Sharing his experience. Bartise Bowden thinks that his fellow Love Is Blind alums were a bit hard on him and Cole Barnett during the Netflix series’ reunion episode.
10.11.2022 - 17:31 / usmagazine.com
As Love Is Blind fans are still reeling from the finale and reunion special, Zanab Jaffrey got candid about her complicated relationship with Cole Barnett — and how he affected how she felt about herself.
“I did love him. The things he was saying to me did hurt. I was somehow trying to make myself desirable to him, whether it be skinnier, or…” the 32-year-old flight attendant told Variety on Wednesday, November 9, taking a breath and pausing before she continued speaking. “I’ve never had someone speak to me that way about my body or eating. That was very real for me. I did change what I was eating. I was just eating a banana. I did lose weight by the wedding day. It had nothing to do with fitting into my wedding dress.”
During Wednesday’s reunion, Zanab called it Cole’s “saving grace” that the Netflix series didn’t include all of their tense moments. She then alleged that her then-fiancé pushed food away from her, tried to “control” what she ate and made “daily comments about [her] face and body [that] were not used.”
When he denied her claims, she added: “And that’s great because it really did protect you and you are now denying it and calling me a liar in front of all these people.”
Following several references to the “cuties’ story,” the LIB reunion concluded with the previously unaired scene in which Cole reminded Zanab that they are having a “big ‘ole supper tonight” as she ate two clementines. During the scene, he also seemed confused when she said she hadn’t eaten anything but a banana all day, noting that he offered her a poke bowl.
While speaking to Variety, Zanab reacted to another moment that has made waves among viewers — Cole’s comment that he knew someone named Zanab wouldn’t look like his past girlfriends.
“Ever
Sharing his experience. Bartise Bowden thinks that his fellow Love Is Blind alums were a bit hard on him and Cole Barnett during the Netflix series’ reunion episode.
Not alike! While Love Is Blind’s Zanab Jaffrey and Deepti Vempati both turned downs their respective fiancé’s at the alter — that doesn’t mean the two women are exactly the same.
Cole Barnett is taking some time to focus on himself after Love Is Blind.
Focusing on himself. Love is Blind season 3 alum Cole Barnett revealed that he began therapy after filming of the Netflix show wrapped.
Love Is Blind stars Colleen Reed and Matt Bolton are finally speaking out about those abuse allegations.
More to the story? After Zanab Jaffrey and Cole Barnett’s Love Is Blind breakup sparked controversy over alleged body-shaming comments, Alexa Alfia is weighing in after watching their relationship up close.
A tough situation. Love is Blind star Colleen Reed opened up about watching the way costar Zanab Jaffrey‘s relationship with Cole Barnett took a toll on her self-esteem.
Not a fairy tale. Despite falling in love in the pods, Love Is Blind stars Cole Barnett and Zanab Jaffrey‘s relationship was anything but a happy ending.
Zanab Jaffrey is firing back at her ex-fiancé Cole Barnett and the internet after facing backlash for the Love Is Blind reunion! *Warning – possible spoilers ahead!*
Weighing in. The Love Is Blind women fervently defended pal Zanab Jaffrey after she accused her ex-fiancé, Cole Barnett, of body-shaming during the season 3 reunion — and they are not backing down.
An unconventional match. Colleen Reed and Matt Bolton found their forever on season 3 of Love Is Blind — but the journey wasn’t always easy.
Eating his words? Love Is Blind‘s Cole Barnett took ex-fiancée Zanab Jaffrey‘s claims about her self-worth to heart.
The aftermath of the Love Is Blind reunion continues. Cole Barnett and Zanab Jaffrey are both speaking out as fans react to the now-infamous “cuties’ scene.”
Things were tense between exes at the Love Is Blind season 3 reunion. Both Zanab Jaffrey and Nancy Rodriguez weren’t afraid to call out their former fiancés — Cole Barnett and Bartise Bowden, respectively — when the group gathered for the Wednesday, November 9, special.
Not looking back. Zanab Jaffrey doesn’t need anything from ex-fiancé Cole Barnett after their tumultuous relationship played out on Love Is Blind.
Despite proposing to Zanab Jaffrey on Love Is Blind, Cole Barnett later admitted that he thought fellow contestant Colleen Reed was more attractive — to his fiancée’s face.