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.
'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
