AFTER a whirlwind Season 6 of Love Is Blind, the Netflix series has opened up about its rigorous casting process and what changes are in store for next season.
The show’s creator, Chris Coelen, discussed the pre-show screening following the revelation that Season 6 contestant Trevor Sova was in a relationship when he was cast.
Love Is Blind, which is gearing up for Season 7, features 30 singles from a specific city who are looking to fall in love — sight unseen.
When it comes to narrowing down who will get their shot, Chris and the show’s vice president of casting, Donna Driscoll, said the show is diligent through “every single step” of the process.
“In a lot of unscripted shows, I think that a lot of times, you’re looking for someone who’s a certain kind of character with a certain charisma. We do not do that. We are not leading with that,” Chris explained to Variety.
“We’re looking for people who are genuine.”
“Outreach is essential because we have to get the word out on a local level. We want reporters, politicians, realtors, salon owners, pastors, nurses, teachers and everyone in between,” Donna added.
“We want there to be a huge buzz around the city that we’re there and we’re looking for singles who are ready for a deep and meaningful relationship and marriage.”
GOING THE EXTRA MILE
When it comes to narrowing down a selection of candidates, Chris said they try to get “as broad a cross-section of people as possible,” adding that every person goes through the same casting process.
And, while some reality shows may be more inclined to cast aspiring actors, models, or influencers, Love Is Blind takes a different approach.
“Influencers and actors are off the table,” Donna stated.
“I want the people to come in and feel very authentic and raw — and that’s not to say that an influencer, model or actor could not do that.
“But I want to steer clear of getting somebody into the pod, as much as I possibly can, for the wrong reasons.
“I’m really hesitant to go down that road just because I want to make sure that their heart is in the right place.”
Donna explained that the team also goes the extra mile to ensure that none of the candidates are interlinked before the show.
She said they cross-check the contestants’ Instagram pages three times to find any connections between handles.
In a lot of unscripted shows, I think that a lot of times, you’re looking for someone who’s a certain kind of character with a certain charisma. We do not do that.”
The in-depth screening comes as Season 5 contestants Uche Okoroha and Lydia Velez Gonzalez notoriously had a relationship prior to LIB, which became a major issue on the show.
The production team also asks the new cast members during a final phone call to reveal any possible secrets that they may have missed.
“We give them several opportunities to tell us the truth, and we know they’re human,” Donna elaborated.
“We’re also human … We have to trust that all of what they’re telling us is true. Will all of our eyes be a lot more open after Trevor? Absolutely.”
THE TREVOR DEBACLE
While Season 6 of LIB aired earlier this year, Trevor, who formed a connection with Chelsea Blackwell before she got engaged to Jimmy Presnell, was exposed for having a girlfriend right before the show.
Text messages between Trevor and his ex were leaked on social media, showing the two speaking romantically right up until he left to film.
Trevor was heavily called out for being untruthful on the Season 6 reunion and personally apologized on Instagram.
“I knew allegations about me had been made the night before we filmed the reunion but I for some reason didn’t read the actual texts and when I saw them pull up on a screen I felt like I was in a nightmare,” he wrote in April.
“Only that nightmare was about to be viewed by 50 million people and I had 3 seconds to think of a response.
“That being said I admitted I was wrong, I admitted I wanted to talk to an actual therapist vs my first time discussing it being filmed in front of an audience.
“Since then, I have been seeing a therapist and slowly acknowledging what I need to do to better myself,” the contestant added.
While Trevor may have gotten on some viewers’ bad sides, he now appears in Season 2 of Perfect Match — another Netflix reality show.