Ed Brown, or "Big Ed," features on the fourth season of TLC's 90 Day Fiancé: Before the
90 Days.
But he took some heat from Twitter after amateur detectives discovered he used to look much
different.
Thankfully, he's taking it all in stride.
Here's what Big Ed looked like back in the day.
"I actually gave myself the name Big Ed" "Because I have a huge personality and it
makes me feel tall" "Also it's funny cuz I'm not tall"
The photos, shared many thousands of times over, across social media, showcase how Big
Ed was actually quite muscular and in good shape once upon a time.
One Twitter user shared the message, quote, "Fam, this [used] to be big Ed..." alongside
a side-by-side comparison of then and now which incorporated arguably the most famous
shot of the reality star - a screen grab from the show, with Ed splayed out in a hotel bed,
with his girlfriend Rose, his hair very much askew.
Likewise, another user made an entire collage to highlight the significant difference, tweeting
throwback images of Big Ed shirtless and bronzed to perfection, harshly captioning it:
"Big Ed's glo down is catastrophic."
"I'm self-conscious of my physical appearance because Rose is 31 years younger than me"
At 54, the breakout reality TV star is more than twice the age of his 23-year-old Filipino
crush, Rose, according to People magazine.
And fans of the show have relentlessly pointed out that he looks it, too.
But, if these old pics are anything to go by, there was a time when Big Ed was much
more of a stud.
Ed confirmed to TMZ that the photos are indeed actually him, and that they were taken way
back in 1988.
That one particular shot, of Big Ed lounging seductively, was even taken on a date with
his now ex-wife.
The 90 Day Fiancé star has no idea how the photos got out, but guesses they must have
been swiped from his private Facebook page.
Although he initially seemed hesitant, Big Ed was eventually happy to get in on the nostalgic
photo action himself, even sharing another throwback shot with TMZ that he also proudly
put up on his own Instagram page.
He may be younger and smaller, but the man is unmistakably Ed.
He captioned the pic,
"Waited tables to earn his masters degree in architecture circa 1995."
The reality star and photographer, who says his business has skyrocketed since Season
4 of 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days debuted, filled fans in a little more on the story
behind the photo, according to TMZ.
As the outlet reported, the photograph was taken at a restaurant called El Torito in
Southern California.
Funnily enough, the pose Big Ed is striking bears a remarkable resemblance to that in
the shot of him which originally went viral.
Maybe back in the day, this was Ed's go-to move.
"I…do not believe in love"
Throughout his short time on the show, Big Ed has proven to be one of the most divisive
stars in the history of 90 Day Fiancé, thanks in large part to his treatment of Rose, which
many fans believe is rude and unfair.
"Leg hair just seems kinda less feminine for a woman.
So it, yeah, I don't like leg hair."
"It's gross"
However, he has since courted controversy all on his own after claiming to be the quote
"most authentic reality star" who has ever appeared on the show, in comments shared by
Instagram meme account Mommy Says Bad Words.
Naturally, his series co-stars weren't having any of it, with OGs Larissa Dos Santos Lima
, Tim Malcolm, and Lisa Hamme all rushing to call him out.
In Touch magazine reports Lisa responded,
"Your statement is really a myth, because the real MVPs are the fans.
Any 90 Day production is truly a team effort.
No one is an instant celebrity."
"Don't freak out…Oh my God, don't freak out"
Tim quickly agreed, quipping that Ed must be quote, "going delusional."
Big Ed immediately blocked Lisa, of course, suggesting he's not willing to argue his point.
Larissa, meanwhile, who is arguably the most well-known 90 Day Fiancé star, delivered
a chilling warning, telling the outlet,
"As a former 'star' on the show [who] had the most tweets on Twitter and hits on [Instagram]
during my season, I was quickly pushed aside.
For good or bad, I brought in ratings, but I was always replaceable.
Ed would be wise to learn humility."
"For myself, I have to see this through.
And hoping to see you on the other side"
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