Love Is Blind season 9 participant Joe Ferrucci is experiencing the pain of watching the show unfold again alongside viewers.
“I’ve significantly reduced my alcohol intake to avoid embarrassing myself weekly,” Joe shared in an exclusive chat with Us Weekly on Friday, October 10.
In the initial episodes released earlier this month, Joe was involved in a drunken argument with his fiancée strong>Madison Maidenberg while in Mexico. The second batch of footage showcases his critiques on costar Nick Amato regarding his supposed bedroom performance with fiancée Annie Lancaster during a spontaneous confessional.
“It’s been a gradual process,” Joe remarked about cutting back on drinking. “I felt the need to ease off. That period was quite eventful and paired with the pressure of being on the show. I think I leaned on alcohol to cope, which was certainly not the healthiest choice. I admit that I made some comments about Nick and I did reach out to apologize.”
Joe revealed that Nick reached out to him following the airing of the episode, where Joe made comments like, “I don’t f*** with him too much” and “Nick only does missionary… at least Brenden diversifies his moves.” (Joe shares a close friendship with Brenden, who was still processing his relationship with Annie.)
“I hadn’t seen the episode when Nick contacted me,” Joe shared with Us. “I definitely regretted those comments afterward. They were inappropriate. While some people online may find it amusing, it’s not something I would want said about myself.”
Madison Maidenberg and Joe Ferrucci. Courtesy of Netflix
“I was quite close with Brenden. He’s a good friend, and still is today. I felt a bit heartbroken for him regarding his situation. I realize I might have been too harsh on Nick. He has a kind heart and is definitely one of a kind. Sometimes personalities just don’t align well,” Joe explained further.
Nick shared with Us that he watched the initial blowup with his eyes shielded, recalling how difficult it was to witness.
“It was cringeworthy to experience live as well. I got quite drunk at the party and ended up in a conversation where I was far from coherent. I sensed she was expecting something from me that night, but I just couldn’t deliver,” he admitted.
Joe is confident that their initial dispute is simply a temporary setback in their relationship. “What viewers might not understand is the condensed timeline—after spending days in the pods, we had just 48 hours before meeting each other. I saw it as an opportunity to unwind a bit. However, I did overdo it. I view it as just a minor hiccup. We’ve faced more disagreements, and our communication styles vary greatly… We’re both making efforts, and I was genuinely trying my best during the whole experience. It was challenging,” he shared.
Fans will have to stay tuned to find out if Joe and Madison make it down the aisle, as new episodes of Love Is Blind are set to premiere on Netflix every Wednesday.