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Newsweek
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
'Love Is Blind' Fans Sick of Dating Apps Try New Way—For Some, It Works
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Friends Tolu and Ife are both 27, live in the UK, and are Love Is Blind fans. They're also both single, which is what brings them to a dimly lit bar in the bustling centre of London to test the real-life version of Netflix's flagship dating "experiment" show ahead of season 2 of the UK version. Outside the bar, a line stretches onto the streets of Soho, the iconic central district of the English capital, with many voicing the same frustration: fatigue with the current dating game. "I think the worst part about dating right now is the lack of commitment. I think everybody's a bit scared these days," said Tolu, a learning development coach from Essex. Love Is Blind offers an alternative. The format sees around 20 contestants separated by gender into living quarters for 10 days during which their sole focus is to date the other contestants without ever seeing them, with the goal of getting engaged and progressing to the next stage of the show. The engaged couples go on a trip, then live together in their home towns, meet friends and family, and ultimately decide whether or not to go through with a wedding, determining whether—as the hosts frequently remind viewers—love really is truly blind. Tolu's friend, Ife, a solutions architect at a cloud tech company, based in North West London, was thrilled at the chance to step into the real-life pods as part of the promotional event hosted by Netflix in collaboration with Thursday Dating, a UK-based app that organizes weekly singles events. "Love is Blind is my dream reality TV show to be on. I feel like it's a very good style of dating," she said. But, much like in the show, which has only seen a few couples remain married, the event proved that when it comes to dating, there is no one-size-fits-all solution—even at a time when singles are more disenchanted with dating apps than ever. Inside the Real-Life Pods The pod attendees of the event entered to see whether they could form a connection blindly. The pod attendees of the event entered to see whether they could form a connection blindly. Lydia Patrick/Lydia Patrick Like in the show, the pods—small booths separated by a curtain—forced participants to rely on conversation alone to gauge whether a spark could form. Prompt cards encouraged deeper discussion, and after each session, participants pressed a red or green button to indicate if they wanted to meet their date face-to-face. Both Tolu and Ife said they've been making an active effort to attend more in-person dating events, believing it cuts out the nonsense and is a foolproof way of immediately ascertaining whether there is a connection. It appears they are part of a wider shift as more people are stepping away from swiping. A Forbes-backed survey from May 2025 found 79% of Gen Zers who had used dating apps in the past year experienced "dating app burnout," and Eventbrite reported over 1.5 million searches for "dating" and "singles events" in just one year. Tami, 30, from Camden, who works in finance, was trying out the pods after ending a long-term relationship last year. "I'm not on dating apps, so I prefer to meet people in real life and chat to see if we get on," Tami told Newsweek. "Every time I've been to one of these events before, we always meet really nice people, and you never know where it can go. You'll know straight away whether you get on with someone, so you're not wasting your time small-talking back and forth and trying to arrange a date." The Love is Blind UK hosts, Matt and Emma Willis. The Love is Blind UK hosts, Matt and Emma Willis. Lydia Patrick/Lydia Patrick Kajal, 29, and Cameron, 26, are also disillusioned with dating apps, which led them to try the pods. "It's empty. There's nothing in it. On dating apps, there's no soul in it. These are photos, these are words, but even when you talk to them, it's an incomplete form of communication. There's nothing really coming back and forth," Cameron told Newsweek. "I've been single since December, and I've dated two people since. Honestly, I feel like they tend to end not respectfully, and I don't feel like I was treated the way that I deserve through apps," added Kajal, a support engineer. Kajal entered the pod and caught a quick glimpse of Cameron's black size 11 sneakers under the curtain—something she "approved immediately." "The pod experience felt quite natural to me. I felt like it had quite a calming energy," she told Newsweek. The two began with general conversation before moving on to the prompt cards, which sparked deeper discussion. One card read: "Would you go to bed angry?" Cameron said he would, preferring to wake up emotionally regulated and with a fresh perspective. Kajal preferred resolving issues before bed—though she respected her partner needing time to process. Despite their different approaches, the discussion helped them find common ground, and they plan to keep talking and see where their initial spark might lead. Does the Experiment Work? Love Is Blind premiered in February 2020 on Netflix, and instantly caused a stir. As COVID-19 led to shutdowns across the world shortly after, more people were tuning in to easy-watching TV, and the first season of the show became one of the streaming platform's biggest successes of the year. In the years since, multiple splin-offs have aired in different territories, including Brazil, Japan, and Sweden. In 2024, season 1 of Love Is Blind UK produced drama, scandal, and memes—but also real love stories. Among the romantic successes: Benaiah and Nicole, who are still married, and Jasmine and Bobby, who are expecting a baby. For others, the pods were transformative in different ways. Demi Santana Brown, 32, from Southeast London, sees her season as a success—even though it didn't end in marriage. "Season 1 was a self-love journey, even though I was there to find a husband and fall in love. I did connect with someone, but we didn't get married. The lesson I learned was how to love yourself. It was beautiful to be in that experience and learn as I went along. It was an experience I didn't know I needed, and I'm forever grateful for it," Demi told Newsweek. After the experiment, she took a year of celibacy before returning to the "cold streets" of dating—this time with clearer intentions. "The physical side of things is not a priority. It's like third on the list. I want to know someone for who they are because, at the end of the day, when the lights go off at night, you're not going to see that person. It's the person you're having deep conversations with. You want an emotional connection and to feel safe." As for the singles looking for love in the London (untelevised) pods, the experience was mixed. For Tami, the pod date was unsuccessful, as she found the conversation one-sided. Daniel, 32, also didn't find love, likening the experience to "sparking conversation in a sauna." "Once I exited the pod, I felt a bit more air, so I felt less lightheaded. It wasn't love at first sight, unfortunately, but she seemed like a nice person." But Kajal and Cameron were positive about the experience. "I very much encourage in-person events because it gives you the opportunity to actually get to know someone's energy and their charisma," Kajal told Newsweek. She added, "Someone might not be attractive in a picture, but their confidence, the way that they're attracted to you, their hobbies, and interests in person, and having that one-to-one connection and feeling that vibe is something you don't really get from an app. Also, when you come to these events, you know that person cares enough to show up in person." Love Is Blind UK season 2 premiered Wednesday, August 13, on Netflix, following the journeys of more single participants taking an unconventional path to lasting love.
BBC News
21-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Why court strike out di case against former Ife Queen and odas for di Ibadan stampede wey kill children
Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, on Thursday, strike out di charges against former Queen Naomi Ogunwusi, radio presenter Oriyomi Hamzat and di Principal of Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan, Abdullahi Fasasi. Dem bin enta court gbege sake of di tragic Christmas funfair wey claim di lives of 35 children for Ibadan, di Oyo State capital, last year. But wen di mata come up again on Thursday, Justice Ladiran Akintola wey sidon on top di mata bin order make dem release di international passports of di defendants. Di judge advise di defendants make dem dey guided and avoid dat kain issues for future. Di Oyo State Attorney-General, Abiodun Aikomo, wen e tok to tori pipo afta di court session, describe di incident wey cause di death of plenti children as unfortunate. E say di law, wen death happun for circumstances wey no natural, go take im course. "So di state bin respond by filing charges against di pesins wey dey implicated for di investigation." Aikomo say dem comot di case afta di families wey e affect show pity for di pipo wey dem accuse and beg make dem cancel am. E confam say some families don collect compensation, and dem don return di documents wey dem seize. On Monday 13 January di Oyo State High Court bin grant di former Queen of Ife, Naomi Ogunwusi, bail in di sum of 10 million naira wit two sureties. Justice BK Olawoyin wey preside ova di case also grant Oriyomi Hamzat and Abdullahi Fasasi bail in di sum of 10 million naira wit two sureties respectively. Oda conditions for dia bail be say dia sureties go get landed property for Ibadan. Court ask di defendants to submit dia international passports and say make dem no grant any media interview until di conclusion of di case. Background of di tori Queen Naomi bin organise one annual food distribution program last year for no less dan five thousand children for Ibadan, wit di aim to make dis Christmas a happy one for dem. At least 35 children die and many more injure, before di event bin start due to stampede. Those wey attend di event bin tell BBC say e neva tey wen di program start wen di stampede shele. Dis no be di first time wey di Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi go host dat kain event. Na evri year she dey run di programme under her charitable organization, Women in Need of Guidance and Support (WINGS). Anoda eyewitness bin say di crowd too plenty and many pipo bin dey locked out. She say those wey arrive early bin dey allowed to enta while larger group wey later arrive bin dey locked outside. "Wen di founder of Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat, finally arrive for di venue, di security open di gate. For dat moment, di waiting crowd seize di opportunity to force dia way through di narrow entrance, wey lead to di stampede," di eyewitness bin tok. Anoda eyewitness also say na crowd wey rush inside wen Hamzat enta cause di stampede. "We don dey gate since 5:00am. If to say dem open gate wen we arrive, wetin happun for no happun, no pikin for die. "Na bifor 6:00am Oriyomi arrive. Di gateman no wan give Oriyomi key, Oriyomi snatch di key from am and open di gate. Na wen e open di gate pipo rush inside and begin fall ontop each oda. Oriyomi kon begin help dem. By di time I see my pikin, dem don crush am, e don shit, di pikin don die," she tok. Na on Thursday 19 December di Oyo State Police Command bin arrest Olori Naomi Ogunwusi and odas sake of di tragedy. For statement wey dem release, di police tok say na 35 pipo bin die for di stampede. "So far, thirty-five minors don dey documented to don die while six odas dey critically injured and on various medical interventions," di statement tok. Apart from di ex-queen wey be di main sponsor of di event, seven odas including di school principal also dey police custody, di statement bin tok. Di police bin say dem transfer di case to di Homicide Section of di State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku and add say na di Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge dey lead di investigations. Justice Olabisi Ogunkanmi of di Iyaganku Magistrate Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, bin order di remand of former Ile-Ife Queen, Naomi Silekunola, and Oriyomi Hamzat, wey be senior manager of one radio station in Ibadan, for custody. Dem keep dem for Agodi Prison for Oyo State.
BBC News
27-01-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
'I no want make Dele Farotimi go prison' - Afe Babalols resolve to withdraw defamation case
Ogbonge lawyer for Nigeria, Afe Babalola, go withdraw di libel suit wey e sama on top Dele Farotimi who be lawyer and civil rights activist, sake of say Farotimi allegedly accuse am of bribing judges to give judgement wey go favour am. Tori tok say Babalola wey dey 95 years old now agree to comot di matter for court afta di Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, bin intervene for di matter. Afta di meeting wey oda traditional rulers for Ekiti State bin also attend on Sunday, oga Babalola tok say im go tell im lawyers to discontinue di matter. Di formal withdrawal process suppose happen dis Monday for di Ekiti State High court, Ado Ekiti, and BBC Pidgin dey monitor di proceedings. Oga Babalola tok say many top political and religious leaders bin don beg am to drop di charges but e no gree, however, e dey gree for Oba Ogunwusi now sake of im respect for di Yoruba tradition. "(Former President Olusegun) Obasanjo don write, and e come hia, I say no. Wen (Bishop Mathew Hassan) Kukah call me for phone and also come hia, I say no, but for dis occassion, I say yes. Thank you Kabiyesis. I go speak to my lawyers to withdraw am," Babalola tok according to Punch Newspaper. "I no go gain anytin if dem imprison am (Farotimi). I no go gain anytin from di so-called damages. I no dey look for more wealth, rather na how to spend wetin I get for di benefit of odas." Also, one senior lawyer for di law firm of oga Afe Babalola confirm dis recent development to BBC Pidgin say, however, e say some of im lawyers no gree wit dia principal. Some lawyers wey also dey invole for dis matter tok say wetin Oga Babalola tok na im personal decision, and dem go kontinu wit dia own cases for court especially as Farotimi also follow defame some of dem. "Di lawyers go meet later to deliberate, harmonise and issue one joint statement on how dem go proceed wit di matter," di source wey plead anonymity tok. Background of di tori In December 2024, di Nigeria Police from Ekiti State command bin arrest Dele Farotimi, popular human rights lawyer, from im office in Lagos and carry am to Ekiti State wia dem detain am for some days bifor dem arraign am for court. Di police say Farotimi arrest na sake of petition wey Afe Babalola bin file against am wia e accuse am of defamation and libel. Farotimi bin write one book - Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System' - wia e accuse oga Afe Babalola say e corrupt Supreme Court to procure fraudulent judgement for im clients. In total, di police sama 16 counts of offence on top Farotimi head, one dem be say e use di book wey e publish to "push false allegation wey go wunjure di Senior Advocate (Afe Ababalola) reputation and cause am hatred, contempt, ridicule and damage to im profession". Farotimi plead not guilty to di charges and di court remand am for prison. Dem later grant am bail to di sum of N50 million and two sureties on December 9, but na until December 24 bifor dem release am afta e meet di bail conditions. However, two oda senior lawyers from di Afe Babalola media firm bin don file separate law suits against Farotimi, on top di same libel and defamation allegation for two separate locations. One of dem na Kehinde Ogunwumiju a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who file im case for di Federal Capital Territory High Court for Abuja. Oga Ogunwumiju ask di court to order Farotimi to pay am ₦500 million in damages and also for di court to order make dem stop to dey sell di book for bookshops and on top Amazon. Di second suit na by Ola Faro, anoda lawyer for Afe Babalola lwa firm, and e file dis one for Rivers State High Court for Port Harcourt, asking for N600 million in damages from Dele Farotimi. Asides from di court cases, di Afe Babalola law firm bin don write 90-page petition to di Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) asking dem to disbar Dele Farotimi sake of say e "engage in conduct wey dey unbecoming of a legal practitioner by making false accusations against di Supreme Court and di legal profession".
