In a recent interview on "The Mindful Space" podcast, "Love Is Blind" season two cast member Danielle Ruhl said that she became "super depressed" while filming during the pods stage of the Netflix reality dating series and "gained 20 pounds" because producers would ask her questions that made her insecure.
"I don't think that people recognize that during the filming process there are certain things that negatively impact your mental health," Danielle said at about the 16-minute mark of the podcast below. "And for my specific example, when you're doing an interview, there is someone who is saying, 'how do you feel about yourself?' ... 'Do you think that someone's going to stay with you because they think that you're going to gain it [weight] again? Do you think your insecurities are going to scare someone away?'"
"I hadn't talked about specific traumas, but there are certain things that had happened in my past that they knew. And they would talk about that over and over and over again. So, during the filming process I actually gained 20 pounds because sometimes when I'm super depressed I still turn to food," she continued.
Netflix didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
Earlier in the interview, she talked about how her childhood, teenage, and college experiences informed her body image and self-esteem throughout her life.
"My mom was a model, my dad was an athlete," Danielle said, noting that she felt pressure from many people in her family to have a specific "physical image."
"They didn't care about how I was thinking or my grades," she said. She said she started an extreme diet and exercise routine to cope with the pressure of sorority culture. The advertising professional said she'd throw up blood because she wasn't eating enough, but would still drink alcohol.
Danielle married "Love Is Blind" castmate Nick Thompson on June 8, 2021, according to People. She filed for divorce from Nick in August 2022. She said she sought mental health treatment after college and wasn't practicing unhealthy eating habits before joining the cast. Her body image issues were part of her storyline on the show.
She had a panic attack that was documented on the show and said that initially, her experience on "Love Is Blind" had a negative impact on her mental health. But when she began speaking out, her fans and followers "changed my life" by sharing that they've had similar mental health issues.
"Love Is Blind" season four premieres on Netflix on March 24.
If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, call the ANAD Helpline (1-888-375-7767) on weekdays for support, resources, and information about treatment options. In crisis situations, you can get support 24/7 through the Crisis Text Line — just text "HOME" to 741741.
