A participant from the Netflix series “Love is Blind” has reportedly filed suit against the show’s producers over an alleged sexual assault purportedly committed by her fiancé, and fellow show contestant, that transpired amid the show’s filming in 2022.
Back in February, Netflix premiered the reality television series “Love is Blind." The premise of the show focused on a social experiment where contestants – single men and women – would wind up getting engaged after a series of “dates” where neither party physically meets one another until one proposes to the other, and the proposal is accepted.
The plot of the show then tailspins into a sort of couples’ retreat reality series post-proposal acceptance, where the newly to-be-weds have the opportunity to get to know each other physically.
Needless to say, it’s a formulaic reality series meant to capitalize on a hodge-podge of feel good moments, potential happy endings, and the inescapable drama that arises from these very sorts of programs.
But according to a court filing by one former contestant, Tran Dang, her experience on the show escalated far beyond the sort of trivial tiffs and the ilk that draws in reality show viewers.
Dang, who was on the fifth season of the show, asserts in recently revealed court documents that she was sexually assaulted by her then-fiancé, Thomas Smith, on or around May 3rd, 2022, as the show was filming in Mexico.
Per the lawsuit, which was filed back in August of 2022, Dang is suing Smith and the production team behind the series, Kinetic Content and Delirium TV, for sexual assault, false imprisonment, and negligence.
The false imprisonment and negligence allegations are largely lobbed at the production team of the series, citing that the production of the series constituted as a workplace and that Smith’s alleged actions were essentially enabled by the series’ production.
For the sake of context, neither Dang nor Smith were cited as cast members of the series in the lead up to the show’s fifth season premiere.
According to Dang’s lawsuit, Smith “incessantly groped” her and had “exposed himself in the nude” during the show’s filming, and allegedly “forcibly and repeatedly made sexual contact” without Dang’s consent during the production.
Dang claimed in her lawsuit that the production team allegedly “made attempts to mask [Dang’s] sexual assault by characterizing it as a lack of attraction on part of the plaintiff,” and that the production team “questioned whether the problem was really one of communication and swept aside her concerns.”
Kip Patterson, an attorney representing Smith, has denied such claims, but hasn’t commented any further due to the ongoing litigation. Meanwhile, the production team behind the series has called Dang’s lawsuit “meritless” insofar as naming them as defendants, issuing a statement aimed at addressing the nuance of crafting these sorts of reality series.
“We support and stand with victims of sexual assault, but Ms. Dang's claims against the producers are meritless. We document the independent choices of adults who volunteer to participate in a social experiment. Their journey is not scripted, nor is it filmed around the clock.
"We have no knowledge or control over what occurs in private living spaces when not filming, and participants may choose to end their journey at any time.”
Furthermore, Delirium TV and Kinetic Content also contested the claim made by Dang that they were informed of any alleged assault during the show’s filming in 2022, saying in a joint statement that Dang “never informed the producers of any alleged wrongdoing of any kind. Nor did she choose to end her participation in the experiment.”
While Delirium TV and Kinetic Content noted their solidarity for those claiming to be victims of sexual assault, the production team behind the series was adamant in pointing out that they “cannot address undisclosed concerns,” and thus are absolved of any alleged negligence or false imprisonment.
“Ms. Dang continued in the experiment for weeks after the time her lawyers now claim an incident occurred. We deny and will vigorously defend the allegations against us.”
The crux of the suit lodged by Dang and the defensive statements rendered by the parties alleged at fault paint two very different pictures, with Dang asserting the show would essentially hold contestants hostage whereas the production team and even the show’s creator have called her framing of the production absurd.
Dang’s suit seeks compensation in regard to alleged mental anguish, disfigurement, medical expenses, and attorneys’ fees.
Back in February, Netflix premiered the reality television series “Love is Blind." The premise of the show focused on a social experiment where contestants – single men and women – would wind up getting engaged after a series of “dates” where neither party physically meets one another until one proposes to the other, and the proposal is accepted.
The plot of the show then tailspins into a sort of couples’ retreat reality series post-proposal acceptance, where the newly to-be-weds have the opportunity to get to know each other physically.
Needless to say, it’s a formulaic reality series meant to capitalize on a hodge-podge of feel good moments, potential happy endings, and the inescapable drama that arises from these very sorts of programs.
But according to a court filing by one former contestant, Tran Dang, her experience on the show escalated far beyond the sort of trivial tiffs and the ilk that draws in reality show viewers.
Dang, who was on the fifth season of the show, asserts in recently revealed court documents that she was sexually assaulted by her then-fiancé, Thomas Smith, on or around May 3rd, 2022, as the show was filming in Mexico.
Per the lawsuit, which was filed back in August of 2022, Dang is suing Smith and the production team behind the series, Kinetic Content and Delirium TV, for sexual assault, false imprisonment, and negligence.
The false imprisonment and negligence allegations are largely lobbed at the production team of the series, citing that the production of the series constituted as a workplace and that Smith’s alleged actions were essentially enabled by the series’ production.
For the sake of context, neither Dang nor Smith were cited as cast members of the series in the lead up to the show’s fifth season premiere.
According to Dang’s lawsuit, Smith “incessantly groped” her and had “exposed himself in the nude” during the show’s filming, and allegedly “forcibly and repeatedly made sexual contact” without Dang’s consent during the production.
Dang claimed in her lawsuit that the production team allegedly “made attempts to mask [Dang’s] sexual assault by characterizing it as a lack of attraction on part of the plaintiff,” and that the production team “questioned whether the problem was really one of communication and swept aside her concerns.”
Kip Patterson, an attorney representing Smith, has denied such claims, but hasn’t commented any further due to the ongoing litigation. Meanwhile, the production team behind the series has called Dang’s lawsuit “meritless” insofar as naming them as defendants, issuing a statement aimed at addressing the nuance of crafting these sorts of reality series.
“We support and stand with victims of sexual assault, but Ms. Dang's claims against the producers are meritless. We document the independent choices of adults who volunteer to participate in a social experiment. Their journey is not scripted, nor is it filmed around the clock.
"We have no knowledge or control over what occurs in private living spaces when not filming, and participants may choose to end their journey at any time.”
Furthermore, Delirium TV and Kinetic Content also contested the claim made by Dang that they were informed of any alleged assault during the show’s filming in 2022, saying in a joint statement that Dang “never informed the producers of any alleged wrongdoing of any kind. Nor did she choose to end her participation in the experiment.”
While Delirium TV and Kinetic Content noted their solidarity for those claiming to be victims of sexual assault, the production team behind the series was adamant in pointing out that they “cannot address undisclosed concerns,” and thus are absolved of any alleged negligence or false imprisonment.
“Ms. Dang continued in the experiment for weeks after the time her lawyers now claim an incident occurred. We deny and will vigorously defend the allegations against us.”
The crux of the suit lodged by Dang and the defensive statements rendered by the parties alleged at fault paint two very different pictures, with Dang asserting the show would essentially hold contestants hostage whereas the production team and even the show’s creator have called her framing of the production absurd.
Dang’s suit seeks compensation in regard to alleged mental anguish, disfigurement, medical expenses, and attorneys’ fees.
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