Like every other Love is Blind season 8 viewer, I really struggled to believe those four diverse and lovely individuals were Ben’s real friends and not paid actors. After all, this is the man who hesitated to say he accepts LGBTQ+ folks and claimed he just “stays out of” Black Lives Matter. And yet, he somehow managed to befriend people of color and queer people?? I was 100 percent expecting to see a group of balding, washed up athletes with MAGA vibes when Ben introduced Sara to his friends.

The paid actor theory quickly gained popularity online, and one of Ben’s friends, Lana, has now responded to the rumor. So, did Ben actually hire DEI friends for Love is Blind?? Here’s what Lana said.

Did Ben Hire Diverse Friends For Love Is Blind?

Ben’s Friend Lana Responds To “DEI Hired Friend” Love Is Blind Rumors

In a February 23 TikTok, Lana shared slideshow photos of her and Ben hanging out together over the last few years. The photos are from Christmas celebrations, bars, and outdoor locations in Minneapolis and Fort Lauderdale, Floria. “Not a DEI hired friend!” she clarified, adding, “Time & date stamps to prove my friendship with @Ben Mezzenga.” Ben’s friend joked, “If only I was a paid actor!” Alrighty then, but… Why would she be Ben’s friend?? I’m lost.

Someone commented on the post, asking Lana if she’s had any “hard conversations about politics” with Ben. Lana replied, “Definitely have before AND after filming of this because as a woman and POC, politics are very important to me.” When another person asked how she feels about Ben’s pod comments about politics, Lana shared a lengthy reply. “I hope no one gets it twisted but I am a liberal through and through,” she wrote in response. “I was shocked to see what he said in the pods as that has never been his personality because he is a supporter of social causes.” Um… huh??

Lana continued, “Not dismissing the not voting either but that was also the 2020 election before I knew him so that wasn’t something that we had talked about.” She defended Ben further, arguing that “everyone gets nervous when the cameras are on them.” Forget hired friend — now, I feel like she’s a hired PR professional, lol.

@olivegardensaveme idkkkkk #loveisblind #loveisblindnetflix #loveisblindtok ♬ original sound – Mountain mama

Ben and Sara’s chat with his friends on the show was just… so convenient. When Sara expressed her concern about Ben’s faith preventing him from accepting her gay sister, his friend, Leah Johnson, chimed in: “I have a girlfriend.” Lana then described herself as “agnostic” and recalled having a deep convo with Ben about religion and spirituality. “We sat and we talked for like 45 minutes,” she said during their group chat. “It felt so, like, energizing.”

I’m still extremely confused about this friend group’s association with Ben, but hey, maybe he’s a completely different person around his friends than he is on the show.