The eighth season of the global phenomenon *Love Is Blind* (LIB) captivated—and arguably frustrated—audiences in early 2025, bringing its unique social experiment to the snowy landscape of the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota metro area. Airing its highly anticipated episodes between its premiere on Friday, February 14, 2025, and its conclusion in March 2025, this season aimed to prove that love truly is blind, even in the Twin Cities. However, of the five couples who managed to get engaged in the now-iconic pods, only one pair successfully made it down the aisle and remains married today, a stark reminder of the show's difficult premise.
The season was marked by dramatic twists, intense love triangles, and a series of controversies that made headlines long after the finale episode aired. From pre-show social media scandals to accusations of lackluster casting choices, *Love Is Blind* Season 8 delivered its usual blend of heartwarming moments and cringe-worthy reality television. This deep dive explores the full cast, the city that hosted the experiment, the biggest on-screen and off-screen dramas, and the definitive current status of the sole successful couple.
Love Is Blind Season 8 Cast: The Engaged Couples and Their Current Status (As of December 2025)
The Minneapolis-St. Paul season featured a diverse group of singles, but only five couples formed a bond strong enough to lead to an engagement and a trip to the post-pod retreat. Here is the definitive list of the main couples and their relationship status, a year after the televised weddings.
- Taylor Haag and Daniel Hastings: The Sole Married Couple
Taylor and Daniel were the only couple to say "I do" at the altar and, as of late 2025, they remain happily married. Their journey was not without drama, however, as their relationship was later scrutinized due to a major off-screen controversy involving Daniel's pre-show social media activity. - Ben Mezzenga and Sara Carton: Broken Up
Ben and Sara's relationship was a focal point of the season, but they ultimately did not make it to the wedding. Their post-show journey was also marred by controversy, with Ben facing scrutiny over his past social media presence. - Joey and Monica: Broken Up
Joey and Monica's connection in the pods seemed promising, but the transition to the real world proved too difficult. They broke up after the wedding ceremony, joining the majority of couples who didn't find their forever match on the show. - Devin Buckley and Virginia Miller: Broken Up
Devin and Virginia had an emotional and often turbulent relationship. Despite making it to the altar, they ultimately chose not to marry. Their differing views on finances, including a discussion about prenups and separate bank accounts, was a major storyline. - David and Lauren: Broken Up
David and Lauren's story was less prominently featured in the final edit, but they were one of the five couples to get engaged. Like the others, they did not manage to sustain their relationship outside the experiment.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul Experiment: The Twin Cities Setting
Following the tradition of previous seasons, *Love Is Blind* Season 8 chose a new major metropolitan area for its social experiment: the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, often referred to as the Twin Cities. This location choice was a refreshing change of pace, offering a backdrop of Midwestern charm and a vibrant, yet intimate, dating pool. The singles were all residents of the area, a key element of the show's structure to ensure the couples have a shared geographic reality after the pods.
The filming took place approximately a year before the February 2025 premiere, with local residents spotting camera crews at various "hotspots" around Minneapolis and St. Paul. While the initial pod and retreat phase is typically filmed in a neutral, often international, location, the couples returned to the Twin Cities to navigate their new lives together. This included meeting families, moving into apartments, and visiting local landmarks, which showcased the stunning, if often cold, beauty of Minnesota.
The Controversies and Scandals That Defined LIB Season 8
Season 8 of *Love Is Blind* generated significant buzz, but much of it centered on the drama both on and off the screen. The season became a lightning rod for criticism, with many viewers and critics alike questioning the show’s casting choices and commitment to its own premise.
The 'Whitest Cast Ever' and Lackluster Pace Criticism
One of the most persistent and widely discussed controversies was the composition of the cast. Critics and fans on social media widely described Season 8 as having the "whitest cast ever," reigniting an ongoing debate about the show's lack of diversity and its failure to feature the stories of people of color prominently. The show's creator defended the casting process, stating that the show "casts itself," but the criticism highlighted a growing dissatisfaction with the representation on the show.
Beyond the diversity issue, the season was also criticized for its "lackluster pace" and a perceived shift in focus from genuine emotional connection to manufactured drama. Many felt that the show failed to deliver on its promise to air more footage of the couples who didn't make it to the altar, leaving several storylines feeling incomplete or rushed.
The Daniel and Taylor Instagram Scandal
The relationship between the season's sole married couple, Taylor Haag and Daniel Hastings, was at the center of a major pre-show controversy. Rumors and fan theories circulated that Daniel may have known what Taylor looked like before the official reveal, or at least had some form of pre-show social media interaction with her. This kind of pre-existing connection completely undermines the core premise of the experiment—that love is formed sight-unseen—and sparked a heated debate among the *Love Is Blind* fanbase about the integrity of the casting process. While the couple denied any intentional breach of the rules, the speculation cast a shadow over their successful journey.
Ben Mezzenga’s TikTok Drama
Another major off-screen scandal involved Ben Mezzenga, who was engaged to Sara Carton. Following the season's airing, Ben faced a wave of online scrutiny related to his activity on TikTok. The drama primarily revolved around his past behavior and content on the platform, which came to light after he gained notoriety on the Netflix series. This type of social media exposé has become common in reality TV, but for Ben, it added another layer of complexity to his already tumultuous on-screen relationship with Sara.
The Legacy of Love Is Blind Season 8: A Focus on the Single Success Story
Despite the controversies and the high number of breakups, *Love Is Blind* Season 8 will ultimately be remembered as the season of Taylor and Daniel. Their success story, against the odds and the backdrop of Minneapolis, provides the necessary validation for the show's format. The fact that they are the only couple from the Twin Cities experiment still married today highlights the difficulty of translating a deep emotional connection formed in the pods into a sustainable, real-world marriage.
The season served as a crucial data point in the ongoing *Love Is Blind* saga, demonstrating that while the experiment can still produce genuine, lasting love, the path is fraught with challenges. The intense scrutiny faced by the cast—from financial disagreements between Devin and Virginia to the public's judgment of the editing and casting—suggests that the show is evolving, perhaps too heavily leaning into drama over the purity of the experiment. As the franchise continues, the single success of Taylor and Daniel remains the shining, albeit controversial, beacon of hope for future seasons and aspiring contestants.
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