Insider Finance - Business - ‘Love is Blind’ nightmare

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April 18, 2023

Hello and happy Tax Day, Insiders. Everyone’s talking about Netflix’s reality dating show “Love is Blind” — particularly after Sunday night’s botched live reunion went viral. Today, Insider’s Katie Warren has a new report about the behind-the-scenes reality of the show, with one contestant saying it “literally ruins lives.” That’s our big story.

Plus, we’re also covering:

Why Reddit and TikTok are hating on MLM salespeople.
How Amazon is preparing its managers for pay-related questions from staffers.
The updated list of EVs eligible for up to $7,500 in tax credits is out.

— Nicholas Carlson

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THE BIG STORY

‘Love is Blind’ reality

Sarah Maxwell for Insider

Viewers can’t get enough of “Love is Blind” — but some cast members are saying that being on the reality show was a traumatic experience.

The series premiered on Netflix in February 2020. It had all the hallmarks of a cultural phenomenon, including an “SNL” sketch and contestant appearances on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

On the show, 30 people spend 10 days going on dates in custom-built pods — then decide whether to get engaged to another cast member sight unseen.

Some contestants told us they were so exhausted they’d fall asleep during dates. Many were rarely spotted without alcohol. They said their phones and passports were confiscated. And they only saw sunlight when they used a bathroom in a trailer outside.

“You thrust us into this situation without any support, and everything's amplified,” Nick Thompson, who appeared on season two, told Insider. “It literally ruins lives.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

TOP READS

MLM vitriol, VC star, & more

Robyn Phelps/Insider

Social media is hating on people who shill for multi-level marketing schemes. The MLM model — made famous by brands like Tupperware, Mary Kay, and Amway — has been around for decades. But a lot of the online vitriol toward MLMs is targeted at participants, rather than the twisted corporate manipulation that lures them. Read more here.
Mark Suster is the star of LA's startup scene — and not everyone is a fan. The managing partner of Upfront Ventures hosts a glitzy annual summit with attendees like Gwyneth Paltrow and Serena Williams. But his abrasive approach has alienated some founders and investors, who say they will never work with him again. Our full story here .
Amazon shares guidelines with managers to prepare them for pay-related questions. This year's pay-review cycle comes at a particularly contentious time for the company. The guidelines cover questions about pay equity, stock fluctuations, and inflation problems. See them here.
A professor was murdered after a Facebook post branded him a traitor. Before the 2021 murder of an Ethiopian professor, his son and one of Facebook's trusted partners say they warned Facebook about posts threatening his life. Now, six Ethiopian partners told Insider that Facebook routinely ignored their pleas to take down hateful content. Read the story.
Women breadwinners filing taxes notice a strange pattern: Their husband's name is always first. This may be a firm policy or habit that carries over from previous years, or echoes of sexism. One woman told us that even though she earns more than her husband, their accountant listed him as the primary taxpayer. More on that here.
The updated list of EVs eligible for up to $7,500 in tax credits is out. Only 10 electric vehicles can get the full credit amount starting from today, while six others qualify for partial credits. From the Cadillac Lyriq to the Ford F-150 Lightning, see the full list.
“My 28-year marriage ended in a UPS store.” A woman shared how after a 24-month-long process to get a divorce, her marriage ended at a UPS store with a stamp from a notary – and she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Read her story.

TAKE A LOOK

Maybach’s first EV

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Mercedes unveiled the first electric Maybach: the EQS SUV. The ultra-luxurious EV is decked out with fancy features, including silver champagne flutes, a fridge, and calf massagers. Check it out here.

WATCH THIS

So Expensive

Rice syrup is a staple in Korean cuisine, but a 1-kilogram bottle of artisanal rice syrup can reach $140. That’s because a key mixture takes days, and nights, of hard work to achieve. Why rice syrup is so expensive.

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This edition was curated by Nicholas Carlson, and edited by Hallam Bullock, Lisa Ryan, Jack Sommers, and Jack Robert Stacey. Get in touch: insidertoday@insider.com.

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Insider Finance - Business - ‘Love is Blind’ nightmare

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