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Published January 4, 2024, 2:45 p.m. ET
A contestant on Netflix's hit show Love Is Blind filed an explosive lawsuit claiming her former fiancé was “violent” and “actively addicted” to amphetamines and alcohol – but she was “forced” to spend time alone with them to spend with him.
Renee Poche appeared in the final season of the Netflix series as one of 15 women who paired up with 15 eligible bachelors. It details their attempts to find love and get engaged without ever meeting in person.
Poche, a 32-year-old veterinarian from Texas, became engaged to 30-year-old Cater Wall, a 6-foot-2 former football player.
Wall should never have passed the producer's background checks because he was allegedly “not only broke and unemployed, but also homeless, violent, estranged from his parents, and actively addicted to amphetamines and alcohol,” according to Poche's lawsuit, filed Tuesday with the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Poche is suing the streaming giant — as well as Delirium TV, the production company behind the reality series — for intentional infliction of emotional distress and violating various California labor and civil rights laws.
“Love Is Blind” contestant Renee Poche is suing Netflix and the show's production company, Delirium TV, for leaving her alone with the “violent” ex-fiancé she got engaged to on the show. Monty Brinton/Netflix Cater Wall, 30, was “not only broke and unemployed, but also homeless, violent, estranged from his parents and actively addicted to amphetamines and alcohol,” Poche's lawsuit says. Monty Brinton/Netflix
The lawsuit said Poche went through an “extensive” and “rigorous” interview process that included background checks and psychological evaluations before she was cast.
Given such an intense process, the lawsuit states that “there is little doubt” that Delirium “had advance knowledge of (Wall's) troubling issues.”
Poche and Wall's so-called “showmance” grew in the “Love Is Blind” pods – the small rooms where participants can hear but not see each other as they fall in love – and eventually led to an engagement.
Poche said she felt “unsafe” with Wall, but the show's producers said she had to keep the engagement or face legal action. Netflix
But after Wall got down on one knee and the amorous duo met face-to-face, “Wall's erratic and alarmist behavior and emotional instability became glaringly obvious to Poche and the production staff,” the lawsuit says.
“Poche was extremely afraid to be around him and made her concerns clear to production,” the filing continues.
Poche also claimed that production staff warned her to “ensure that Wall did not have access to firearms or other weapons because they feared he would harm himself, them or others.”
“Yet she was forced to spend long periods of time alone with him – every minute of which made her feel unsafe,” the complaint states.
Poche's love story in the series was reportedly filmed until she left Wall at the altar on her wedding day – but all scenes from it were cut when the fifth season aired in September. missreneepoche/Instagram
Poche also claimed that Netflix and Delirium producers threatened her with legal action if she left the series or that she “refused to continue the engagement.”
Additionally, “producers admonished her for not giving him a chance and encouraged her to continue filming,” Poche alleged in the filing.
As a result, Poche continued with the engagement, but claimed that she “began to spiral physically, mentally and emotionally.”
In the end, all scenes detailing Poche and Wall's love story – from the pods to their wedding day, when Poche rejected him at the altar – were cut from the series.
Poche was told she was cut from the show “because production didn't want her to have to relive her experience with Wall,” the complaint says.
After filming for the fifth season of Love Is Blind was completed, Poche ended her relationship with Wall and publicly commented on her experiences on the series.
In response, Delirium initiated private arbitration against Poche for allegedly violating her nondisclosure agreement, according to Variety, which first reported Poche's lawsuit.
The company demanded $4 million from Poche, who reportedly earned a total of $8,000 for his appearance on the reality series.
As part of her lawsuit, Poche wants her NDA canceled. She is also seeking unspecified damages from Netflix and Delirium.
“My experience on Love is Blind was traumatic,” Poche told Variety.
She continued: “I felt like a prisoner and had no support when I told Delirium that I didn’t feel safe. Over time, I tried to deal with these emotions and eventually I felt I had to share what had happened. I felt it was only right to let others know the truth about what all the castmates were going through.”
Wall has yet to comment on his experience on Love Is Blind, most recently sharing this photo on Instagram with the caption: “It's been a hell of a year, there's a lot to be thankful for!” carterdaleyall/Instagram
Wall, meanwhile, has not publicly commented on his relationship with Poche.
In his most recent Instagram post, which he shared last month, he is seen with his dog in a picture with the caption: “It's been a hell of a year, there's a lot to be thankful for!”
The Post reached out to Poche for comment through her attorney, Bryan Freedman.
Freedman told Variety: “These so-called reality TV contracts are actually illegal. They serve an illegal purpose and are legally void. We have hundreds of clients ready to pursue their claims.”
Representatives for Netflix did not immediately respond to The Post's request for comment. Delirium TV and Wall could not be reached for comment.
Filed under Dating Disasters, Engagement, Engagements, Lawsuit, Lawsuits, Love Is Blind, Netflix, Reality TV, Romance, TV Shows, 01/04/24
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