Netflix apologized to subscribers after the ‘live’ Love is Blind reunion was delayed over an hour before finally streaming… but no longer live.
The reunion episode – scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET and be hosted by Love is Blind emcees Nick and Vanessa Lachey – led viewers only to a screen that says: ‘There’s an issue with the live stream.’
‘Hang tight! We’re trying to fix it as soon as possible,’ the message continues.
The show finally started just after 9:15 p.m. with Vanessa Lachey apologizing to viewers and admitting the show was now airing in a live-to-tape format.
‘I want to say, we are sorry we’re late. We are no longer live but we are here!’ with husband Nick exclaiming: ‘yes, finally!’
At around 9:30 p.m., Netflix tweeted out a statement.
‘To everyone who stayed up late, woke up early, gave up their Sunday afternoon… we are incredibly sorry that the Love is Blind Live Reunion did not turn out as we had planned,’ they tweeted.
‘We’re filming it now and we’ll have it on Netflix as soon as humanly possible. Again, thank you and sorry.’
Netflix subscribers took to social media to express their outrage after the live Love is Blind reunion special – only the second live event in the service’s history – has been delayed well over an hour
‘All of you at home, you haven’t missed a thing. We’ve actually been sitting here on these couches not talking to each other,’ Vanessa joked.
Variety confirmed the live-to-tape, saying that the show was only airing live at a viewing party at The Vermont Hollywood.
The only previous live streaming event in Netflix’s history was Chris Rock‘s comedy special, Selective Outrage, which aired without a hitch on March 4.
The delay led to outrage online posted by everyone from comedians to journalists to members of Congress.
MSNBC host Chris Hayes wrote: ‘Would love to read the oral history of this evening inside Netflix.’
Comedian Desus Nice shared a meme of Tory Lanez’s father and posted: ‘NETFLIX YOU WILL CRUMBLE!’
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez referenced the series finale, in which a seamstress was able to save one of the weddings by refitting a tuxedo with less than an hour to go.
‘Someone call Lucia the seamstress to fix this. I believe in her,’ the left-wing representative tweeted.
The delay of the Nick and Vanessa Lachey-hosted show led to outrage online posted by everyone from comedians to journalists to members of Congress
Variety confirmed the live-to-tape, saying that the show was only airing live at a viewing party in Hollywood
An account replying to her chimed in: ‘I expect a full Congressional hearing on this Love is Blind fiasco. the American people deserve better.’
One Twitter user pointed out how Netflix had squandered their opportunity to keep viewership once another addictive television show began on a different streamer.
‘Meanwhile, ima turn on HBO Max in 15 minutes and #Succession is going to be waiting for me in 4K, you should be ashamed of yourselves @netflix,’ wrote Jomi Adeniran.
Another quote tweeted host Nick Lachey tweeting earlier Sunday asking ‘Who’s ready?!’ by quipping ‘literally everyone except Netflix!’
DailyMail.com has reached out to Netflix for further comment.
Chloe Veitch and Chris Burns speak onstage at the VIP Watch Party and Celebration for “Love Is Blind: The Live Reunion” held at The Vermont Hollywood
Zack Goytowski attends the Love Is Blind cast celebration of Netflix’s First Live Reunion with The Iconic Pods at The Brig
The mega-streamer has been promoting the reunion special for over two weeks, especially hyping the hoped for live element.
‘Save the date for this can’t miss LIVE reunion special,’ they said in a press release April 4. ‘Hosts Nick & Vanessa Lachey will join the cast for this front row seat as they unravel all the season’s twists and turns, share reactions to watching their stories unfold, and find out which couples are still together after saying ‘I do’ and ‘I don’t.’
‘Anything could happen! Literally, anything – because it’s LIVE!’
