In a landmark decision that could upend the largely unregulated world of reality television, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued a formal complaint against the producers of Netflix’s Love Is Blind. The ruling asserts that contestants on the show must be classified as employees, granting them workplace protections and rights previously unavailable to reality TV participants.
The complaint targets Kinetic Content, the company behind Love Is Blind, and its subsidiary Delirium TV. The NLRB demands that producers reclassify all contestants since January 19, 2023, as employees and notify them in writing of their updated status under labor law. This decision follows charges filed last year by cast members alleging unfair labor practices, including non-compete clauses and confidentiality agreements that restricted their rights.
The ruling also ties into a broader movement for accountability within the entertainment industry, often referred to as the “reality reckoning.” Bryan Freedman, attorney for Love Is Blind Season 5 participant Renee Poche, hailed the decision as a monumental step forward. “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 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. Stand by.”
Poche, who is currently embroiled in legal battles with the show’s producers over alleged NDA violations, expressed her relief and hope for systemic change in a recent interview with Deadline. “I’m very excited. It’s finally like someone’s really listening that can make a huge impact,” she said. “It’s not just for me personally in my specific case, but for the industry as a whole. It’s amazing, really, for all of us.”
Earlier this year, Poche took Delirium TV and Netflix to court to halt a multimillion-dollar arbitration action brought against her by the show’s producers. Her case highlighted the extensive use of NDAs and restrictive clauses that have long governed reality TV contracts, often leaving participants with limited recourse to address grievances.
This NLRB ruling marks a significant shift in the way reality TV operates. It not only grants workplace protections to contestants but also challenges the deeply ingrained practices that have allowed producers to operate with minimal oversight. With the potential for sweeping industry changes, Love Is Blind and other reality TV shows may soon face greater scrutiny in how they treat their cast members.
