{"id":33079,"date":"2025-09-17T09:27:53","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T08:27:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/realitytvshrine.com\/?p=33079"},"modified":"2025-09-17T09:27:53","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T08:27:53","slug":"stephen-richardson-sues-love-is-blind-producers-over-inhumane-working-conditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/realityshrine\/2025\/09\/17\/stephen-richardson-sues-love-is-blind-producers-over-inhumane-working-conditions\/","title":{"rendered":"Stephen Richardson sues Love Is Blind producers over &#8216;inhumane working conditions&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Season seven<a href=\"https:\/\/realitytvshrine.com\/tag\/love-is-blind\/\"> Love Is Blind<\/a> cast member, Stephen Richardson, has sued the producers of the Netflix series in a class action suit, claiming that they failed to pay wages and that cast were subjected to &#8220;inhumane working conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The class action suit, which was filed in court on Monday, named Netflix and producers of Love Is Blind, Kinetic Content and Delirium TV as defendants.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_33092\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-33092\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-33092\" src=\"https:\/\/realitytvshrine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ellie-New-Featured-Images-2025-09-17T091029.333.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.realitytvshrine.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ellie-New-Featured-Images-2025-09-17T091029.333.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.realitytvshrine.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ellie-New-Featured-Images-2025-09-17T091029.333-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.realitytvshrine.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ellie-New-Featured-Images-2025-09-17T091029.333-1024x538.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.realitytvshrine.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ellie-New-Featured-Images-2025-09-17T091029.333-768x403.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-33092\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Via Netflix<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The suit, which <a href=\"https:\/\/thetab.com\/2023\/10\/12\/love-is-blind-lawsuit-sexual-assault-false-imprisonment-tran-dang\">multiple Love Is Blind cast members are now part of<\/a>, claims that they were &#8220;\u201cwillfully misclassified\u201d as \u201cindependent contractors.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>According to the suit, the producers &#8220;excessive control over the manner, means and timing of the work\u201d means that the cast think they should be entitled to protections under California law, which includes minimum wage and overtime pay.<\/p>\n<p>The class action lawsuit also alleges that those involved in the making of the show created &#8220;unsafe&#8221; working conditions by limiting the cast&#8217;s communications with those outside the show alongside &#8220;exerting complete domination over their time.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_33091\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-33091\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-33091\" src=\"https:\/\/realitytvshrine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ellie-New-Featured-Images-2025-09-17T091111.771.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.realitytvshrine.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ellie-New-Featured-Images-2025-09-17T091111.771.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.realitytvshrine.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ellie-New-Featured-Images-2025-09-17T091111.771-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.realitytvshrine.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ellie-New-Featured-Images-2025-09-17T091111.771-1024x538.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.realitytvshrine.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ellie-New-Featured-Images-2025-09-17T091111.771-768x403.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-33091\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Via Netflix<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The amount those involved will be seeking in damages is not yet specified.<\/p>\n<p>The class action suit argues that the circumstances were shared not only by Stephen but also by Love Is Blind cast members who were on the show at least four years before it was filed, as well as those who have been involved in other similar reality TV series.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/2025\/09\/love-is-blind-lawsuit-netflix-1236546356\/\">Deadline<\/a> noted that the class action lawsuit will include those who were on &#8220;but not limited to seasons six, seven, eight and nine of the series.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Season five Love Is Blind star Stacy <a href=\"https:\/\/realitytvshrine.com\/2025\/08\/27\/the-claim-was-for-millions-so-why-did-stacy-receive-so-little-money-from-love-is-blind-lawsuit\/\">recently won a multi-million claim<\/a> against the production company alongside others who had also joined the class action lawsuit and she received $8,287.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_33097\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-33097\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-33097 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/realitytvshrine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ellie-New-Featured-Images-2025-08-27T093520.623.webp\" alt=\"Love Blind class action lawsuit\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.realitytvshrine.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ellie-New-Featured-Images-2025-08-27T093520.623.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.realitytvshrine.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ellie-New-Featured-Images-2025-08-27T093520.623-300x158.webp 300w, https:\/\/cdn.realitytvshrine.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ellie-New-Featured-Images-2025-08-27T093520.623-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.realitytvshrine.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ellie-New-Featured-Images-2025-08-27T093520.623-768x403.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-33097\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Via Netflix<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The lawsuit was\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/thetab.com\/2023\/04\/21\/love-is-blind-stars-speak-out-about-the-show-netflix\">originally filed in July 2022 by Jeremey Hartwell<\/a>, who also appeared on Love Is Blind.<\/p>\n<p>The claim alleged that cast members had to go through \u201cinhumane working conditions\u201d with Jeremy claiming they were made to wait hours for food and water during the initial 24 hours of filming.<\/p>\n<p>In the lawsuit he claimed: \u201cThe combination of sleep deprivation, isolation, lack of food, and an excess of alcohol all either required, enabled or encouraged by defendants contributed to inhumane working conditions and altered mental state for the cast.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt times, defendants left members of the cast alone for hours at a time with no access to a phone, food, or any other type of contact with the outside world until they were required to return to working on the production.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_33098\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-33098\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-33098 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/realitytvshrine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ellie-New-Featured-Images-2025-08-27T093505.509.webp\" alt=\"Love Blind class action lawsuit\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.realitytvshrine.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ellie-New-Featured-Images-2025-08-27T093505.509.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.realitytvshrine.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ellie-New-Featured-Images-2025-08-27T093505.509-300x158.webp 300w, https:\/\/cdn.realitytvshrine.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ellie-New-Featured-Images-2025-08-27T093505.509-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.realitytvshrine.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ellie-New-Featured-Images-2025-08-27T093505.509-768x403.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-33098\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Via Netflix<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Pay was also a major point in the lawsuit with it being claimed that cast and crew on Love Is Blind had to work 20 hours per day, seven days a week whilst filming was taking place, for just $7.14 per hour.<\/p>\n<p>At the time, the production company behind the show, Kinetic, released a statement which stated: \u201cMr Hartwell\u2019s involvement in season two of Love Is Blind lasted less than one week.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnfortunately, for Mr Hartwell, his journey ended early after he failed to develop a significant connection with any other participant.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile we will not speculate as to his motives for filing the lawsuit, there is absolutely no merit to Mr Hartwell\u2019s allegations, and we will vigorously defend against his claims.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Reality Shrine has reached out to Netflix, Kinetic Content and Delirium TV for comment.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><i data-stringify-type=\"italic\">For all the latest reality TV cast member news, scandals, gossip and updates \u2013 like\u00a0<\/i><i data-stringify-type=\"italic\"><a class=\"c-link c-link--underline\" href=\"https:\/\/realitytvshrine.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-stringify-link=\"https:\/\/realitytvshrine.com\/\" data-sk=\"tooltip_parent\">Reality Shrine<\/a><\/i><i data-stringify-type=\"italic\">\u00a0on\u00a0<\/i><i data-stringify-type=\"italic\"><a class=\"c-link c-link--underline\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/realityshrineofficial?rdid=TzQu2kEd2cUqU4rD&amp;share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F14zX5cKubf%2F#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-stringify-link=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/realityshrineofficial?rdid=TzQu2kEd2cUqU4rD&amp;share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F14zX5cKubf%2F#\" data-sk=\"tooltip_parent\">Facebook<\/a><\/i><i data-stringify-type=\"italic\">.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>He&#8217;s the latest cast member to join the class action lawsuit <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":249734183,"featured_media":33089,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1358],"tags":[1528,1438],"class_list":["post-33079","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-love-is-blind","tag-netflix"],"acf":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/realitytvshrine.com\/realityshrine\/2025\/09\/17\/stephen-richardson-sues-love-is-blind-producers-over-inhumane-working-conditions\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Stephen Richardson sues Love Is Blind producers over &#8216;inhumane working 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