TLC's 90 Day Fiancé has been taking fans inside the K-1 visa process since 2014.
The premise is that an American brings their foreign fiancé to the U.S. and, by law, must
get married within 90 days for their partner to receive a green card.
There's the challenge of adapting to a new culture, awkward future-in-law drama, pre-wedding
jitters and, inevitably, questions about the foreign partner's motives.
The show has been a ratings success for TLC, and with four spinoff series in the franchise,
it's not going anywhere.
But exactly what is really going on behind the scenes?
This is the untold truth of 90 Day Fiancé.
Are the stories even real?
We're probably not bursting anyone's bubble when we say that much of what you see on reality
TV is staged.
And 90 Day Fiance is allegedly no exception.
"In the religion of voodoo they use a lot of chicken feet.
So naturally, I don't want to be taken advantage of."
When an Instagram user commented that the show makes season five's Luis Mendez look
not-so-nice, Mendez said that the production does plenty of manipulating and claims, quote,
"it's fake more than real."
"Premarital sex, drinking, partying, hanging out in the streets with all your friends.
You tell me?”
“Yes, I like this, I like those."
Mendez might be exaggerating, but it's not the only time the show has been accused of
fakery.
David Toborowsky's pals Nikki Cooper and Chris Thieneman revealed on YouTube that some scenes
were pre-planned.
"Did the producer suggest or want you guys to do certain things, or bring up certain
topics?
Yes, yes, yes, yes to all of those questions."
For example, that sleazy scene in season five where Thieneman asked Toborowsky's wife Annie
for a massage?
"I like Thai massage, so, is that something you would be cool to, you know, volunteer
to give me a massage or something by the pool?”
Thieneman claims the producers suggested he say it and then asked him to say it again,
for multiple takes.
Not a matchmaker show
The storylines might not always be real, but by all accounts the couples themselves are.
And by that we mean they weren't brought together by a casting director just for the show.
"I'm leaving my country, leaving my family, and you don't seem to want to give up anything."
Season four's Anfisa Nava said in a since-deleted Instagram post,
"[The] '90 days' are definitely not to get to know your partner because you already know
the person you've had [a] long enough relationship with and decided you want to marry them.
That's why all of the couples end up married every season."
So how do the couples get in touch with the show?
Executive producer Gabriela Tavakoli told Red Carpet Crash that "hundreds" apply via
instructions given at the end of each episode.
Executive producer, Matt Sharp, said that the show even reaches out to some couples
through immigration attorneys, telling Deadline,
"We don't put people together.
Everyone we feature on the show, they found themselves organically."
Reality TV soulmates
Say what you want about 90 Day Fiance, but the majority of the couples are apparently
still together.
"We are like every other married couple.”
But as any fan can tell you, reality TV romances aren't known for their longevity.
Think The Bachelor, Newlyweds, or Khloe & Lamar…You get the idea.
Sharp boasted via Deadline,
"Our batting average on this show is that out of every 25 couples on 90 Day Fiancé,
we’ve only had three divorces.
That’s less than 10 percent and the current U.S. (divorce) rate is over 40 percent.
It’s one of the reasons why people love this show, it’s so unexpected."
"Since we've been married, she threatens to leave me every day, but so far she hasn't
done it.”
“So far.”
Skeletons in the closet
Couples under consideration for the show go through background checks, but that doesn't
mean all who make an appearance have squeaky clean records.
"I don't want you to resent me for the rest of your life.”
“What the f--- you want me to say?
Yes it is a concern.”
“I'm done with this conversation...f---ing done."
Sharp told Reality Life,
"We're obviously trying to do the right thing [during casting, but] everyone's got some
sort of history."
And sometimes that history comes up on the show, such as Anfisa and Jorge Nava having
a hard time finding a place to rent due to Nava's criminal record.
"You just haven't been honest with me.”
“Well, I'm telling you now.”
“You should have told me before.
I've always been honest with you, and you always lie to me."
And it was Danielle Mullins who admitted on Facebook to having been charged with fraud,
posting,
"Yes, I used someone's credit card and it was a mistake.
Yes, in the beginning I was charged with [four] or [five] felonies."
Starcasm reported that Molly Hopkins has a DUI on her record, among other run-ins with
the law.
The tab also reported that fellow season fiver Josh Batterson was arrested but not charged
with assault and disorderly conduct.
90 Day payday
TLC keeps greenlighting spin-offs of the show, but it appears the network isn't exactly spreading
the wealth.
“Do you love me?
Like do you really love me?”
“Of course I do.
I love you very much"
Nikki Cooper, who appeared in multiple episodes in support of friend David and his wife Annie,
revealed on Facebook that cast members get $1,000 per episode and $2,500 for the 90 Day
Fiance: The Couples Tell All special.
But cast members without green cards don't get paid at all.
Sharp told Reality Life it's "illegal to pay someone" who doesn't hold a green card.
"It definitely puts a strain on our relationship.”
“Now I'm the only one who's working right now, so I have to pay the bills.”
Sounds like even marriages tailor-made for reality TV take a whole lot of work, and behind-the-scenes
hustle.
“Yay!
Let's go!”