Love Is Blind participant Renee Poche is suing Netflix and production companies Kinetic Content and Delirium TV.
Poche, 33, who competed on season five of the reality dating show where she matched with Carter Wall, filed the lawsuit after a reported $4 million arbitration from the show's producers against her.
The producers — who were also sued by another contestant in October — filed an arbitration against her in November over “some limited public comments about her disturbing time on the program, including the terrifying experiences she had with Wall.”
In her countersuit, filed Jan. 2 by attorneys Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos, Poche said she felt “like a prisoner” during her time on the show, and that alleged producers paired her with a “violent addict.”
“On her first night in Los Angeles, the show's production staff confiscated Poche's phone, passport and driver's license,” the complaint said. Deadline.
Love Is Blind participant Renee Poche is suing Netflix and production companies Kinetic Content and Delirium TV
Poche, 33, who competed on season five of the reality dating show where she matched with Carter Wall, filed the lawsuit after a reported $4 million arbitration from the show's producers against her
'When Poche wasn't filming, she was locked in her hotel room and couldn't leave without a 'cast wrangler' 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 shared by many participants, Poche felt like a prisoner.”
“This dispute is ripe for adjudication because Delirium has initiated arbitration against Poche for allegedly violating its unlawful confidentiality agreement,” the lawsuit continues.
“Poche alleges that the agreement itself is illegal and unenforceable and brings this action to defend its legal rights under California law.”
In the lawsuit, Poche also claims that her predetermined match, Carter, was “unemployed, addicted to drugs and alcohol, estranged from his family, homeless, violent and terrified,” according to 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, they have to get engaged.
Poche said she initially got along well with Carter, but soon realized he had lied and that Delirium must have known about Carter's “disturbing issues” and “mental instability” since contestants undergo rigorous background checks.
She claims that spending time with Carter scared her, but producers forced her to film with him for extended periods of time.
The producers filed an arbitration against her in November over “some limited public comments about her disturbing time on the program, including the terrifying experiences she had with Wall”; seen in a still from the show
In her suit, Poche shared that she felt like “a prisoner” during her time on the show, and alleged producers paired her with a “violent addict”; (L-R) Poche, Taylor Rue and Aaliyah Cosby
Poche claims her match, Carter, was emotionally abusive both on and off camera, abused drugs and alcohol and threatened a cameraman in Mexico according to TMZ; Carter seen in a promotional image
Poche is seeking damages, a jury trial and a court declaration that the NDA is 'illegal, invalid and unenforceable'
Poche claims Carter was “emotionally abusive both on and off camera, abusing drugs and alcohol and threatening a cameraman in Mexico.”
She further claims that producers threatened her with legal action if she did not move forward with the couple's engagement.
After filming of the show wrapped, Renee claims she was told Carter's relationship would be broken up, as Carter claimed he would “commit suicide if the footage aired.”
Renee has since called off her engagement and spoken about her experiences on a number of podcasts, which she says is why Netflix and Delirium have reportedly claimed she breached her NDA and are demanding $4 million from her, despite the fact that she only earned $8,000. because you're on the show.
Poche is seeking damages, a jury trial and a declaration from the court that the NDA is “illegal, invalid and unenforceable.”
This isn't the first lawsuit the show's producers have faced.
In October, they were charged in a case of assault, false imprisonment and negligence by former season five contestant Tran Dang.
According to TMZDang – who did not make it to the show after final edits – said the incident happened in 2022 and was attributed to 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 firing her after she brought the alleged assault to their attention.
The lawsuit introduced false imprisonment, as Dang claimed she was forced to be present in her hotel room.
Love Is Blind creator Chris Coelen spoke at the time Peopleand said he was “never told that (Dang) felt unsafe or experienced any of the allegations she made.”
Delirium TV and Kinetic Content also called the claims baseless.