Introduction
Reality television has become a dominant force in modern entertainment. Behind the scenes, however, contestants face serious legal and ethical concerns. Many reality TV participants allege exploitative working conditions, misleading contracts, and inadequate compensation.[1] Traditionally, networks classify contestants as independent contractors, exempting them from labor protections such as minimum wage and overtime pay.[2]
A major turning point came in December 2024, when the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed a complaint against Love Is Blind, arguing that contestants should be classified as employees.[3] This case, along with lawsuits filed by former participants, has raised important questions about the rights of reality TV contestants, potentially leading to significant industry-wide changes. This article explores the legal challenges faced by reality television contestants and the potential impact of new labor protections on the industry.
Legal Challenges in Reality TV
Employment Classification: Contestants vs. Employees
For most reality TV shows, the participants “are not considered employees of either the shows on which they appear nor the production companies in charge of filming.”[4] Instead, they are classified as independent contractors and receive stipends that vary, with some participants receiving no compensation at all.[5]
In some cases, contestants have challenged this classification. In the Texas Car Wars case from 2014, four participants sued the production company for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), arguing that they worked over 40 hours per week and should have received minimum wage and overtime pay.[6] This case raised the broader question of whether reality TV participants should be classified as employees, an issue that continues to be litigated.
Contractual Restrictions and Non-Disclosure Agreements
Reality TV participants frequently sign contracts that contain restrictive clauses benefiting production companies. These agreements often include provisions that: (1) prevent contestants from discussing their experiences publicly, sometimes for years;[7] (2) give producers broad editorial discretion, allowing them to manipulate footage in misleading ways;[8] and/or (3) require contestants to participate in promotional appearances even after filming has ended.[9]
TV critic Emily Nussbaum put it well when she said:
They can’t talk about what their producer did, if their producer lied to them, if their producer made them cry by asking them numerous personal questions based on their psychiatric evaluation forms, and then took that crying out of context in the edit, …They can’t talk about any of that, or they may get sued.[10]
Love Is Blind: A Case Study in Reality TV Legal Battles
Past Lawsuits and Allegations
Love Is Blind has become one of Netflix’s most popular reality dating shows, but it has also faced significant legal challenges.
Jeremy Hartwell, a Season 2 contestant, filed a lawsuit in California state court alleging that the production company, Kinetic Content, restricted food and drink options, failed to provide adequate meal breaks, and paid cast members below California’s minimum wage.[11] Contestants on Love Is Blind reportedly work up to 20 hours per day, seven days a week, for a stipend of $1,000 per week.[12] This translates to an effective hourly wage of $7.14, which is less than half of the Los Angeles minimum wage.[13]
Beyond wage concerns, contestants have also reported being overworked, malnourished, and psychologically manipulated for the sake of creating dramatic television.[14]
The Renee Poche Lawsuit and Contestant Rights
A particularly controversial case emerged when Love Is Blind contestant Renee Poche sued Netflix and Delirium TV, alleging that producers forced her into an engagement with a man who had a history of violence and substance abuse.[15]
When Poche spoke out about her negative experience, the production company initiated arbitration against her, claiming she had violated her non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and seeking $4 million in damages.[16] This case brought renewed attention to the aggressive contractual provisions that prevent reality TV contestants from speaking openly about their experiences.
NLRB Complaint and the Employee Classification Debate
In December 2024, the NLRB filed a complaint against Love Is Blind, arguing that its contestants should be classified as employees.[17] Specifically, the complaint said that the production companies, Delirium TV and Kinetic Content, intentionally misclassified cast members as “participants” rather than employees so they would not be covered by federal labor law.[18] The complaint also alleges the production companies engaged in multiple labor violations, including imposing unlawful confidentiality and noncompete agreements on contestants.[19]
Potential Industry Changes
The lawsuits against Love Is Blind and the NLRB complaint could signal a major shift in how reality TV contestants are treated. If the labor board’s ruling stands, networks may have to restructure their reality TV productions to comply with federal labor laws.[20] Additionally, the outcome of the Poche lawsuit could set a precedent regarding the enforceability of NDAs and the obligations of production companies to ensure contestant safety.[21]
As reality TV continues to evolve, these legal battles may push the industry toward greater transparency, better working conditions, and fairer compensation for participants.
Future Implications: The Path Forward for Reality TV Labor Rights
The NLRB Complaint and its Impact
A hearing is scheduled for April 2025, where an administrative law judge will determine if production companies violated labor laws.[22] The outcome could lead to broader protections for reality TV contestants, particularly if the ruling affirms their status as employees. If either party appeals, the case will go before the five-member NLRB board in Washington, D.C.[23]
Unionization Efforts and Industry Resistance
While there have been calls for reality TV unionization, experts predict a challenging road ahead. Brian Moylan, author of The Housewives: The Real Story Behind the Real Housewives, believes that unionization is a “very uphill battle” due to the high turnover rate of contestants.[24] Shows like The Bachelor cycle through participants each season, making it difficult for contestants to collectively bargain for better protections.[25]
However, long-running reality franchises, such as The Real Housewives, are leading the way with Bethenny Frankel’s unionization efforts, and may provide a stronger foundation for continued efforts.[26] Many of these reality stars return for multiple seasons, giving them more leverage to negotiate better contracts.[27]
Challenges in Implementing Workplace Protections
Implementing workplace protections for reality TV participants presents unique challenges. Union contracts typically establish guidelines for work hours, break times, and compensation. However, some of the most popular reality TV formats involve physical deprivation as part of the competition, raising questions about how such protections would apply.[28] For example, would contestants on Survivor, a show that intentionally deprives players of food and sleep, need to waive standard workplace protections?[29]
The Future of Reality TV: Will the Industry Change?
While legal challenges may lead to incremental reforms, the fundamental structure of reality TV could remain unchanged. Networks and production companies have historically relied on aggressive contracts to shield themselves from liability. If new regulations require them to treat contestants as employees, networks may shift their focus toward formats that rely less on contestant-driven narratives or incorporate new waivers for participants.
Nevertheless, the increased scrutiny on reality TV labor practices suggests that changes are inevitable. Whether through unionization, stronger labor protections, or shifts in public perception, reality TV contestants are no longer passive participants in their exploitation—they are demanding change.[30]
Tyler Caffrey is a third-year law student at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and a staff editor at the Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal. He has a strong interest in both music law and fashion law.
[1] LeAnn Cain, Lights, Camera, Contracts: The Legal Side of Reality TV, Campbell L. Observer (Dec. 6, 2024), https://campbelllawobserver.com/lights-camera-contracts-the-legal-side-of-reality-tv/ [https://perma.cc/35E3-4B7W].
[2] Id.
[3] Julia Jacobs, Labor Board Classifies ‘Love Is Blind’ Contestants as Employees, N.Y. Times (Dec. 11, 2024), https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/arts/television/love-is-blind-nlrb-employees-union.html.
[4] Amanda Cort,Get Real: The Tension Between Stardom and Justice for Reality Television Participants, 13:2 N.Y.U. J. Intell. Prop. & Ent. L. (Spring 2024), https://jipel.law.nyu.edu/get-real-the-tension-between-stardom-and-justice-for-reality-television-participants/ [https://perma.cc/3MAB-SQGC].
[5] Id.
[6] Angelina Irvine, Keepin’ It Real: Wage and Hour Issues in the Reality TV Industry, Lexology (Oct. 28, 2019), https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=7756daaa-1e06-4f43-a2d5-951f4ee5f7e6 [https://perma.cc/9LNJ-MNLQ].
[7] Cain, supra note 1.
[8] Id.
[9] Id.
[10] Terry Gross, ‘Love Is Blind’ Is Mired in Lawsuits. What Does That Mean for Reality TV?, NPR (July 1, 2024, 1:45 PM), https://www.npr.org/2024/07/01/nx-s1-5021949/emmily-nussbaum-reality-tv-cue-the-sun [https://perma.cc/ZS59-Z5DM].
[11] Cort, supra note 4.
[12] Id.
[13] Id.
[14] Id.; Jacobs, supra note 3.
[15] Samantha Nungesser, ‘Love Is Blind’ Contestant Details “Traumatic” Experience in Bombshell Netflix Lawsuit, Claims Company Forced Her to Spend Time with Abusive Fiancé, Decider (Jan. 3, 2024, 2:13 PM), https://decider.com/2024/01/03/love-is-blind-contestant-sues-netflix-force-spend-time-abusive-drug-addict/ [https://perma.cc/CN2U-FEYS].
[16] Id.
[17] Ivana Saric, Labor Board Says “Love Is Blind” Contestants Are Employees in Reality TV Bombshell, Axios (Dec. 12, 2024), https://www.axios.com/2024/12/12/labor-board-love-is-blind-employees.
[18] Daniel Wiessner, Producers of Netflix Hit ‘Love Is Blind’ Accused of US Labor Law Violations, Reuters (Dec. 12, 2024), https://www.reuters.com/world/us/producers-netflix-hit-love-is-blind-accused-us-labor-law-violations-2024-12-12/.
[19] Saric, supra note 16.
[20] Id.
[21] Nungesser, supra note 15.
[22] CNN, ‘Love Is Blind’ Contestants Are Employees, Labor Board Says, A First for Reality TV, WHDH (Dec. 13, 2024), https://whdh.com/entertainment/love-is-blind-contestants-are-employees-labor-board-says-a-first-for-reality-tv/ [https://perma.cc/E3BB-2KFY].
[23] Emma Bowman, ‘Love Is Blind’ Cast Are Employees, Labor Board Says. Could a Reality TV Union Be Next?, NPR (Dec. 17, 2024, 5:00 AM), https://www.npr.org/2024/12/17/nx-s1-5229111/love-is-blind-housewives-reality-labor-union [https://perma.cc/8Q66-4U6X].
[24] Id.
[25] Id.
[26] Legal Entertainment, “Bravo” to Reality TV: Why the Industry Will Prevail Despite Recent Controversies, Forbes (Sept. 4, 2024, 2:47 PM), https://www.forbes.com/sites/legalentertainment/2024/09/04/bravo-to-reality-tv-why-the-industry-will-prevail-despite-recent-controversies/ [https://perma.cc/5XCU-H3WH].
[27] Bowman, supra note 23.
[28] Id.
[29] Id.
[30] Id.
