Stephen Richardson, who appeared on Season 7 of Netflix’s hit dating series “Love Is Blind,” has filed a class-action lawsuit accusing the streaming giant and its producers of creating what he describes as a hostile and harmful environment during production.
According to a report shared by Variety, Richardson alleges that cast members were misclassified as independent contractors while being treated like employees, without the rights or protections. He says the control producers had went far beyond reality TV norms, impacting cast members’ ability to eat, sleep, and even access water.
“The conditions were not just uncomfortable, they were unsafe,” Richardson claims in court filings. “They controlled everything—when we could sleep, what we could drink, when we could talk to family. We weren’t participants. We were property.”
He also accuses producers of pushing unlimited alcohol on the cast while limiting hydrating beverages during long filming days, a combination he says led to health and emotional distress. Richardson is seeking damages and legal reforms for others who’ve worked under similar conditions across reality television.
His lawsuit follows that of fellow alum Renee Poche, who also challenged the show’s labor practices. She previously stated, “I believe Delirium is trying to silence the abuse that occurs behind the cameras and ruin me for telling the truth.”
Richardson says he was hit with a $97,000 penalty for allegedly violating a confidentiality agreement. His case aims to not only recover damages but bring accountability to an industry often shielded by NDAs and editing rooms.
