Love Is Blind participant Kacie McIntosh expressed her desire to “protect” Patrick Suzuki during their emotional separation on the series.
<spanAt 34, Kacie accepted a proposal from Patrick, 31, without ever seeing him, but the hair and makeup artist from Colorado ended their relationship soon after they met face-to-face.
She cited her decision as stemming from a lack of physical chemistry, admitting in a confessional, “He deserves someone better than me. He is not bad-looking at all, but he deserves someone who is really into him. Unfortunately, I don’t believe I can develop much attraction for him, and that’s disappointing.”
In a revealing interview with People on October 6, Kacie shared her regrets about how she handled the breakup with Patrick on the show.
“I was trying to spare his feelings and insecurities, but I realize now that it may have come across as confusing,” she reflected. “It may have seemed like gaslighting, which is my biggest regret. No one understood what I was feeling in that moment. I’m a romantic at heart, and for a moment, I thought, ‘Maybe this could work in Denver.’ But I truly regret making him feel even more insecure about his concerns, and for not being straightforward about my feelings.”
Kacie elaborated, “Nobody wants to tell someone directly, ‘I’m not sure the attraction will develop. Let’s just go home.’ I didn’t want to break his heart at that moment after we had finally met.”
When discussing whether Patrick was her first choice during the pods, she confirmed, “Absolutely. He was my number two on day one, and I have it written in my notes. My top choice then was Blake, but I really can’t recall how much we talked back then. It was mainly Patrick who had my attention throughout the experience.”
Kacie noted that they shared a strong bond over various interests, saying, “We clicked on numerous levels—our love for travel, our zest for life, our desire to engage in exciting experiences together. I admired his ability to articulate his thoughts and his work ethic; I was genuinely impressed by him on many levels.”
Since the recent episodes of Love Is Blind began airing, Kacie has faced criticism from fans regarding her breakup with Patrick, who showed his support for her through an Instagram Story on October 4.
In his message, he commented, “Hey everyone, I’ve been seeing the comments and DMs; I’m truly thankful for all the love and support. I’ll try to respond to everyone. Always remember that we’re all human.”
Kacie shared with People that, “I know I’m receiving a lot of negativity right now. I wore my emotions openly during this process. I did my best, and I’m human. This was a unique experiment that just wasn’t meant to be for me or for Patrick, and I regret that. I recognize that I didn’t handle everything in a way that everyone expected, but I did what felt right to me at the time.”
Kacie affirmed, “I cared for Patrick deeply. We went through this experience together, and I sincerely tried to navigate this unusual situation as best as I could.”
