90 Day Fiance is one of TLC's most popular franchises, and the show features some very controversial cast members, many of whom have been accused of being sexist by fans. Viewers were shocked by some of the comments made by several male cast members, flocking to social media in order to discuss their outrage. Some stars of the show have received more heat than others.
There have been quite a few scandals surrounding cast members throughout the show's history. Several stars have even lost their spots on the franchise due to comments and actions made on and off the show, like Geoffrey Paschel, who was recently sentenced to 18 years in prison due to abuse allegations. In some cases, these cast members have had their relationships blow up due to their sexist and self-centered viewpoints. Others have had partners continue to stand by them in spite of their poor image in the eyes of the fans. In Geoffrey's case, fiancée Varya Malina appears to be staying by his side, as viewers see them continue to support one another on social media.
Some cast members who have faced backlash over sexist comments have responded to these accusations, while others have remained silent. Though some fans have viewed these apologies as sincere, others feel they are just a method of pandering by those 90 Day Fiance stars who want to be seen in a certain light by the public but retain their sexist viewpoints behind closed doors (or at least off-camera). Some try to blame cultural or religious differences around gender roles as a reason for appearing sexist, while others make no excuses for their actions.
Cast member Ben Rathbun of 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days season 5 has most recently been under fire for his aggressive pursuit of much younger woman Mahogany Roca and comments made to fellow cast member Kimberly Menzies backstage during the tell-all. Ben faced backlash after criticizing Kimberly's pursuit of Usman "Sojaboy" Umar, stating that men are like lions stalking gazelles, with the chase being more fun if women are resistant. These comments are consistent with his pursuit of 22-year-old Roca, who asked him not to come to Peru, but he came anyway. He recently apologized on Instagram, writing, “I see what you see – I was overbearing, selfish, justifying myself, and not listening just to name a few things.” However, fans feel his apology isn't sincere, as he continues to ignore or delete comments criticizing his behavior on social media.
Before the 90 Days season 4 cast member and relationship coach Ash Naeck found himself apologizing for the content of one of his seminars, featured during his season. In explaining the "differences between men's brains and women's brains" he began to flounder, claiming men are more capable of thinking logically, while women's brains are more emotional, describing "everything goes crazy in your brain." His ex-girlfriend Avery commented that his speech "sounded sexist." Fans have called him out for perpetuating sexist tropes in his career as a coach for women. He has since publicly apologized, describing it as "the worst day of my life" and stating that he could see why others believed he was sexist. Though Ash apologized, it hasn't won him more fans. He has not returned to the franchise.
Andrei Castravet has been criticized several times for sexist behavior, beginning in 90 Day Fiance season 5 when his wife Elizabeth Castravet called him an "alpha-male." During a trip to his native Moldova, he bragged to friends about being the "man of the house" while not working to provide for his family. His friends called him out on his hypocrisy. Fans see Andrei as controlling, watching him make all the rules for his family, regardless of the opinions of his wife. Andrei has never publicly apologized or addressed fans' accusations; however, he has remained a popular member of the franchise and continues to receive air time. Many are eager to see these stars improve and move forward in their personal and romantic journeys. Whether rooting for them or not, fans of 90 Day Fiance wait to see where they will go next and hope they learn from their mistakes.
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