Love Is Blind<\/em><\/a> alum Nick Thompson<\/strong><\/a> is continuing to open up about the real-life consequences<\/a> that come with reality TV stardom.<\/p>\n Nick, who appeared on season 2 of the Netflix dating show<\/a>, told the Daily Mail<\/em><\/a> that he\u2019s \u201chaving an incredibly hard time\u201d finding work after losing his job last year. He called out Netflix for \u201cexploiting\u201d him and his costars, claiming he was only paid $10,000 for 10 weeks of filming<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you think about the amount of money that\u2019s being made, and the way that it\u2019s the path for future seasons, and the fact that anyone can go on and watch me \u2026 and I\u2019m going to be homeless,\u201d he alleged in the interview published on Tuesday, August 1. \u201cI lost my job last November. \u2026 I burned through my savings that cashed out my 401(k). I\u2019ve got two months left in the bank to pay my mortgage. I can\u2019t get a job because people don\u2019t take me seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n Nick asserted that his five years of previous experience as a \u201cVP in software\u201d should be enough of a \u201ctrack record\u201d for employers, but his time on reality TV<\/a> is proving to be a roadblock in his job search.<\/p>\n Throughout filming for Love Is Blind,<\/em> Nick claimed he was \u201cheld captive like a prisoner\u201d with producers \u201cin control of you 24 hours a day.\u201d He alleged that the cast was on camera \u201c18 to 20 hours a day\u201d<\/a> but were paid less than minimum wage. (He approximates earning $7.14 per hour, compared to the $8.50 minimum wage in Illinois, where season 2 was filmed.)<\/p>\n \u201cThat doesn\u2019t that necessarily mean that you\u2019re always going to be on TV, but you\u2019re miked up from the moment you get there in the morning, and you\u2019re miked up all the way until you leave,\u201d he said. \u201cThen when you go home at the end of the day, you\u2019re locked in your hotel room without a key without your wallet without money without identification.\u201d<\/p>\n Due to their rigorous work schedule during production, Nick argued \u201cthere is absolutely no reason\u201d that the cast \u201cshouldn\u2019t be considered\u201d Netflix employees.<\/p>\n Love Is Blind\u2019<\/em>s second season aired in 2022. Nick \u2014 who got married to now-ex Danielle Ruhl<\/strong><\/a> on the show \u2014 has since launched the Unscripted Cast Advocacy Network, which intends to provide legal and mental health support<\/a> for reality stars.<\/p>\n Nick has been vocal about his experience on the show \u2014 as have many other stars. Earlier this year, multiple former contestants came forward with allegations of mistreatment<\/a> in a bombshell Business Insider<\/em> expos\u00e9. In the report, Danielle claimed she had a panic attack<\/a> while filming in Mexico and hid in a closet to avoid producers.<\/p>\n \u201cI kept telling them, \u2018I don\u2019t trust myself. I\u2019ve tried committing suicide before,’\u201d she alleged in April. \u201c\u2018I\u2019m having suicidal thoughts. I don\u2019t think I can continue in this.’\u201d<\/p>\n The report also claimed that season 1 contestants<\/a> were forced to sleep in \u201cdrab trailers crammed with bunk beds during the 10 days dating in the pods,\u201d with all 15 men in \u201cone single-room trailer\u201d and all 15 women in another. Other stars recalled experiencing \u201csleep deprivation\u201d during filming and alleged having minimal access to food<\/a> and water.<\/p>\n
\n Danielle Ruhl and Nick Thompson<\/span> Adam Rose\/Netflix<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"Nick](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Nick-Thompson-Love-Is-Blind-Claims-Going-to-Be-Homeless-Danielle-Ruhl-2.jpg?w=700&quality=86&strip=all\")
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\n Nick Thompson and Danielle Ruhl<\/span> Adrian S. Burrows Sr.\/Netflix<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n