Labor board: “Love Is Blind” cast members are employees
Last week, the National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint against producers of Netflix’s reality hit “Love Is Blind,” alleging that they’d misclassified the show’s contestants as “participants.“ According to the board, the cast members are employees.
Several former cast members have complained about low pay and work conditions while filming the show, which has strangers date, drink (a lot) out of metallic gold wine glasses, get engaged sight unseen, and move in together.
Known for its awkward hosting by the Lachey family and bizarre soundtrack, “Love Is Blind” is a big hit for the streamer, recently nearing the top of Nielsen’s Streaming Top 10.
The complaint outlines a handful of contract terms that the NLRB says are unlawful, including a potential $50,000 fine for leaving the show without a “legitimate” reason as determined by production.
If the NLRB’s action stands, it would allow cast members to form a union and negotiate for better pay and conditions with producers and Netflix. A unionization push within reality TV could have big ramifications for studios and streamers like Disney and Paramount Global, which rely on nonunion unscripted TV to fill air time and scroll space for less money.
Known for its awkward hosting by the Lachey family and bizarre soundtrack, “Love Is Blind” is a big hit for the streamer, recently nearing the top of Nielsen’s Streaming Top 10.
The complaint outlines a handful of contract terms that the NLRB says are unlawful, including a potential $50,000 fine for leaving the show without a “legitimate” reason as determined by production.
If the NLRB’s action stands, it would allow cast members to form a union and negotiate for better pay and conditions with producers and Netflix. A unionization push within reality TV could have big ramifications for studios and streamers like Disney and Paramount Global, which rely on nonunion unscripted TV to fill air time and scroll space for less money.
