Love Is Blind Season 9: Kacie McIntosh Responds to Criticism and Shares Her Side
In a heartfelt statement shared on Instagram, Love Is Blind season 9 contestant Kacie McIntosh addressed the wave of criticism she’s received following her appearance on the popular Netflix reality show. The 32-year-old hair and makeup artist acknowledged making mistakes during her time on the series but emphasized that viewers are only seeing a heavily edited version of events. “I understand I have made mistakes during my time on LiB,” Kacie wrote. “However, there is far more to the heavily edited story than what is being aired, and I hope I can share my side soon.” She also made a poignant plea for critics to leave her friends and family out of the negativity, noting that while she chose to participate in the experiment, they did not. Most concerning, she revealed she’s been receiving death threats, adding a touch of humor to her serious message by writing, “[My cat] Chardonnay needs a mom.”
The controversy stems from Kacie’s relationship with fellow contestant Patrick Suzuki on the show. The pair formed a strong connection and became engaged sight unseen in the “pods” portion of the experiment, where participants date without seeing each other. However, viewers were shocked when Kacie ended their engagement just hours after meeting Patrick in person. In a confessional during the sixth episode, she explained her decision was based on a lack of physical attraction, saying, “He deserves somebody better than me. He’s not a bad-looking guy in any sense, but he deserves somebody that is so obsessed with him.” She further explained her reasoning, adding, “I just, unfortunately, don’t think my attraction to him is gonna grow that much, and it sucks. I just know it won’t, and I think it would be so unfair to him to have us go to Mexico and then me have to tell him there that I just don’t think I could get there with him, like, period.”
What made the situation particularly complicated was that Kacie didn’t directly break off the engagement with Patrick. Instead, she only told him she didn’t want to join the cast’s post-pods trip to Mexico, leaving Patrick with the impression that they would continue dating after he returned to Denver. This miscommunication led to confusion, as Patrick expressed in his own confessional that he still felt good about their relationship. “I think we’ll probably take it slow with her moving forward, but she says she still loves me. I think she’s pretty genuine. I don’t think she’s gaslighting [and] you can tell we’re attracted to each other. It has nothing to do with physical attraction [as she told me it didn’t],” he said, revealing the disconnect between what Kacie shared with the cameras versus what she communicated to Patrick directly.
The audience reaction to Kacie’s decision has been largely negative, with many viewers criticizing her for what they perceived as leading Patrick on and then rejecting him based on appearance – seemingly contradicting the show’s core concept of forming connections beyond physical attraction. The backlash has been so severe that even Patrick himself has stepped in to defend her. In his own Instagram Story, Patrick thanked fans for their support but urged them to “take it easy” on Kacie and the rest of the cast. “Hey everyone, I’ve been reading the comments and DMs,” he wrote. “I’m blown away by all the love and support — thank you. I’ll do my best to get back to everyone. Please remember we’re all human.” His compassionate response included a plea against hatred directed toward any cast member, writing, “I don’t condone hate in any capacity,” and signing his message as “Baby Seal” – a nickname that emerged when he jokingly compared his hairless body to the aquatic mammal during a conversation with Kacie in the pods.
Before choosing Kacie, Patrick had been involved in what the show portrayed as a love triangle with her and another contestant, Anna Yuan. The 28-year-old Anna eventually quit the experiment, leaving Patrick to pursue his relationship with Kacie. This dynamic added another layer of complexity to Patrick’s journey on the show and likely contributed to viewers feeling particularly protective of him after Kacie ended their engagement. The strong audience reaction demonstrates how invested viewers become in the relationships formed on Love Is Blind, sometimes blurring the line between reality television entertainment and the real people participating in the experiment.
As new episodes of Love Is Blind season 9 continue to drop weekly on Netflix, viewers will likely learn more about Kacie and Patrick’s journey. While reality television often presents simplified narratives of complex human interactions, Kacie’s statement reminds us that there’s always more to the story than what makes it to the screen. Her appeal for understanding, particularly her request to stop death threats, highlights the very real consequences that can come with participating in high-profile reality shows. As audiences, we might do well to remember that while the format is designed for entertainment, the emotions, relationships, and people involved are genuine – even if heavily edited for dramatic effect. Ultimately, both Kacie and Patrick’s responses to the situation demonstrate maturity in navigating the complicated aftermath of their televised relationship.
