Love Is Blind's Nicole Stevens Announces Split From Benaiah Grunewald Brydie

Nicole Stevens, a participant from the first season of Love Is Blind: UK, announced her split from Benaiah Grunewald Brydie on Monday, stating she was "devastated" they had "reached this point." The couple had been together for three years.

Stevens, 32, shared the news in a statement, asking for privacy as she navigates the situation. "For those who have followed and supported our journey, I wanted to let you know that Ben and I have separated," she wrote. "I feel devastated that we've reached this point. For now, my focus is on moving forward, and I'd appreciate privacy and understanding as I navigate what comes next. Thank you for all the love and support you've shown us over the years. I'm so grateful, and I don't take it for granted. Sending love to you all."

Stevens and Grunewald, 36, rose to fame on the Netflix series. On the show, Stevens initially accepted a proposal from another contestant, Sam Klein, but later ended that engagement to pursue a relationship with Grunewald. They officially married in September 2023 during the show's Season 1 finale.

Last August, Stevens spoke positively about their relationship. "Before the show, I'd never have dreamed of marrying a man I'd only just met," she said at the time. "In the early days of married life, I constantly wondered: 'How have I gone from not knowing this man to him being my husband, someone I have to be accountable to (and him to me), in the space of a few weeks?' It was mind-blowing. But, luckily, it turns out my instincts were correct. Ben really has turned out to be the man I want to spend the rest of my days with."

Grunewald echoed similar sentiments, stating: "I love Nicole, she's everything I could have wished for in a wife. Our route to marriage may have been unconventional, but I feel incredibly lucky that we found each other."

The show, Love Is Blind, involves participants dating and getting to know each other for ten days from separate pods, communicating only through a wall. If a couple decides to get engaged, they then meet face-to-face for the first time and spend a week together at a couples' retreat to build their intimacy and connection.

Speaking about their experience, Grunewald previously described their connection in the pods as an emotional, spiritual, and mental bond that bypassed physical appearance. "It's the polar opposite of meeting someone on dating apps which I've always found shallow. Everything is based on appearance, leaving you wondering if the next person might be a bit better looking," he remarked.

Despite her eventual marriage to Grunewald, Klein was Stevens' initial choice on the show. However, after accepting his proposal, she rescinded it upon meeting him. She later reconnected with Grunewald in the pods, leading to his proposal and their subsequent marriage.