Former “Love is Blind” contestant Jeremy Hartwell is now suing Netflix, alleging the corporate violated a litany of labor legal guidelines.
Hartwell, a Chicago mortgage firm director who appeared on the second season of the present, filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court in June, according to CBS News. He accused Netflix of imposing “inhumane working conditions” on set and offering the forged with an abundance of alcohol whereas withholding meals, water and enough cost.
“It’s a matter of justice and it’s not about the money for me,” mentioned Hartwell, per CNN.
“I strongly feel that these practices are wrong and they need to change. And the reason why I am making these efforts with this lawsuit is I’m hoping this becomes a catalyst for these changes, so that future reality TV cast members don’t have to go through this.”
Hartwell additionally named the present’s workers, manufacturing firm Kinetic Content and casting firm Delirium TV as defendants. The lawsuit alleged workers wrongly categorized contestants as unbiased contractors to save cash by denying them additional time and minimal wage cost.
Hartwell mentioned contestants routinely labored 20 hours per day for seven days per week for $1,000 per week. A fast take a look at the mathematics reveals this totals $7.14 per hour — lower than half of Los Angeles County’s $15 minimal wage.
The present’s premise, in the meantime, was ingenious: 30 single women and men are put in pods that enable them to talk to, however not see, their potential companion on the opposite facet. Those who get engaged are despatched on their honeymoon earlier than introducing their companion to their households — and deciding whether or not or to not get married.
Marcus Ingram by way of Getty Images
Hartwell’s lawyer Chantal Payton, nonetheless, told CNN that workers purposely withheld meals to make “cast members hungry for social connections and altered their emotions and decision-making.” Hartwell mentioned workers consistently reminded contestants to not converse with one another whereas touring to the closed set.
He additionally mentioned that they had their wallets, IDs, passports, and cell telephones confiscated upon arriving, after they have been locked of their rooms for twenty-four hours straight — with scarce and rare provisions of water. Hartwell added alcohol was freely accessible.
“The combination of sleep deprivation, isolation, lack of food, and an excess of alcohol all either required, enabled or encouraged by defendants contributed to inhumane working conditions and altered mental state for the cast,” the lawsuit learn.
Hartwell mentioned he hopes his potential class-action go well with on behalf of his fellow members will change these practices. But Kinetic Content instructed CNN in a press release Saturday that the lawsuit was baseless.
“Mr. Hartwell’s involvement in Season 2 of ‘Love is Blind’ lasted less than one week,” a consultant for the manufacturing firm mentioned. “Unfortunately, for Mr. Hartwell, his journey ended early after he failed to develop a significant connection with any other participant.”
The consultant added that Kinetic Content wouldn’t need to speculate about Hartwell’s motives in submitting the lawsuit, to which there was “absolutely no merit.” The manufacturing firm concluded its assertion by warning it could “vigorously defend against these claims.”
