Reality star sues Netflix over co-star’s ‘terrifying’ behaviour

A reality star is suing Netflix after she alleges she was left trapped with a “violent addict”.

A shocking new lawsuit has been filed against Netflix alleging abuse, imprisonment and emotional distress behind the scenes of Love Is Blind.

Renee Poche, who starred in series five of Love is Blind, has alleged that she found herself in a forced relationship with Carter Wall, whom she claims was “broke” and “addicted to amphetamines and alcohol”.

Renee Poche has made some shocking allegations in a lawsuit against Netflix. Picture from X.

The star claims she was then forced to spend long periods of time with Wall, whom she describes as “abusive”. Once filming on the series came to an end, Poche swiftly ended her relationship with Wall before making some remarks publicly about her ordeal.

As a result of her speaking out, the production company behind the show, Delirium, took Poche to court for violating her nondisclosure agreement and is seeking $4 million ($AUD2.7m) in damages, despite Poche only earning a total of $8,000 ($AUD5,380) from her time on the series.

However, now the reality star is fighting back and has enlisted the aid of two top Hollywood lawyers to fight her cause who have filed a lawsuit against both Delirium and Netflix.

“My experience on Love is Blind was traumatic,” Poche told Variety. “I felt like a prisoner and had no support when I let Delirium know that I didn’t feel safe. I tried to deal with these emotions over time and eventually felt like I needed to share what had happened. I felt it was only right to let others know the truth of what all of the castmates had to endure.”

She added: “I believe Delirium is trying to silence the abuse that occurs behind the cameras and ruin me for telling the truth.”

The lawsuit seeks to nullify Poche’s contract and is claiming intentional infliction of emotional distress along with violations of various California labour codes.

Should Poche win her case against Netflix and Delirium, it could have far reaching consequences for the reality TV industry as a whole and open up other broadcasters to a wave of lawsuits.

Love is Blind is one of Netflix's biggest streaming hits. Picture from X.

Her lawyers, Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos, told Variety that the contracts being given to reality stars are borderline “illegal”.

“These so-called reality TV contracts are, in reality, illegal,” said Freedman. “They are designed for an illegal purpose and are void as a matter of law. We have hundreds of clients who are ready to assert their claims.”

Real Housewives star Bethanny Frankel recently enlisted the help of the pair in what she called an incoming “reality TV reckoning”.

Originally published as Reality star sues Netflix over co-star’s ‘terrifying’ behaviour