From JDSupra, Richard Reibstein discusses a lawsuit filed by a contestant on “Love is Blind” alleging that Netflix and other production companies misclassified participants as independent contrators instead of employees. Richard writes:
SECOND IC MISCLASSIFICATION ATTACK ON TV REALITY SHOW. A contestant on the Netflix reality TV series “Love is Blind” has filed a class action lawsuit in California state court against Netflix and other production companies alleging Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) claims and violations of California wage and hour laws due to misclassification of reality show participants as ICs instead of employees. The plaintiff brought the action on behalf of himself and any individuals such as contestants, participants, or cast members who applied for and/or participated in all non-scripted content (reality shows) produced on behalf of Netflix and Kinetic Content within a specific time period. According to the class action complaint, the companies exercised substantial control over every aspect of the cast’s lives during production, including among other things, the cast’s time, access to food and drinks, sleeping arrangements, and contact with family and friends and other persons outside of production. The complaint further asserts that “[a]s a result of Defendants’ encouraging the cast to perform work in a hazardous work environment while in an altered mental state, Defendants failed to provide a safe and healthful place of employment.” This case is not the first challenge to the cast’s worker classification. As discussed in our blog post of December 14, 2024, the National Labor Relations Board’s regional director issued a complaint against the companies that created and produce the “Love is Blind” TV series, contending that the contestants on the show were misclassified as ICs instead of employees. Richardson v. Kinetic Content, LLC, No. 25STcv27096 (Super. Ct. Los Angeles County Sept. 15, 2025).
