Reality TV
Everything You Need to Know About ‘Love Is Blind’s Stephen Richardson & His Cheating Scandal
Love Is Blind is back, and this time around, the participants are from the nation’s capital. So queue the LinkedIn date offers, military men, and stately demeanor.
Stephen Richardson seemed to be somewhat of an exception. Not as obsessed with money or, you know, Leo Braudy’s Rolex, the 34-year-old made quite a few revelations to Monica Davis in the pods.
One of the things he opened up about was his sister’s Ancestry.com results. Always having thought to be part Italian, he was quite mistaken. Instead of descending from a Southern European heritage, he did some digging into the Nigerian, Congolese, and Sierra Leonean cultures, a place his ancestors are actually from. Proud of this newly-found identity, he was quick to share that piece of information as well as some of his self-proclaimed bad decisions.
So, who is the man outside of the pods? Proving himself to not really be a catch, Stephen’s cheating scandal has ruined his image. Scroll down to get up to speed on the Season 7 cast member.
What does Stephen do for a living?
Working as an electrician, Stephen has opened up about the unconventional working hours. Waking up every morning at 4 a.m., he goes out and works hard. Grateful for his life and what he can offer, he said he takes his parents to IHOP when money is tight to treat them.
Was Stephen in the Marines?
Yes, he was in the Marines. Often speaking about his military background, Stephen proudly identifies as a veteran. Because of his previous position, he is adamant about certain aspects of his civic duty, such as voting. “Both as a veteran and as an American, it’s kind of my responsibility,” he said.
What did Stephen say about his political views?
When prompted, Stephen was quick to share how he had voted in the past.
“I voted for President Trump because I didn’t like Hillary [Clinton],” he said about the 2016 presidential election. “But I despise the way that Trump handled his time in office.” That’s the reason why he decided to vote for President Biden in 2020. He even doubled down by saying, “I will happily admit that my first vote wasn’t the most educated vote.”
Speaking more about the topic, Stephen gave a piece of information about his upbringing. “My dad is a Republican. He’ll vote Republican because he is a Republican, and I don’t agree with that concept,” Stephen revealed.
What is Stephen’s cheating scandal about?
After having previously admitted to DMing women while in a relationship, Stephen made that same mistake again just weeks into his engagement with Monica. While away at a sleep test, he sent dirty messages to someone he had known before starting the experience. Monica was stunned, to say the least. She told Swooon she was “caught off guard” by Stephen’s betrayal. “Every interaction we had, this person was on his mind in some way, in his back pocket, in some way,” she added.
At their apartment, Stephen told Monica, “I can’t do anything to change this I will live with this. I truly am sorry for hurting you, for wasting your time, for coming on the show and doing this to you. I shouldn’t have come on the show.”
In his first interview since the latest episodes aired, Stephen made light of the incident. “It is probably smart to put a password on your phone,” he told PEOPLE. He reiterated that he did truly love Monica and later acknowledged that he’s been trying to become a better person. “I need to do something to fix it. And that’s essentially what this whole year for me has been,” he said.
Are Monica and Stephen still together?
Monica and Stephen have hit rock bottom. They had their final conversation as a couple when he admitted to his behavior while away. Claiming to have been inebriated when he sent the explicit messages, Monica said that wasn’t an excuse. Stephen agreed, yet didn’t seem that remorseful. In our interview, Monica said she considered sexting “emotionally cheating.”
Luckily, Monica was able to find some solace in the home of fellow cast members Taylor Krause and Garrett Josemans.
Love Is Blind, Season 7, Episodes 10-11, October 16, Netflix
Love Is Blind, Season 7, Episodes 12, October 23, Netflix
