Behind-The-Scenes Love is Blind Tea And A Job Update
Because I'm not ready to talk about grief just yet
I was originally going to write about grief, but I’m not ready yet. There’s been a lot of death in my family recently—all of them are grandparents who lived long lives, so I wouldn’t exactly call it tragic. But it’s still really sad. There are layers there. A lot of trauma and regret and just…I’ll go there another day.
Today, I’m going to talk about my favorite mode of dissociation: Love is Blind. Anyone who knows me knows I have a reality TV problem. It started during the pandemic when I was pregnant with my daughter. I was bored. I was in pain. I was emotional. Reality TV was a salve. I did it all: Too Hot to Handle, Nailed It!, The Circle, you name it. While I don’t have as much time for it now, I find time for certain shows. Love is Blind is one of them.
This will not be a smart essay attempting to justify consuming reality TV. It’s not an essay at all. It’s literally just Love is Blind tea I found around the internet while bored. If this isn’t your cuppa, scroll on down to the part where I talk about an amazing book I’m editing right now.
For everyone else…
Do not continue reading if you don’t want Love is Blind spoilers.
While there’s lots to talk about in Love is Blind Season 6, I’m not going to focus on what we know from the show. The way I cope with not being able to binge the entire season at once is by scouring social media for behind-the-scenes tea. I found sommmmme, and that’s what I’m going to focus on here.
Here’s a quick summary of what I found:
Jess had her own love triangle
Trevor had a girlfriend the entire time (YUP.)
Sarah Ann is shamelessly posting TikToks from Jeramy’s apartment
So, let me back up. This season has been a good one. First of all, there are so many love triangles. Here are the ones we see on Netflix:
Chelsea, Trevor & Jimmy
Jimmy, Chelsea & Jessica
Matthew, AD & Amber
AD, Matthew & Clay
Jeramy, Laura & Sarah Ann
But there was a sixth, apparently, that wasn’t even mentioned. (Netflix did us dirty…)
It appears Jimmy wasn’t Jessica’s only connection.
She had her own love triangle, which included a cast member who was hardly even mentioned. This guy:
His name is Ariel Gomerez, and this TikTok by storytimewithrikkii is how I found out about his connection with Jessica Vestal:
When I was watching the show, I didn’t understand why Jessica claimed Jimmy ruined her experience in the pods. It seemed melodramatic when they all went in, knowing they weren’t guaranteed to be matched with anyone. If you watch, you know the scene I’m talking about. So much drama. BUT it makes a lot more sense if she chose him over another guy she also had a connection with. Just thought that was interesting. I don’t understand why Netflix didn’t show this, but I think it makes her meltdown over being rejected by Jimmy a bit more understandable.
Ok, moving on.
#TeamTrevor folks, I’m sorry to do this to you, but you have been had.
Trevor Sova—yes, the giant man with the mullet who claimed to love The Notebook— apparently had a girlfriend the entire time. A woman named Natalia Marrero took to Instagram (natalia_ifbbpro) to let the world know that she and Trevor were in a relationship during the filming of Love is Blind 6, claiming he only went on the show for fame. I was absolutely shocked and wasted a good few hours of my life falling down that rabbit hole on social media. Yes, I had popcorn. No, I don’t have a life. It’s fine.
If you’re like me, you might have a lot of questions. My first question was, “How in the world was this chick cool with letting her boyfriend go on a dating show?” I wasn’t the only one thinking it, either. Luckily, Natalia has spent a lot of time answering questions. You can find them by going to her Instagram and checking out the highlights tagged to her profile.
I won’t even try to summarize beyond: he fooled us all.
Run to her profile for all the deets before she takes it down.
And finally, Sarah Ann’s shameless videos from Jeramy’s apartment…
If you saw episode 9 of LIB 6, you know about The Lie Laura caught Jeramy in. I was shocked. You were shocked. We were all shocked. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you’ll have to watch. If you do know what I’m talking about, check this out:
So…um…good for them, I guess? I immediately looked up Laura’s socials to see how she’s doing, and she seems to be doing just fine. Of course she is. She dodged a bullet. Good luck with that, Sarah Ann.
Now, what I really need to know, Netflix, is what exactly are the criteria for choosing people for this show?!? The contestants claim to go through a rigorous process that includes psychological testing. Umm…..???
Other LIB fans, I’d love to hear your thoughts about all of this in the comments. That especially goes for folks who have even more behind-the-scenes tea. Do a bored mama a favor and Spill. Itttt.
Work Update
I got a new job! Or gig? Whatever you want to call it.
I’m working as a contracted proofreader with Row House Books. I’m so excited to be doing this, especially for a press that I have so much respect for. What a dream to be able to do work I love from home. My daughter even has a desk next to mine where she colors as I work. If you had told me twenty years ago that this would be my life one day, I would have rolled my eyes and called you a liar.
The first book I was assigned at Row House is called The Day God Saw Me As Black by D. Danyelle Thomas. While I feel kinda gross talking about this beautiful book in a post that is predominantly about trashy reality TV, I also understand the importance of preorders to boost new books, so I feel compelled to go ahead and share it. I also just can’t stop thinking about it.
Proofreading this book has been an honor. While it clearly was not written for me (a white atheist), I still feel very much connected to its contents as someone who has experienced religious trauma. The prose is beautiful. The author is so damn smart. I recommend it (you can preorder it now!) to anyone who has experienced religious trauma or is interested in learning more about what it means to be Black and part of a religion rooted in white supremacy. More than anyone, I recommend this to Black Christians who are worried about younger generations choosing not to attend church. Danyelle does a fantastic job of outlining why young Black people are rejecting the church and what can be done to not only make the church more appealing to them but to save it from going extinct.
The publication date is September 24, 2024. Run and get your preordered copy now.
Thanks for reading, y’all.
- K
I am HERE for the TEA. (But you know that! 💁🏻♀️)
I scrolled past your spoilers because Love is Blind is my guilty pleasure, and I haven’t watched this season. When I do, I’ll be back to get your inside scoop. Congrats on your editing job and your soon to be published memoir!!