On the most recent season of Love is Blind: Argentina, one couple quickly became the face of the show: Emily Ceco and Santiago Martinez. They met during the blind dating phase, fell in love in front of the cameras, and eventually got legally married. Throughout the season, some viewers pointed out behavior from Santiago that felt like red flags. But despite that, Netflix leaned into their storyline heavily, featuring them prominently in promotional materials.
Shortly after the season aired, shocking allegations came to light. According to Emily Ceco, Santiago physically assaulted her and attempted to take her life. She came forward during a live-streamed interview, visibly injured, her face still marked by bruises. That image—a crying, battered Emily—was splashed across Argentine news outlets and social media platforms. It was a moment that prompted me to dig deeper into not just this specific case, but the Love is Blind franchise as a whole. But what I found was disturbing.
When I first searched “Love is Blind abuse allegations,” I learned that Emily’s case is far from unique. A growing number of former contestants have come forward with serious accusations against the show and its producers. The situation is so serious that the United States National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has an active lawsuit pending against the franchise, based on claims of mistreatment and unsafe working conditions during filming.
Throughout this article, you’ll see the word “allegedly” used often. That’s intentional. The production companies behind Love is Blind are notoriously litigious, and I want to be clear: I am not personally involved in any of these cases. What follows is a summary of the allegations that have been made public, based on my research from online sources and interviews.
In the following sections, I’ll break down the most concerning accusations against the show and its production teams, explore the specific case of Emily and Santiago as a real-world example, and share my own reflections on the rights of reality TV contestants—rights that, in many cases, seem to be dangerously overlooked.
The Man Behind the “Experiment”: Chris Coelen and the Making of Love is Blind
To understand the troubling dynamics behind Love is Blind, it helps to look at the man at the center of it all—Chris Coelen.
Coelen is the creator and executive producer of Love is Blind, as well as other headline-making shows like The Ultimatum and Married at First Sight. He also founded Kinetic Content, one of the largest and most powerful reality TV production companies in Hollywood.
A profile in Vulture paints Coelen as an intense, almost evangelical figure when it comes to his vision for Love is Blind. The way he speaks about the show borders on the cult-like. He reportedly talks to cast members with fervor, insisting that Love is Blind isn’t just reality TV—it’s a documentary-style “social experiment” meant to reveal profound truths about human relationships and society.
One of Coelen’s most deeply held beliefs, according to those who’ve worked with him, is a hatred of falseness. He doesn’t want actors or wannabe influencers on the show. He wants real people who are really looking for love—not fame.
That’s why the casting process for Love is Blind looks very different from other dating shows. Instead of holding auditions, producers seek out potential cast members directly. They reach out to people on Instagram, LinkedIn, and even Tinder—sliding into DMs to ask if they’d be interested in participating. One key rule? If you have more than 10,000 followers, you’re automatically disqualified. Fame-seekers need not apply.
How Love is Blind Works
If you’ve never watched the show, here’s a quick primer on how it works: Contestants are separated by gender and rotate through a series of “pod” dates. In these pods, they can’t see each other—only talk through a wall. The idea is to fall in love based on emotional connection alone.
If two people decide they want to meet, there’s only one way to do it: they have to get engaged.
Once engaged, they meet face-to-face for the first time. If they still feel the spark, they head off on a romantic trip together. During this time, they’re introduced to the other people they dated in the pods—which naturally stirs up drama. Jealousy, second-guessing, and even breakups or love triangles are common.
Just a few weeks after that first blind date, couples stand at the altar and make a decision: say “I do” and get married legally on the spot, or walk away—sometimes in front of hundreds of thousands of viewers.
“The Experiment” and Its Limits
In order to preserve the illusion of the “experiment,” the production tightly controls the environment. During the pod phase, contestants are confined to hotel rooms and not allowed to leave without permission. Phones and internet-connected devices are confiscated. This ensures that contestants don’t accidentally run into one another in person—or Google the person they’re dating.
While this strict structure may make for compelling TV, it also raises serious ethical concerns. Some cast members have spoken out, saying the show’s isolation tactics went beyond what was reasonable.
In fact, a growing number of former participants have made public allegations against the show’s producers—describing experiences that go far beyond your average reality TV stress.
In the next section, I’ll walk through some of those allegations. And keep in mind—Love is Blind only premiered in 2020. In just a few years, it’s already amassed a troubling history of behind-the-scenes controversy.
A Behind-the-Scenes Nightmare: Seasons One and Two of Love is Blind
In a 2023 Business Insider exposé, multiple former contestants described their time on Love is Blind as nothing short of traumatic.
Their contracts reportedly included a shocking clause: any cast member who attempted to leave the show without the producers’ permission could be fined $50,000. That threat alone created an environment of extreme pressure—but the physical and emotional conditions contestants describe go even further.
Participants said they were cut off from the outside world, often for weeks at a time. Some claimed they didn’t see sunlight for extended periods. While access to food and water was scarce, alcohol was plentiful. Contestants were reportedly encouraged to drink while being deprived of adequate sleep, sometimes filming for up to 20 hours per day.
During the pod phase, women on Season One were allegedly housed in a single cold trailer. Some slept on the floor to avoid rickety beds—only to be warned about cockroaches. Exhausted and hungover, they were expected to be camera-ready each morning for intense rounds of blind dates. When the group eventually demanded better sleeping conditions, production moved them to hotel rooms—but not without imposing strict curfews and posting staff outside to monitor them.
Three cast members said they had panic attacks while filming. One woman said she developed PTSD and experienced a miscarriage as a result of the stress. Production assistants even said that basic needs weren’t met—sinks on set didn’t work, and contestants had to beg for bottled water.
Danielle Ruhl’s Story: Panic Attacks, Exploitation, and Emotional Harm
Danielle Ruhl, a cast member from Season Two, has been one of the most vocal about her experience. Before filming, she disclosed to producers that she had struggled with mental health and had previously attempted suicide. In hindsight, she believes she should never have been cast. “I was not mentally well enough,” she said.
Her experience on set only worsened her condition. Ruhl described days when there was no food left by the time she arrived at the lunch area, and people would fight over scraps like a hard-boiled egg. On one occasion, after not eating or drinking water and while consuming champagne in a pod, she passed out. When she came to, producers didn’t provide medical help—instead, they rushed her into an on-camera interview.
Ruhl said that after opening up to producers about her past weight loss, they began asking loaded, emotionally manipulative questions like: “Do you think your fiancé would still love you if you gained weight again?”
Later, while filming in Mexico, producers allowed her fiancé, Nick Thompson, to attend a party—but told Ruhl she could not go. Left alone in her room and spiraling with anxiety, she experienced another panic attack and hid in the closet to avoid the cameras. When Nick found her, he removed his microphone and yelled at producers, “I’m tired of being exploited. We’re done.”
Despite her telling producers that she was having suicidal thoughts and could not continue, Ruhl says they pressured her and Nick to stay—reminding them of the $50,000 penalty for quitting. They ultimately agreed to remain on the show. When it aired, her panic attack was portrayed as jealousy over Nick talking to another woman at the party.
The Jeremy Hartwell Lawsuit: A Legal Reckoning
Jeremy Hartwell, another contestant from Season Two, filed a lawsuit in 2022 against Netflix and Kinetic Content, accusing them of “unsafe and inhumane working conditions.” According to the filing, producers exercised “excessive control over virtually every aspect of the lives of their shows’ cast,” including when and how they could sleep, eat, drink, and even communicate with the outside world.
The lawsuit also alleged that the show provided inadequate mental health support and paid contestants far below minimum wage.
One of the most disturbing revelations was the $50,000 fine for early departure—something Hartwell and others claim created a coercive environment. When Variety asked producer Chris Coelen about the clause, he admitted it had existed but claimed it was removed in later seasons and had never been enforced. When pressed on whether it could still affect how contestants felt, Coelen said, “I’m not inside people’s heads, so I have no idea what they’re concerned about.”
Hartwell’s suit represented not just his own experience, but those of 144 former cast and crew members. In 2024, Netflix reached a $1.4 million out-of-court settlement with the group.
It’s important to note that a settlement isn’t an admission of guilt. Sometimes it’s simply a way to avoid the cost and attention of a lengthy trial. Still, the number of people involved—and the seriousness of their allegations—raises major red flags. After all, this lawsuit came just two years after the show’s premiere.
Isolation, Panic Attacks, and a Desperate Escape: An Anonymous Cast Member Speaks Out
In another revealing interview, Vulture spoke with a former contestant from an early season of Love is Blind, who shared his story under the condition of anonymity. His account echoed many of the now-familiar complaints: extreme isolation, intense production schedules, and emotional breakdowns.
According to this contestant, staying up late for more time in the pods was optional—but essentially everyone did it. That meant long nights, followed by 7 a.m. call times and emotionally intense 14-hour days. “I didn’t have much sleep, the meals were sporadic, and you were dating and talking for 14 hours a day,” he said. “Maybe you said something two days ago you regretted and you’re worried about that. It builds up, and eventually you feel a little crazy.”
For him, it culminated in a panic attack—his first ever—while being interviewed on camera. He asked if he could leave the show, fearing the footage might air and make him appear weak. But producers convinced him to return to his hotel room and calm down instead.
Still without access to a phone or the outside world, he waited until cleaning staff arrived, snuck out, and used a phone in another room to call his parents. It was then he learned that his grandfather had COVID-19. To avoid the looming $50,000 penalty, he asked his parents to email producers and say he needed to leave due to his grandfather’s condition. The producers finally allowed him to exit the show.
Before leaving, he told his mom he was starving. She had food delivered to the hotel while he waited for his Uber. “It was not a great experience,” he concluded. Though his account mirrors those behind the lawsuit, he chose not to pursue legal action.
The Questionable Vetting Process: Abuse Allegations and Casting Concerns
Given the isolating nature of Love is Blind, you would expect producers to rigorously vet participants—especially for any history of abusive behavior. Contestants are locked in hotel rooms without phones or independent access to safety, and once engaged, they’re pressured to marry someone they’ve known for just a few weeks. The contracts even reportedly restrict couples from divorcing until the final episode airs.
With that in mind, recent revelations have cast doubt on the show’s screening process.
In Season 3, contestant Brennon Lemieux was accused of domestic violence just five months before appearing on the show. According to a police report from January 2021, Lemieux allegedly pushed his then-girlfriend into a wall during an argument, rendering her briefly unconscious. She also claimed he hit and punched her. Though the case was ultimately dismissed in court, the timing raised alarm bells for many viewers.
Lemieux went on to marry Alexa Alfia during the show, and the couple is still together. He denies the allegations. However, the fact that someone with a recent domestic violence report was cast at all left fans questioning the producers’ judgment.
As one viewer put it: “Love is Blind are not even attempting to choose good men for these women… they just want drama.”
Abuse Allegations Spread Internationally: Sweden and Mexico
This issue isn’t limited to the U.S. franchise. In January 2024, Swedish media reported that a contestant on Love is Blind: Sweden had previously been accused of abuse by a former partner. While no conviction was reached—and local privacy laws prevented the man’s name from being published—many questioned how such a person was cast in the first place.
And in Love is Blind: Mexico, another troubling incident aired without much public scrutiny. One of the show’s central couples, Fernanda and Gerardo, appeared to be a strong match—until tensions boiled over.
In one scene, after Gerardo expressed doubts about their relationship, Fernanda covered the camera with a blanket, then began screaming, throwing objects, and breaking things around the apartment. While no formal abuse allegations followed, the behavior was undeniably volatile and threatening.
It’s worth asking: would the scene have aired if the roles were reversed? If a man had thrown a tantrum, screamed at his partner, and destroyed property, would it have been treated so casually?
Regardless of gender, intimidating a partner, destroying shared space, and displaying violent outbursts are unacceptable behaviors that should raise red flags on any platform—especially one built around the premise of lasting love.
Matt and Colleen: A Psychologist’s Warning
In Season 3, viewers were deeply unsettled by the dynamic between Matt and Colleen. While no formal accusations were made, Matt’s reactions to perceived slights on Colleen’s part—such as when she told another man he was attractive—struck many as disproportionate and alarming. He lashed out, threatened to leave, and caused Colleen to break down in tears on multiple occasions.
Psychologist Dr. Isabele Morley wrote an op-ed in Psychology Today in response to the couple’s portrayal, arguing that Matt’s behavior was abusive. She criticized the production team for failing to intervene, writing: “Not only do they let Matt get away with abusive, inappropriate, and unacceptable behavior, but they also put Colleen at risk for more abuse.”
Matt and Colleen have denied any allegations of abuse. Not long after I posted the above video, Matt and Colleen announced that they would be getting a divorce.
Renee Poche: Cast, Silenced, and Sued for $4 Million
Season 5 contestant Renee Poche, a veterinarian, was matched with Carter Wall—a large, imposing man whom she claims turned out to be volatile, intoxicated, and unstable. Renee alleges that Carter was frequently drunk and high on amphetamines, unemployed, and homeless. During filming, she says he even brought another woman back to their shared apartment.
According to Renee, even the Love is Blind crew grew concerned. She was allegedly warned not to tell Carter where she kept her gun and advised by producers to be cautious. Her mother was reportedly told that Carter was “troubled.” When her family urged her to leave, Renee responded that she couldn’t—because doing so would result in financial penalties.
Multiple sources say that Coelen himself encouraged Renee to stay, telling her she could be “the face of the show.” He denies this.
Despite making it all the way to the altar (where she turned Carter down), Renee and Carter’s storyline was entirely cut from the final edit. When curious viewers asked why, Renee began speaking out—only to be hit with a $4 million lawsuit for violating her NDA.
Renee was paid just $8,000 for her time on the show. Critics saw the size of the lawsuit as an intimidation tactic—a message to any future contestants considering speaking out. While a court initially ruled against her, Renee has appealed, working with a firm that argues her NDA is unenforceable due to the exploitative nature of the contract itself.
If she wins, the ruling could dramatically shift the legal landscape for reality TV, possibly allowing other cast members to challenge NDAs and seek justice for mistreatment.
Tran Dang: Allegations of Sexual Assault and Negligence
Perhaps the most disturbing case comes from Season 5 contestant Tran Dang. Though her segment was cut before airing, she filed a lawsuit alleging that her fiancé, Thomas Smith, sexually assaulted her during filming. Dang believes the assault was caught on the show’s 24/7 surveillance and says that when she reported it, she was dismissed by producers and encouraged to stay.
She was not even moved to a separate room and alleges that the abuse continued. Dang claims that producers went so far as to script a conversation where another cast member asked Thomas about their “intimacy issues”—to which he allegedly responded, “This is non-negotiable. I need more. Physically.”
Dang eventually removed her engagement ring and tried to leave. Her lawsuit alleges that she was blamed for the assault, told she hadn’t set clear boundaries, and was made to feel like she wasn’t “taking the experiment seriously.” She was finally allowed to exit the show a week later—but not without legal retaliation. During her exit interview, she said something that concerned an on-set psychologist, and shortly thereafter, she began receiving calls from Kinetic Content’s lawyers.
Her lawsuit accuses Thomas Smith of sexual assault and Love is Blind’s producers of negligence, emotional abuse, and false imprisonment. According to People Magazine, the complaint also details the conditions of cast isolation: two weeks without phones, passports, or outside contact, strict bathroom permissions, 18-hour filming days, and unrestricted alcohol with minimal food.
This case is still ongoing. Due to the nature of the allegations, it cannot be settled through arbitration, meaning it will likely go to trial.
Ingrid Santa Rita: Allegations from Love is Blind Brazil
In Season 4 of Love is Blind Brazil, contestant Ingrid Santa Rita married fellow cast member Leandro Marçal. Ingrid later revealed that after initially having consensual intimacy, Leandro began sexually assaulting her while she slept. She says she tried everything to protect herself—sleeping in different clothing, turning away from him, even sleeping on the couch—but he continued to violate her boundaries.
The trauma culminated in a panic attack so severe that she lost consciousness and was found passed out on the floor by her daughter. On the reunion show, Ingrid confronted Leandro on camera, saying he had disrespected her repeatedly. Though she did not use the words “assault” or “rape” in the moment, she later clarified on social media: “That’s not self-centeredness. That’s abuse. It’s rape.”
She has since filed a police report and obtained a restraining order, though she has not filed any legal action against Netflix or the production company behind Love is Blind Brazil.
Camila Pittaluga: A Second Case from Love is Blind Argentina
Just days before the above video was published, new allegations surfaced involving another contestant from the same season as Emily Ceco and Santiago Martinez. Camila Pittaluga, whose storyline was cut from Love is Blind Argentina, alleges that after cast member Ezequiel Ingrassia divorced his on-screen partner Julieta, he began a relationship with Camila.
She says the relationship quickly turned toxic, marked by verbal and sexual abuse. Camila claims she obtained a restraining order against Ezequiel, which he later violated by showing up at her workplace. As a result, she filed a police report and went public. That case is now ongoing.
The U.S. Government Gets Involved: The NLRB Complaint
In response to the growing mountain of allegations, the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has filed a formal complaint against Love is Blind’s producers. The agency claims that cast members were misclassified as “participants” instead of employees—a legal distinction with major consequences.
If the NLRB rules against Netflix and Kinetic Content, it could mean that Love is Blind violated federal labor laws. More importantly, it could force the reality TV industry to redefine how it treats its casts—possibly guaranteeing labor protections, mental health support, and basic human rights for future participants.
As for the other cases, I am really trying to give the producers the benefit of the doubt. This is an emotionally intense show and a lot of people go on it, so there are going to be some weirdos who slip through the cracks. The contestants did ultimately agree to be on it. But that’s a lot of accusations. And in the case I’m about to tell you about, involves allegations of attempted homicide. So I do wonder, at which point is the show going to take some responsibility for what appears to be a pattern of hiring dangerous people and locking them in rooms with kidnapped women in foreign countries? It sounds like something you shouldn’t be allowed to legally do. Even if someone signed a contract that said that they had to stay in a certain location and turn over their electronic devices, I believe it would be fair of that person to assume that production would make sure they were at least well fed and that their physical safety wasn’t going to be put in danger. If the show is asking them to get married after just a few weeks of knowing someone, I think it is reasonable for the person signing the contract to assume that person has gone through a basic screening process.
Emily Ceco and Santiago Martinez: A Case Study in Emotional Manipulation
In the first episode of this season of Love is Blind: Argentina, contestants were separated by gender and sent into “pods” to date each other without ever seeing their potential partners. If a couple wanted to meet face-to-face, they had to get engaged first.
Santiago, a 29-year-old small business owner, made a bold impression from the start. His initial conversation with Agustina centered around gender expectations: she referred to herself as a “queen,” but he insisted on calling her “princess.” The exchange set the tone for what would become a theme throughout the season—Santiago’s desire to assert control over how women presented themselves and what roles they played.
A Dream Connection
Things shifted dramatically when Santiago met Emily. He told her he had dreamt of her name the night before and even produced a piece of paper where he had written it down. Their chemistry was immediate and intense. Emily opened up about surviving past abuse, and Santiago responded with tears. Emily even dropped a “te amo”—a deeply serious declaration of love. Within days, she declared she would leave the show married.
But things weren’t simple. Agustina, sensing competition, returned to confront Santiago for trying to charm both him and Emily at the same time. When Emily found out, she confronted him. He reassured her that she was his first choice, prompting a rollercoaster of trust, doubt, and emotional vulnerability.
Red Flags and Manipulation
During one date, Emily admitted she had briefly ranked Santiago as her second choice, which sent him into a rage. He called her a forra—a term loosely translated in subtitles as “shitty,” but in Argentine slang, closer to “bitch.” Emily apologized profusely, though she had done little wrong. The imbalance of power in their dynamic became more pronounced, with Santiago frequently centering his hurt and casting Emily’s actions as betrayals.
By their fourth date, he proposed. Emily accepted.
From Engagement to Tulum
Once engaged couples were flown to Tulum, Mexico, things heated up—emotionally and physically. Santiago declared his love, and they shared their first night together. But even amid bliss, jealousy and control surfaced. When Emily playfully hugged another contestant in front of Santiago, he reacted coldly, storming off before reluctantly returning to share her bed.
Back in Buenos Aires, tensions grew. Santiago bristled at Emily’s continued mentions of Agustina. He began making rules about conversations, jokes, and even facial expressions. In one moment, he snatched her dinner away mid-meal, saying, “You’ve had enough.” Emily later tried to discuss how that hurt her, but he shut her down.
Cracks in the Facade
Their conflicts intensified. Santiago admitted he had a short fuse and wouldn’t change. Despite this, they moved forward with their wedding plans. At the altar, they both said “I do.” But cracks were already showing.
In the reunion episode, Emily explained they had briefly separated but decided to stay married. Critics, however, had taken notice. Online viewers called Santiago “toxic.” Emily defended him, saying the public had misunderstood him.
A Dark Turn
Behind the scenes, things were much worse.
In February, Emily’s family took her out to a bachelorette party. When she returned home, Santiago allegedly became enraged. According to Emily’s later public statement, he struck her, choked her, and told her, “You weren’t crying two hours ago at the bachelorette party, so go ahead and cry now.” She managed to escape after the violent altercation.
Emily eventually filed a police report, and Santiago was arrested on charges including attempted murder, physical abuse, and unlawful restraint. He remains in custody awaiting trial.
More Allegations Surface
Soon after, another woman, Johana Coleff, came forward on TikTok, claiming she had been dating Santiago while Love is Blind was filming. She described emotionally abusive behavior and manipulation—including him allegedly telling her the show was about surviving on a deserted island. According to Johana, Santiago’s mother even texted with her during filming, covering for her son, and when Santiago returned from filming, he told Johana that his marriage to Emily was fake and all for the cameras.
Conclusion: The Cost of Entertainment
This isn’t an anti-reality TV article—but it is a pro–healthier reality TV one.
What shocked me while researching this piece wasn’t just the scale of the allegations against Santiago, but how underreported they were. For a show as high-profile as Love Is Blind, where viewers are asked to invest emotionally in the cast, it’s unsettling how little public attention has been paid to what happened after the cameras stopped rolling.
Reality TV contestants should not be collateral damage for our entertainment. At minimum, they deserve fair pay (W-9s and minimum wage at the very least), access to quality mental health care during and after filming, and the right to unionize. They should not be fined for choosing to leave a harmful environment, and they should be screened for stability and safety—not just dramatic potential. This should be obvious.
If there’s one takeaway from this story, it’s that the people we see on these shows are workers. They’re not celebrities with teams of lawyers and publicists. They’re regular people doing emotional labor under extreme conditions, often without protection or recourse. And like any labor force, they deserve safeguards.
Reality TV taps into deep human instincts—connection, competition, vulnerability. It isn’t going away, and it shouldn’t have to. But if a few viral moments of drama come at the cost of someone’s mental health or safety, it’s not worth it. We can, and should, demand better.
One of the most powerful tools we have is conversation. So if you care about reality TV, also care about the systems behind it. Follow the labor board cases. Listen to people like Renee Poche and Tran Dang, who are fighting for safety and accountability. Share their stories. The more we speak up, the harder it becomes for these issues to stay hidden.
Finally, I want to recognize the bravery of those who’ve come forward—Emily included. Telling the truth on this scale comes with personal and financial risk, but they’ve done it because they believe what happened to them was wrong. I admire that deeply.
I’m Siobhan Brier Aguilar. I’m a writer. You can find more of my work at SiobhanBrier.com or subscribe to my newsletter to get new writing each month. I’m also on Instagram @siowriter, and you can now support my work or join my book club on Patreon.
