‘We were locked in a room’: Love Is Blind star Jeremy Hartwell sues Netflix over ‘inhumane working conditions’-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro

Love Is Blind star claims he had no access to food or water (Picture: Netflix)

Love Is Blind star Jeremy Hartwell is suing Netflix over alleged working conditions during his series of the show.

Jeremy appeared on season 2 of the dating programme, which aims to test the theory that love can be ‘blind’ by setting men and women from all walks of life up on blind dates to try and find love.

The series has seen a number of success stories, such as Cameron Hamilton and Lauren Speed from season one, whose romance is stronger than ever after they wed in 2018.

However, Jeremy – who claims he didn’t apply for the show but was asked to take part by a casting director he matched with on a dating app – alleges that the show wasn’t as rosy behind the scenes as it may have seemed on the surface.

Filming for season 2 of the Emmy-nominated show began in April 2021, and Jeremy says things became ‘uncomfortable’ almost ‘immediately’.

He says contestants were reminded not to have any communication with one another upon arrival, adding that it was ‘unexpected’ to then have his wallet, passport and ID taken from him, saying it ‘rubbed me the wrong way’.

Jeremy appeared on the second series of Love Is Blind (Credits: La Pictures5)

Before filming got underway, the director at a mortgage company in Chicago says contestants’ bags were searched, likening the behaviour to a ‘military movie’ or a ‘bootcamp’.

‘We were basically locked in the room’, he told CNN.

He claims cast members were not given snacks or water often, and they supposedly had to wait hours for fresh water if they were thirsty.

Once production began, Jeremy claims he often felt sleep deprived after filming for long hours under bright lights.

He also says that, both on set and back in his hotel room, he could not readily access food or water, but did have access to alcohol.

In June 2022, the former reality star filed a lawsuit against Netflix, Kinetic Content and Delirium TV, the production company and casting company behind the show.

He sued for a number of labour-law violations, including ‘inhumane working conditions’ and inadequate pay for the number of hours worked.

In a statement to CNN in response to the complaint, Kinetic Content and Delirium TV wrote that there is ‘absolutely no merit’ to the allegations made against them.

‘Hartwell’s involvement in Season 2 of Love is Blind lasted less than one week. Unfortunately, for Mr Hartwell, his journey ended early after he failed to develop a significant connection with any other participant,’ they began.

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‘While we will not speculate as to his motives for filing the lawsuit, there is absolutely no merit to Mr Hartwell’s allegations, and we will vigorously defend against his claims.’

Meanwhile, Jeremy’s attorney, Chantal Payton of Payton Employment Law in Los Angeles, told the outlet that the lack of adequate food and isolation ‘made cast members hungry for social connections and altered their emotions and decision-making’.

Season 3 of Love Is Blind will land on Netflix later this year.

Netflix has been contacted for comment.

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