Danielle Ruhl
Chris Coelen also shot down claims that he doesn’t provide mental health support to Netflix contestants. He said that psychologists are on set while contestants are in the pods. Later on during filming, when the couples move in together, he said that contestants are given a hotline to call where mental health support is available 2/7.
Chris also said that producers actively encourage contestants to go to therapy after the show, as Netflix will cover the cost of their mental health treatment. In regards to the alleged $50,000 fine that contestants had to pay if they left the show, Chris said that it has since been removed from the contract for the show’s fifth season.
Instagram | Danielle Ruhl
“We never have enforced it. We’ve never threatened to enforce it,” Chris said, adding, “Frankly, it is contradictory to everything we do on any of our shows.”
The “Love Is Blind” season 5 finale will be available to stream on Netflix on October 13.