Stephen Richardson gained fame after his appearance on Love Is Blind, but he quickly became the most disliked contestant on the Netflix hit following a few episodes. How did that happen?
Imagine this scenario! You meet someone new who instantly captures your heart. They share their troubled past with you, and you give them a second chance.
However, despite their initial efforts to change, they end up repeating the same mistakes, cheating on you, and leaving you heartbroken. How would that make you feel? Heartbroken, right?
That’s how Richardson made his fiancée, Monica Davis, feel, along with everyone else who supported their relationship. That’s also how he ended up being the most hated contestant on Love Is Blind.
However, that’s not all there is to the story. Continue reading for more in-depth details about Stephen’s infidelity on the Netflix hit. Warning! This story contains spoilers from episodes 7-9 of the show. Additionally, new episodes of Love Is Blind are currently available for streaming on Netflix.
Stephen Richardson’s sudden rise from Love Is Blind Season 7
Stephen Richardson’s rapid ascent on Love Is Blind Season 7 was remarkable. With his charm and vulnerability, he quickly drew in both fellow contestants and audiences.
From the beginning, he came across as transparent and genuine when discussing his romantic history. Even in the pods, Stephen had a revealing conversation with Monica Davis where he confessed to emotional unfaithfulness in a past relationship. He even called himself a “technical cheater.”
This revelation proved crucial, as Monica had also experienced betrayal before but had learned to forgive. Despite Stephen’s history of infidelity, he wanted to change for the better.
Even with trouble past, Monica appreciated Stephen’s honesty and sincerity. Their bond grew stronger as they connected over shared principles like clear communication and embracing each other’s flaws.
By the third episode, Stephen and his partner had grown closer, and they got engaged. Viewers found the engagement memorable, as it showed the couple’s strong attraction and hinted at a possible long-term relationship.
Stephen’s authenticity and willingness to address his past mistakes played a big role in making him popular with fans of the show. Soon after, many fans expressed their admiration for him in the comments section of his Instagram posts.
For instance, one fan commented,
“I have to say you are one of my favorite people from Love Is Blind season 7.”
Another fan chimed in,
“You are my FAVORITE! You deserve all the happiness in the world!”
Additionally, as a former Marine, his new supporters began expressing gratitude for his service. Yet, nothing could have prepared Monica and their fans for what Stephen would do soon after.
Stephen’s downfall came soon after the world found him cheating on his fiancée, Monica Davis
Stephen Richardson’s rise to fame on Love Is Blind Season 7 was abruptly overshadowed by a shocking cheating scandal involving his fiancée, Monica Davis. The drama unfolded in Episode 8 when Monica discovered explicit text messages Stephen had sent to another woman during a sleep study.
These messages, which contained kinky content, were reportedly sent both while Stephen was intoxicated and the following day when sober.
Monica confronted Stephen, calling the texts “disgusting” and expressing disbelief that he would engage in such behavior while engaged to her. Additionally, her disappointment deepened during their trip to Mexico, where she felt Stephen was distant and lacked romantic gestures.
As news of the scandal spread, fans quickly voiced their outrage on social media, especially through Stephen’s Instagram comments. Viewers who had rooted for the couple expressed heartbreak and anger, feeling betrayed by Stephen’s actions.
One of the fans commented,
“Brooo WTF were you thinking. We were rooting for you.. And then you did that?”
Another one expressed similar feelings,
“STEPHEN WE WERE ROOTING FOR YOU… WE WERE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU WHYYYYYY”
Likewise, another fan wrote in his photo featuring Monica,
“Hot take: he just wanted to get out of the whole marriage thing as it got too real but had no guts to do it honorably.”
Fans who once admired his honesty now saw him in a different light.
Similarly, many people online are questioning whether he is a sociopath and accusing him of compulsive sexual behavior. However, Stephen isn’t the only one who faced backlash, as Monica also faced criticism during their time together.
Some comments suggest that Monica is overly controlling and not a good match for him. Additionally, the 37-year-old sales executive has faced backlash for her changing views on Stephen’s job situation.
Initially supportive, Monica later expressed concerns about Stephen’s blue-collar job and his two-year degree. Although she claims it doesn’t bother her, it appears to be a lingering issue that could affect their future together.
In case you didn’t know, Stephen expressed remorse for his actions, but his Instagram post suggests otherwise
- Stephen Richardson said his cheating action was a “stupid mistake” and was open about his experiences with therapy and said it’s an ongoing process.
- Stephen apologized to Monica and said, “I genuinely regret hurting you and wasting your time.“
- After receiving criticism, the 34-year-old electrician posted a video parodying a fight scene. He also wrote, “Training to fight all the stay-at-home wives who hate me for disrupting their fantasies.“
