Explosive Lawsuit Unveils Shocking Secrets: 'Love Is Blind' Creator Breaks Silence
'Love Is Blind' creator Chris Coelen responds to allegations made by season 5 contestant Tran Dang, who sues the Netflix series for negligence and false imprisonment Coelen addresses the lawsuit and sheds light on the claims made by Dang
Monty Brinton/Netflix
Love Is Blind creator Chris Coelen is shutting down negligence, assault and false imprisonment claims made by former season 5 contestant Tran Dang.
"If someone expressed any sense of feeling unsafe with us, we would immediately remove them from the experiment and engage in a conversation to understand their concerns. Our goal would be to uncover the underlying issues," said Coelen in a statement to People on October 5th. "Unfortunately, in this particular instance, no such concerns were raised to us, and we were never made aware of any alleged misconduct."
Dang participated in season 5 of LIB, which premiered on Netflix last month, but she was not featured in the show's latest episodes. Earlier this year, she initiated a lawsuit against the series' production company, Kinetic Content, alleging false imprisonment on set and a lack of autonomy without producers' permission.
While in the pods, where she claimed she had no access to her cell phone, wallet, or passport, Dang accused the production of providing minimal food but plenty of alcohol to stimulate engaging conversations.
According to the lawsuit, during her time on set, which could span up to 18 hours per day, Kinetic Content and Delirium TV mandated that Ms. Dang seek permission for almost every action, even including bathroom usage. She was also forbidden from leaving her hotel room without explicit authorization and was constantly monitored for 24 hours.
Coelen categorically denied the claims as "completely untrue" and emphasized that the promotion of alcohol is not part of their agenda. He further clarified that all contestants are provided with regular and adequate access to food and water. As for the need for contestants to seek permission for certain activities, Coelen attributed it to the complex layout of the show's set.
Explaining further, he mentioned that the pods are situated in a sprawling 68,000-square-foot sound stage, with low lighting, numerous people, and extensive equipment. Coelen himself admitted to finding it confusing to navigate the different areas within the set. He added that the monitoring of the contestants was primarily aimed at safeguarding "the integrity of the experiment."
He further explained that when the contestants need to use the bathroom, they inform us and we arrange for an escort to accompany them. This protocol is followed within the pods. However, once they are outside the pods, they are free to use the bathroom at their discretion.
Dang also alleged in her legal case that Kinetic Content took no action after she reported being sexually assaulted by her fellow contestant, Thomas Smith, whom she became engaged to while filming in Mexico. Kip Patterson, Smith's attorney, refrained from commenting on the allegations.
Chris Coelen. Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix
According to Dang’s complaint, due to the constant surveillance from [Kinetic Content and Delirium TV], it is highly probable that most, if not all, of these distressing incidents were recorded on film. Furthermore, when she reported the incident to the producers, she claims she was gaslighted and blamed for the situation with Thomas Smith, being told that she did not communicate effectively or take the relationship seriously.
However, Coelen disputes this and argues that Dang never raised any allegations of assault with the producers. He states that if she had, they would have promptly removed her from the filming. Coelen emphasizes the presence of round-the-clock psychologists, a well-trained production team, and numerous staff members dedicated to prioritizing the well-being of the participants. However, he also stresses that the participant must actively engage in this process.
Kinetic Content, LLC and Delirium TV, LLC issued a joint statement on Friday, October 6, in response to the lawsuit. They expressed support for victims of sexual assault and asserted that the claims made by Ms. Dang against the producers are baseless. The statement clarified that the participants in the social experiment are adults who make independent choices and that their journey is not scripted or constantly filmed. The producers have no knowledge or control over what happens in private living spaces when not filming, and participants have the freedom to withdraw from the experiment whenever they wish.
The statement emphasized that the well-being of the participants is paramount, and any concerns raised are taken seriously. However, the producers cannot address undisclosed concerns. It was mentioned that during Ms. Dang's time in the production of Love is Blind, she did not inform the producers of any alleged wrongdoing and chose to continue in the experiment for weeks after the incident in question, as claimed by her lawyers. The allegations against the producers are categorically denied, and they are prepared to vigorously defend themselves.
Us has reached out to reps and lawyers for Coelen, Dang, and Smith for comment.
New episodes of Love Is Blind season 5 premiere on Netflix on Fridays.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
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