6 reality TV couples who didn’t last: Nick Thompson and Danielle Ruhl, Josh Oyinsan and Mimii Ngulube and more

Reality TV loves to promise whirlwind romance, wild twists, and those teary-eyed connections that keep us hooked. Sometimes, couples ride that wave all the way to real happiness. But, let’s be honest, once the cameras pack up and everyone goes home, things get a lot messier. The fairy-tale moments? They start to fade. And the pressure of real life, plus a bit of fame, can make it tough to hold things together. Doesn’t matter if it’s a fan-favorite social experiment or a crowd-puller British dating show. Some of reality TV’s biggest couples have split up, even after dreamy proposals and Insta-perfect weddings. These breakups remind us that the bubble of reality TV is just that: a bubble. Once it pops, real life hits hard.

Here are six reality TV couples, from Hollywood and beyond, whose relationships didn’t survive, and what actually happened when the show was over.

Fans couldn’t stop talking about Nick and Danielle when ‘Love Is Blind Season 2’ aired. They got engaged in those infamous pods, tied the knot in June 2021, and for a while, it looked like they were one of the show’s big success stories. However, the fairytale didn’t last long, and by August 2022, Danielle filed for divorce.

Per People, she clarified on her social media profile that it came down to personality clashes and realizing, once the cameras were gone, that they just didn’t fit. “It really did come down to just personality compatibility differences,” Ruhl told her followers. “I think that’s what makes it even harder because you do live in this, at least for me, I kind of live in this state of denial where it’s like, ‘But we love each other.’ You can still love each other and still try your best to move on. It’s hard, it’s very hard.”

Later, Thompson, too, reflected on the split on Instagram. “The last few weeks have been especially challenging for me,” he wrote. “Everyone perceives and experiences grief differently when a relationship ends, let alone the loss of a marriage in the public eye.” He continued, “I am heartbroken my marriage ended,” adding, “I know in my heart that I did the best I could and gave it everything I had.”

Brennon and Alexa were the couple everyone rooted for on ‘Love Is Blind Season 3’. They seemed solid from the start, and fans watched them hit every milestone, and in July 2024, they even welcomed their daughter, Vienna.

The couple announced their divorce in December 2025. In a joint statement, they made it clear the decision wasn’t made lightly. They talked about ending things with respect and staying committed to being great co-parents.

“After much reflection and many heartfelt conversations, we have made the difficult decision to end our marriage. This choice was not made lightly, and it comes with a great deal of care, respect, and appreciation for the time we’ve shared,” the caption read. “While our journey as a married couple is coming to an end, we remain supportive of one another, devoted to our daughter, and committed to navigating this transition with compassion.”

Milton and Lydia were another couple reality TV fans had high hopes for. They met in the pods during Season 5 and got married in May 2022. They were one of the few pairs from that season to make it down the aisle. But by June 2025, Lydia announced she’d filed for divorce.

The reason behind the decision? “It wasn’t one thing. It was a layer of situations and things that just kept piling up. When I asked him or told him, ‘Hey, I’ll let you know when the divorce papers are ready,’ his response was, ‘I’m not going to sign the papers unless there’s an NDA.’ That said enough for me to know that I needed to share my truth and my experience because I’ve been suffering in silence, [which] has been too much for me,” Lydia said on an episode of the ‘What’s the Reality?’ podcast hosted by season 6 alum AD Smith.

Tyler Francis and Ashley Adionser turned plenty of heads on ‘Love Is Blind Season 7’. Their spark led them down the aisle in November 2023, and fans cheered them on at the wedding. For a while, it looked like a fairy tale. But in January 2025, Ashley announced they’d split after several weeks apart, saying their lives just weren’t heading in the same direction anymore.

“After much reflection, I want to share that Tyler and I have been separated for several weeks and have now made the difficult decision to end our marriage,” Adionser told People in January 2025. “While I had hoped for mutual understanding and transparency in our relationship, it has become clear that our paths are no longer aligned, making it impossible for me to continue in this marriage.”

Later, Frances took to Instagram Stories to share his side. “As many of you may have seen, Ashley has shared the news of our decision to end our marriage,” he wrote, per E! News. “This has been an incredibly difficult and emotional process for both of us, and it is one we have approached with great care and respect for one another.”

Gabby Allen and Casey O’Gorman were one of the standout couples of ‘Love Island: All Stars Season 2’. Their on-screen aura worked, and they won the show in early 2025, and people started picturing a happy-ever-after. But three months after making it official, they called it quits. In a heartfelt joint statement, they said the breakup was mutual and that they planned to stay friends, showing a lot of respect for each other.

"After much thoughtful consideration, Gabby and Casey have decided to go their separate ways romantically. This decision was mutual, and they both remain on good terms as friends with a shared respect for each other," the statement read.

Separately, Gabby added that she is "grateful for the memories they’ve created together and wishes Casey nothing but the best as they both move forward on their individual journeys. She’s excited for what the future holds."

On the UK’s ‘Love Island’, Josh Oyinsan and Mimii Ngulube made history as the first all-Black couple to win in 2024. They really won over viewers with their chemistry and connection. But after the cameras turned off, things got tricky. Just two months after the show, they went their separate ways, leaving fans disappointed. Mimii shared on Instagram that they’d tried to make things work but realized the timing wasn’t right. By early 2025, she confirmed the split at the MOBO Awards, saying both she and Josh had moved on and there were no hard feelings. She told The Sun: “We’re cordial. No bad blood between either of us. He’s moved on, I’ve moved on, so yeah. I’ve moved on.” Josh added, “I’m sure she’s doing well, whatever she is doing. I wish her the best, and I hope she continues to thrive.”