'90 Day Fiancé' 18 Things Even Superfans Of The Show Don't Know
You remember every couple's story by heart on 90 Day Fiancé, and who could blame you? (I mean, who could forget Russ and Paola or Mike and Aziza?). You talk about cast members like you have known them for ten years (why won't Annie just listen to me on this one?) and you never miss an episode (sorry, Aunt Sue, I can't come to your party if it's on Sunday). Plus, you are glued to Twitter and Instagram photos that might indicate trouble in paradise for your favorite pair (why isn't Danny in any of these pictures with Amy?).
You've been there from the beginning and you've totally taken sides (yet, you've never ended up siding with Luis). All signs point to you being a super fan. But you might be surprised to learn that there is more to this “love without borders” thing than the show's producers lead you to believe. There are some secrets, bold behaviors, bolder personalities, and unanswered questions mixed in with those prenuptial agreements. The awkward conversations get more awkward, and all-too-dreadful meetings with the in-laws become even more dreadful.
Read on to find out if you REALLY know 90 Day Fiancé. Then, make sure to cancel all your plans and tune in on May 20th for the new season (but you already had that on the calendar).
18 In Terms Of A Reality Show, This One Doesn't Pay Well
Being on a reality show is not supposed to be a full-time job. Instead, cast members are expected to balance tapings with their “real” employment and “real” life. According to In Touch Weekly, there are only a few reality stars - namely, Ryan Seacrest or Gordon Ramsay - who are able to make enough money from their appearances and side opportunities that they would not need to supplement with regular employment. That said, one might assume that allowing a film crew full access into their private lives would be worth a fair chunk of change. While this is truer for some shows, cast members on 90 Day Fiancé earn a shockingly small paycheck.
'In Touch Weekly' revealed last year that cast members receive only $1000 per episode, with a bonus for appearing in the 'Tell All' or' Reunion' specials.
So, assuming someone appeared in every episode of a seven-episode season (which does not usually happen), that's just $7000. In comparison, Starcasm reports that cast members on Teen Mom 2 earn over $250,000 per season. To make matters worse, that $7000 is only granted if that person is legally authorized to work in the United States. Since the show is based on couples in which one is a citizen and the other is not, that means a lot of people are not being paid.
17 It Was All Wedding Bells… Until The Fifth Season
Last year, in its fifth season, 90 Day Fiancé enthusiasts finally saw a couple call off their wedding. It may be surprising that it took five full seasons for this to happen given the pressure placed on these lovebirds to figure out so many things in such a short amount of time, but it is probably no surprise that the one and only canceled wedding was that of Molly, 41, and Luis, 26. Their relationship had been extra tumultuous, with a particularly strained family dynamic involving Molly's daughters, Luis' desires to move back to the Dominican Republic, and little agreement on other issues of importance. While fans were denied a chance to see the couple walk down the aisle in Molly's native Georgia, they were not completely disappointed.
Just when it seemed Molly and Luis were on the verge of their final breakup, Molly revealed that she and Luis had secretly met at the altar. This came as a shock to everyone, including TLC, with Reality Blurb stating network executives had no idea this had happened. It seemed in some weird way this marriage might work. However, The Hollywood Gossip is now reporting the couple is calling it quits (this time for real) after just six months of marriage and we're not putting any bets on their reconciliation.
16 Not Telling The Whole Truth Is Pretty Common
Criminal pasts, types of jobs you might not put on a resume, and secret romances - oh my! Where to even start.
Love them or hate them, Anfisa and Jorge come to mind. You might remember Anfisa as the one who constantly wanted material items. According to the International Business Times, she was really just keeping her standards high and asking Jorge for things that he was adamant he could provide. When they began dating, he lied about his savings and made himself look like a millionaire. When push came to shove, he admitted he was actually more than $30,000 in debt.
Then there was Danielle and Mohamed, who is quite possibly the most talked about a couple from the show. A story in In Touch Weekly describes a 2005 charge against Danielle for theft and forgery.
It seems Danielle was not totally honest with Mohamed about that, but it does add a bit more weight to Mohamed's accusation that she stole money from him during their relationship.
And destroyed his clothes, but that's beside the point.
Of course, we can't ignore the rumors from Starcasm that Abby, of Sean and Abby, may have been hiding a previous marriage that she entered into at age 17! Maybe Sean's jealousy was in fact warranted.
15 Friends And Family Appear On Episodes As "Favors"
Good friends help you move that old couch when you get a new apartment and even loan you some paint brushes to finish the interior. Best friends appear on a reality television series, so you don't look like a loner with horrible character. Though, on 90 Day Fiancé, those friends sometimes make it a whole lot worse.
There is always much anticipation built up around one person meeting the other person's friends and family on the show. There is generally all but 100% suspicion around the relationship and typically the friends and family in question do not hold back on their feelings. Case in point: Melanie's sister, Beverly, who basically told Devar to his face that she felt as though he was scamming her sister or Elizabeth's dad who definitely has it out for Andrei.
Since there is a lot that goes on when the cameras aren't rolling, it seems like much of these interactions could take place in private. Of course, that wouldn't be any fun. So, are those friends and family members doing it for the money? How about the notoriety? Nope, neither. According to an interview between Starcasm and Nikki and Chris (the friends who let David and Annie stay in their home), they agreed to be on the show only as a favor to David. For everything they had to put up (seriously, go back and watch that one), their gift can best be described as extremely generous.
14 Being On The Show (Or Even Being Married) Does Not Guarantee Citizenship
This one seems to go without saying, but there wouldn't be a warning label on take-out coffee cup lids if someone hadn't tried to drink the scalding hot liquid. So, maybe it needs to be said. According to the State Department, the K-1 visa that the show is based upon only allows travel to the United States for the purpose of marriage. There are many more steps after that.
Even if all of the initial paperwork is filled out correctly and even if a couple is able to get married within 90 days, the foreign partner does not automatically become a United States citizen.
After marriage, the nonimmigrant visa holder can request status as a lawful permanent resident (i.e. green card) and must maintain that status for a minimum of three years before applying for citizenship.
Resources on Citizen Path indicate that for couples that divorce or seek an annulment of their marriage after going through this process (looking at you, Danielle and Mohamed), citizenship for the original visa holder may be in question. That's some heavy and complicated stuff, so you will be happy to know In Touch Weekly has spotted Mohamed thriving in a new life in Texas.
There is no mention on the TLC website if casting agents can offer any assistance with the visa process, just that couples should reach out to share their “international love story”.
13 The Show Does Not Always Go As Planned, Prompting Multiple Spinoffs
So, what happens when you film a couple and then realize they were just getting to the good stuff at the end of the series when the vows were exchanged? According to Deadline, you make another show. As 90 Day Fiancé is set to start its sixth season in just a few weeks, 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After will debut in its third year and is set to follow the original couples as they navigate the joys of married life (oh, hey, Chantel and Pedro).
And because there are plenty of juicy tidbits between love at first sight (even if that first sight is just “acceptable” as Mohamed would say) and the move to America, we have been blessed with a second season of 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days. If the second season is anywhere near as good as the first (Paul and Karine are filming in Brazil, need we say more?!) we are in for a treat.
We don't know what else they could possibly air as another spinoff (totally not out of the question for there be a show dedicated just to Larry's stomach issues), but let's be honest that we will never turn down more of anything related to 90 Day Fiancé and we may need a self-help group.
12 The Contracts That The Cast Members Sign Remain A Mystery
Credit: Courtesy TLC
We haven't actually seen a copy of the contract 90 Day Fiancé cast members are required to sign in order to appear on the show, but we can take some guesses on the content.
According to CNN, reality show contracts are designed for participants to waive many of their rights. Everything is laid out up front and it is super lengthy. If a participant ends up in therapy because the ordeal was too emotionally challenging, they can't sue.
If a participant gets injured in an on-camera fight, they can't sue. If a participant feels that he or she was portrayed in an unfavorable light, they can't sue. There may even be a clause that prevents the participant from appearing on another show for a certain period of time. Reading further, there may be a line in which the participant agrees to relinquish his or her life story to the network.
While this is all speculation, we have to assume that in 2018 all of the contracts do include something about social media. It is soooo much easier to leak spoilers now and we often see stars take down a picture shortly after posting it.
We are also super curious if there is anything in there about criminal acts while filming. For example, will Jorge's recent infraction with the law pose any problems with the show?
11 Ratings Have Skyrocketed Over The Years, Offering A Boost For TLC
According to Deadline, the fifth and most recent season of the original 90 Day Fiancé was its highest rated season yet. We could join the bandwagon and slam TLC for straying from the roots of their moniker (The Learning Channel) and exploiting reality television (one could argue they are just sharing real-life stories), but frankly, we've learned a lot from 90 Day Fiancé. And we're clearly not the only ones watching.
90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After is likely being renewed for a third season for many reasons (that probably include people writing in to express support for David and Annie), but at the top of that list should be that its season two premiere caught the attention of over 1.7 million viewers. Discovery states this made it the most watched season premiere since the inception of 90 Day Fiancé and its spinoffs.
Fans have been even more eager to get their paws on 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days. In its first season, Deadline reports it was the most watched freshman series among all of TLC's shows with a whopping total viewership of 2.1 million people. With all the hype, it seems like an easy task for the next premier to outdo this one.
10 The Scripted Lines Are Probably The Ones Fans Remember Most
Vocabulary from reality television shows is turning into memes and becoming just about as mainstream as famous lines from our favorite old movies. With a refresher from Reality Tea, you will know what I'm talking about: Azan says he is 55% attracted to Nicole; Luis tells Molly he is uncomfortable with her decorations as they might be somehow satanic; Justin expresses his interest in a proper wife; David's friend Chris tells David's partner, Annie, that she can repay him for the use of their house with a Thai massage.
Wait. What? While some of those lines are believable, there is more to the story on that last one that makes it at least a tiny bit less offensive. According to The Hollywood Gossip, it's true that Chris did make mention of a message to Annie in front of his own wife.
However, Chris' wife, Nikki, has since reported that the encounter was entirely scripted and edited for dramatic effect. Nikki stated that they even had to reshoot the scene because Chris was not able to say the line in an unscripted tone on the first take.
For anyone keeping track, feeding lines to cast members rather than allowing them to act naturally does, by definition, seem to be detracting a bit from the “reality” part of the “reality show”.
9 Couples Face Many Challenges, Including Internet Trolls
As if displaying your flaws for all to see (that includes the Russ/Paola Halloween costume debacle), making extremely difficult decisions, and fighting for love wasn't enough, couples on 90 Day Fiancé also have to battle internet trolls. Sure, they signed up to have their lives scrutinized at least a little (bring on the gold digger jokes, we know you've got them), but some of this stuff is way over the top.
When Josh and Aleksandra, now residing in Josh's hometown of Rexburg, Idaho, welcomed their daughter, Kaya, in 2016 it did not take long for the witch hunt to begin. It should have been a happy time for the couple, but In Touch Weekly reports that when the first pictures of the baby were released, people immediately questioned whether Josh was the father.
Baby drama aside, viewers felt a major line was crossed when people attacked Loren online after noticing she had a repetitive tick. In Touch Weekly revealed Loren finally went public with her diagnosis of Tourette's Syndrome despite trying to keep it private, which led to an even bigger internet firestorm. According to Bustle, Loren and her partner, Alexei, have clapped back at haters by serving as strong advocates to raise awareness for the disorder.
8 Not Everyone On The Show Met Online Or Through An App
When it seems like everyone we know has met the love of their life (or at least the love of their life for this week) on sites like Match, Tinder, Bumble, Facebook, etc, it is almost refreshing when we hear about a couple that first met in person or through a friend or in any other way that didn't involve swiping.
We admit that some of the couples on 90 Day Fiancé have kind of adorable stories (which means we're skipping over Brett and Daya, Louis and Aya, and Matt and Alla - sorry).
Let's start with Chelsea and Yamir…
According to Entertainment Tonight, the couple met at a concert while Illinois-based Chelsea was doing volunteer work in pop star Yamir's home country of Nicaragua.
Yamir gave up his band to join Chelsea in the United States, trading one dream for another (be still, my heart).
Then there was Justin and Evelyn who met at a hot dog stand (seriously, that's all we want in life) in Colombia. In Touch Weekly reports Justin was visiting Colombia as part of a rugby world cup trip, but that plan was abandoned when he met Evelyn and couldn't leave her side for seven days (tear).
7 There Was A Change.org Petition Circulating To Kick Someone Off The Show
Okay, to be fair, fans of 90 Day Fiancé seem to enjoy starting petitions to garner support for a variety of things. At some point, there were at least two making the rounds simultaneously, one for Jason and Cassia to get their own show (that probably would have been a hit) and one to replace the host of the Tell All special.
There is even a petition out there with nearly 10,000 signatures citing immigration fraud against Mohamed Jbali for his involvement with Danielle Mullins.
… But there was one more that really caught our eye.
In late 2017, a petition on the change.org website appeared asking for signatures to block TLC from offering Nicole another contract or allowing her to keep filming. The petition alleges that Nicole was physically and emotionally inappropriate toward her Moroccan partner, Azan, and that domestic violence has no place on reality television. Comments on the petition range from concern for Nicole's daughter, May, to a belief that there would be more public outrage if it was Azan treating Nicole this way. There are 327 signatures as of the date of this post and no word on whether or not the network is looking into this.
6 A Couple From The Show Recently Appeared On The 'Price Is Right'
Johnny, tell 'em what they've won! Season one favorites (maybe even all-time series favorites), Alan and Kirlyam, met in Brazil while Alan was serving on a missionary trip. We followed them through the show and The Hollywood Gossip as Kirlyam moved to the United States and then as they wed, welcomed their first (and second) child, and even made it onto the Price is Right.
According to Starcasm, Alan is a die-hard Price is Right fan from the early Bob Barker days. His love for the show came full circle when he and Kirlyam (wearing matching Drew Carey shirts, of course) appeared in the studio audience and he was selected to participate in a bid. He nearly broke out in dance (actually, he definitely broke out in dance - the worm, to be specific) when he was the closest bidder on a set of watches and eventually moved into the Showcase Showdown. With a bid just $471 shy of perfect, Alan secured a brand new convertible and a trip for two to Fiji (which we assume will be for him and Kirlyam). We admit the replay videos make us anxious even though we know he won. That's just how much we love him.
5 A Contestant Once Recorded Show Producers And Leaked the Content On His Social Media
There has been more than a few incidents involving 90 Day Fiancé cast members (Mark and Nikki, to name just one couple) that felt they were treated unfairly. However, you will remember from the previous entry about contracts that reality show participants do not have much bargaining power once they sign on that dotted line. The latest supposed victim, who is really always caught up in a saga, is Luis.
According to Starcasm and The Hollywood Gossip, the former bartender was not pleased with how the show portrayed him (again, editing power lives with the producers) and was having absolutely none of the network's stance that they couldn't pay him because he wasn't authorized to work in the United States.
Frustrated, he took to social media to threaten to sue TLC for falsely portraying him on the show and treating him like “trash”.
He also committed a not-so-great act by secretly filming a few of the show's producers discussing how to make a scene more believable and leaked that on his social media, too. While nothing they were caught in the act saying was particularly harmful, it was clear that Luis was out for vengeance and trying to take down everyone with him.
4 Some Couples May Have Posed A Few Problems For TLC
90 Day Fiancé is known for showcasing couples that might be a less traditional match: Jason, 38, and Cassia, 23; Danielle, 41, and Mohamed, 26; Abby, 20, and Sean, unknown (we don't know how old he is, but In Touch Weekly refers to him as “old enough”, so we will go with that).
As you might have guessed or maybe even experienced, a 15+ year age difference can be daunting. The older person in the relationship has been granted enough time to develop odd habits while the younger person is still figuring out what habits they want to try on for size. This was probably no more evident than in the case of Mark, 58 and Nikki, 19. We thought for sure we had that wrong, but we checked with In Touch Weekly and those were the correct ages. It's hard to imagine what they could have in common, which is probably why they act more like father and daughter on the show.
Going back to that odd habits point from before, we learned from The Wrap that Mark is very particular about how his bookshelf is organized and apparently Nikki just doesn't understand the importance of a well-organized, categorical bookshelf.
3 Of Course, There Is Drama Between Couples, But That's Not All
At the end of each season, fans excitedly tune in to watch the reunion episode known as a Tell All. With the couples awkwardly positioned on a couch, being ever so careful not to make eye contact or touch each other, proverbial punches fly. Paola and Anfisa feuded over a social media post in which it seemed likely Paola was taking a jab at Anfisa.
Anfisa blamed all Americans for the messy process that is the K-1 visa application, and Loren accused Anfisa and Jorge of having a “sham” relationship that ruins the love that everyone else shares.
And that was just at the Happily Ever After Tell All, according to The Wrap.
Reality Blurb tells us the season five Tell All for the original show followed shade-throwing suit as Andrei called Luis a “punk”, Annie fangirled out over meeting Nicole, Elizabeth called Luis' interactions with Molly's daughter “disgusting”, and Josh (yep, the one that hid a medical procedure from his partner) offered some love advice to anyone willing to listen.
It's official - the Tell All is really the best part of all of this and makes us feel better about our own relationship blunders.
2 The Show Skips Over Some Of The Details Of The K-1 Visa Requirements
By now we've covered a lot regarding the K-1 visa that gives 90 Day Fiancé its accurate name. However, the show seems to gloss over some of the missteps that make the process difficult and the factors that could lead to a denied application.
According to the State Department website, one of the many documents required to process the visa are certificates of divorce from all parties if one or both people were previously married. This seems like something you would keep relatively handy and thus easy to provide, but according to The Knot News Fernando forgot to send in the report about his first marriage and it delayed his Colombian love, Carolina, in coming to the States.
There is also the issue of funding. The State Department requires proof that either the person applying for the visa or the American partner will be able to financially support the individual upon arrival. TLC never really goes into great detail (we hear the word “entrepreneur” a lot) about what jobs are being held down, but it seems that this could be a snag for some couples.
Anyway, we're really here to discuss the age gap thing again because we didn't address it enough already. Setting aside the cringe factor, Rapid Visa reports a large age gap may be a red flag on an application indicating a possibly fraudulent attempt to gain entry into the United States. That makes sense, but why isn't it a red flag for the couple?
1 The Cultural Naivety Is Often Not Exaggerated
We already broke the news to you earlier that some of the show is scripted. However, there are parts that are so painstakingly honest we know they haven't been re-written or re-shot. These are the lines that make you take in a sharp breath and ask yourself how someone could say that. You know, the scenes in which it is clear someone doesn't know anything about another culture (you can't do that in public, Nicole) nor do they respect it (just eat the pork dish, Larry).
Perhaps the biggest shocker, even though we were fairly warned in advance, came early on in the series with Danny and Amy. The 90 Day Fiancé biography page states the two met in Australia while they were studying abroad.
When Amy, originally from South Africa, came to Pennsylvania to meet Danny's family, Danny mentioned that his father would likely have some “issues” with their interracial relationship.
Okay, so we read the article on The Wrap and knew we were going to have to deal with an intolerant father-in-law. But nothing prepared us for his outbursts about the plight of their future children and his complete dismissal of Cape Town as anything but lovely. No amount of coaxing was needed from producers to get fans riled up, Danny's defiant dad did that all on his own. Sorry, Danny and Amy, you deserve better.
References: In Touch Weekly, Starcasm, Reality Blurb, The Hollywood Gossip, International Business Times, In Touch Weekly, Starcasm, Starcasm, United States Department of State, Citizen Path, In Touch Weekly, TLC, Deadline, CNN, Discovery, Reality Tea, In Touch Weekly, In Touch Weekly, Bustle, Entertainment Tonight, In Touch Weekly, Change.org, The Hollywood Gossip, Starcasm, Starcasm, The Hollywood Gossip, The Wrap, Reality Blurb, In Touch Weekly, The Wrap, The Knot News, Rapid Visa, TLC, The Wrap
