‘Love Is Blind’ Contestants Are Employees, Says Labor Board

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed a complaint against the producers of the Netflix hit show Love is Blind on Wednesday in a move that could drastically change the way the reality TV business operates.

The NLRB classified the show’s contestants as employees, according to a report in The New York Times, which could pave the way for reality stars to unionize. The distinction comes at a time of significant tension in the reality TV industry, with several reality stars coming forward accusing major studios and production companies of exploitation and abuse.

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Renee Poche, a former Love is Blind contestant, filed a lawsuit against Netflix and Love Is Blind producers Delirium TV earlier this year, alleging that her ex on the show — Carter Wall — was broke and abusive, but that the producers did nothing about it. Poche went public with some of her allegations before the suit, and Delirium launched a fight for private arbitration. Poche alleged in the subsequent lawsuit that her contract included “numerous unlawful provisions” including a non-disclosure agreement.

Poche and fellow consistent Nick Thompson filed complaints to the NLRB, which spurred the agency’s investigation. The NLRB complaint — against Delerium and the production company Kinetic Content — detailed unlawful contract provisions related to confidentiality and noncompete clauses, per the Times. A rep for the producers did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone‘s request for comment.

Speaking with Deadline, Poche’s lawyer Bryan Freedman said the NLRB complaint reflects the larger issues reality TV stars have faced for years.

“Mark Geragos and I, along with our legal teams, have been working closely with the NLRB for over a year and are thrilled that this collaboration has resulted in a monumental filing that promises to change the reality TV industry forever,” Freedman said. “The practices identified by the NLRB in its complaint against Delirium are ubiquitous in this space. Make no mistake, the reality reckoning is alive and well. This is not the last shoe to drop. Standby.”

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