Love Is Blind Stacy Lawsuit, She Won $8K in Class Action—Here’s What Really Happened
Stacy Snyder from Love Is Blind Season 5 joined a class-action lawsuit against Netflix and received $8,287 in August 2025—more than she earned filming the entire show. The case settled in December 2024 for $1.4 million split between 100+ cast members who claimed inhumane working conditions.
What Is the Love Is Blind Stacy Lawsuit About?
Stacy Snyder, 37, appeared on Season 5 of Love Is Blind in Houston, where she got engaged to Izzy Zapata before calling it off at the altar. After filming, she joined a class-action lawsuit filed by Season 2 contestant Jeremy Hartwell against Netflix, Kinetic Content production company, and Delirium TV casting company.
The lawsuit alleged labor law violations—failures to comply with employment laws governing wages, hours, and working conditions. Specifically, cast members claimed producers forced them to work 12-20 hour days, seven days a week, while paying approximately $7.14 per hour—below Los Angeles County’s minimum wage.
Hartwell’s July 2022 complaint described “unsafe and inhumane working conditions” where production allegedly deprived cast members of food, water, and sleep while plying them with alcohol. The suit claimed these practices created “altered mental states” and made contestants “hungry for social connections,” affecting their emotional decision-making.
The Parties Involved
Plaintiff: Jeremy Hartwell, a 37-year-old director and entrepreneur from Chicago who appeared briefly on Season 2 in 2022, filed the original lawsuit. He served as class representative for 100+ cast members from Love Is Blind Seasons 2-5 and The Ultimatum Seasons 1-2.
Co-Plaintiff: Stacy Snyder (now Stacy Renae) joined the class action after her Season 5 appearance. She was engaged to fellow Houston contestant Izzy Zapata during filming before they split after the show aired. Stacy has since come out as queer and moved on to new relationships.
Defendants: Netflix (streaming platform), Kinetic Content (production company), and Delirium TV (casting company) were named as defendants. The case was filed in California Superior Court for Los Angeles County under case number 22STCV21223.
What Triggered the Lawsuit
Jeremy Hartwell spent less than one week in the pods before leaving without finding a connection. After filming, he claimed he spent days recovering from sleep deprivation, lack of food and water, and excessive alcohol consumption.
His attorney, Chantal Payton of Payton Employment Law, explained that producers “intentionally underpaid the cast members, deprived them of food, water and sleep, plied them with booze and cut off their access to personal contacts and most of the outside world.”
The complaint highlighted contracts requiring contestants to pay $50,000 in “liquidated damages” if they left before filming ended—50 times what some cast members earned total. This penalty allegedly created fear and gave production extreme control over participants.
Multiple cast members from other seasons echoed these claims. Season 2’s Nick Thompson, Danielle Ruhl, and Briana Holmes described hellish conditions. Holmes quit after having a panic attack during filming.
Stacy described production as exploitative: “There are a lot of people who have been treated extremely poorly, including myself, [who] are afraid to speak up for themselves ’cause there’s always this threat of, ‘It’s in your contract.'”
The December 2024 Settlement
Netflix and Kinetic Content initially denied the allegations. Kinetic’s statement claimed Jeremy “failed to develop a significant connection” and dismissed the lawsuit as without merit.
Despite their denial, they settled in December 2024 for $1.4 million. Superior Court Judge Lawrence Riff gave preliminary approval in October 2024, though he expressed skepticism about certain terms—particularly the 35% attorney fees (approximately $490,000) and $10,000 extra payment to Hartwell as class representative.
The settlement covered approximately 144 cast members from multiple seasons of Love Is Blind and The Ultimatum. After attorney fees and Hartwell’s payment, the remaining funds were split among all class members.
How Much Stacy Actually Received
In August 2025, Stacy posted a TikTok video showing her settlement check for $8,287.67, dated April 2025.
“Finally getting paid for the plot line,” she wrote. “This is what I am owed for filming not even two full months. This is more than I got paid for filming an entire season of 12 to 20-hour workdays.”
She admitted mixed feelings: “I don’t know if I’m mad or happy. I’m happy, obviously, [but] it’s more of the justice piece and not the money.”
Season 2 contestant Haseeb Hussain, an attorney himself, revealed he received only $4,000 from the settlement. He explained the small amount resulted from splitting $1.4 million among 100+ people after attorney fees.
Why the Settlement Amounts Were So Low
The $1.4 million total sounds substantial, but divided among 144+ cast members, individual payments shrank dramatically.
Here’s the breakdown:
- $490,000 went to attorney fees (35%)
- $10,000 went to Jeremy Hartwell as class representative
- Remaining $900,000 split among all other class members
This meant each person received approximately $4,000-$8,000—amounts that varied based on time spent filming and specific involvement.
Stacy’s $8,287 exceeded her total pay for filming an entire season, highlighting how little Netflix originally compensated contestants.
Legal Claims and Contract Issues
The lawsuit alleged multiple violations:
Wage and hour violations: Cast members allegedly worked as employees but were misclassified as independent contractors, denying them minimum wage protections, overtime pay, and meal/rest breaks.
Unfair business practices: Production contracts allegedly contained illegal terms like the $50,000 penalty for early departure and requirements forcing couples to attend weddings even if they didn’t want to marry.
Negligence: Producers allegedly failed in their duty of care to contestants’ physical and mental wellbeing by creating dangerous working conditions.
The complaint sought unpaid wages, compensation for missed breaks, and civil penalties for labor code violations under California law.
What This Means for Reality TV Production
Netflix has since parted ways with Kinetic Content for Love Is Blind production. Whether this signals improved working conditions or simply avoiding future liability remains unclear.
The settlement raises broader questions about reality TV participant protections. Unlike actors covered by union contracts, reality show contestants typically have few legal safeguards.
Legal experts note that reality producers often exert significant control over participants while classifying them as independent contractors—avoiding employment law obligations for minimum wage, overtime, and safe working conditions.
This case establishes precedent that reality TV participants can successfully challenge exploitative practices, though the small individual payouts may discourage future lawsuits.
Common Misconceptions About the Case
Many assume Stacy sued alone. She didn’t—Jeremy Hartwell filed the original lawsuit, and Stacy joined the class action representing 100+ cast members.
Some believe the lawsuit was about emotional distress from on-screen drama. It wasn’t. The claims focused on labor law violations: wages, working hours, and conditions during production.
The settlement wasn’t $1.4 million per person—it was $1.4 million total split among all class members.
Finally, this wasn’t a defamation case about how contestants were portrayed. The allegations centered on behind-the-scenes working conditions, not editing or reputation damage.
How to Follow Reality TV Legal Developments
Court documents for the case are available through California Superior Court records using case number 22STCV21223. Federal cases use PACER, but this was filed in state court.
For official statements, follow cast members’ social media—Stacy shares updates on TikTok (@stacyrenae926), where she posted her settlement video.
Entertainment law publications and reality TV news sources like Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Reality Tea cover ongoing developments in reality show lawsuits.
When You Might Need Legal Help
If you’re considering reality TV participation, consult an entertainment attorney to review contracts before signing. Many contain terms you can negotiate or refuse.
Reality show participants experiencing similar issues—underpayment, excessive work hours, unsafe conditions, or contract disputes—should contact an employment lawyer specializing in entertainment law.
Document everything: hours worked, conditions, verbal agreements, and any concerns about safety or contract violations. This evidence becomes crucial if legal action is necessary.
What to Watch For
Love Is Blind continues production with new seasons, including one filmed in Austin. Whether working conditions have actually improved remains to be seen.
Other reality shows may face similar lawsuits as participants become aware of their labor rights. The success of this case could encourage more contestants to challenge exploitative practices.
Watch for potential regulatory changes. California often leads in entertainment industry labor protections, and this case highlights gaps in reality TV participant safeguards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Love Is Blind Stacy lawsuit about?
Stacy Snyder joined a class-action lawsuit alleging Netflix and Kinetic Content violated labor laws by forcing Love Is Blind cast members to work 12-20 hour days with inadequate pay, food, sleep, and rest breaks. The case settled in December 2024 for $1.4 million split among 100+ cast members.
Who is Stacy from Love Is Blind?
Stacy Snyder (now Stacy Renae) appeared on Season 5 filmed in Houston. She got engaged to Izzy Zapata but called off the wedding at the altar. After the show, she came out as queer and has been vocal about production mistreatment.
Did Stacy sue Netflix?
Stacy joined a class-action lawsuit originally filed by Season 2 contestant Jeremy Hartwell. She didn’t file her own separate lawsuit but participated as a class member suing Netflix, Kinetic Content, and Delirium TV.
How much did Stacy receive from the lawsuit?
Stacy received $8,287.67 in August 2025—more than she earned filming the entire season. The total $1.4 million settlement was split among approximately 144 cast members after attorney fees.
What is the current status of the lawsuit?
The case settled in December 2024 and received final court approval. Settlement payments were distributed to class members between April and August 2025. The case is now closed.
Are other Love Is Blind cast members suing?
No new lawsuits are currently active. The class action included 100+ cast members from Love Is Blind Seasons 2-5 and The Ultimatum Seasons 1-2, all receiving settlement payments.
What does this mean for future Love Is Blind seasons?
Netflix parted ways with Kinetic Content after the settlement. Whether new production partners will improve working conditions remains uncertain. The lawsuit may deter some exploitative practices but small settlement amounts could limit impact.
Last Updated: January 18, 2026
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
What to Do Next: Understand your rights before signing reality TV contracts and seek legal counsel if you experience exploitative working conditions.
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About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
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