On Love Is Blind Season 8, Sara Carton and Virginia Miller Overcame the Fear of Saying “NO” by Defending LGBTQ+ and Black Lives Matter
While love may be blind, political differences often aren’t, especially in today’s charged social climate.
Reality TV often thrives on drama, romance, and shocking twists, but sometimes, it offers a stage for profound social conversations. Netflix’s *Love Is Blind* Season 8 turned out to be one such platform when contestants Sara Carton and Virginia Miller took a stand for LGBTQ+ rights and Black Lives Matter. Their journey wasn’t just about finding love; it became a moment of courage and advocacy, proving that saying “NO” to societal expectations is just as important as saying “YES” to love.
Sara Carton and Virginia Miller turned down their respective matches, citing differing political values as the main reason. Their decisions sparked widespread discussion about whether political alignment is essential in romantic relationships.
Both women shocked fans when they both decided against marrying their respective partners, Ben Mezzenga and Devin Buckley. The two women revealed during the season finale that their reluctance was largely influenced by political and social values, sparking an intense debate online about the role of political compatibility in relationships.
Some viewers criticized Carton and Miller for prioritizing politics over romance, while others applauded them for staying true to their values. The political divide in dating has become more pronounced in recent years, with studies showing that 73% of college-educated single women are less likely to date someone who supports Donald Trump, according to the Survey Center on American Life.
This season of Love Is Blind—filmed in Minneapolis—focused on the unique premise of allowing participants to fall in love without seeing each other’s faces. In the “pods,” contestants date while conversing through a wall and meet only after an engagement. From there, they navigate the challenges of deciding whether to proceed to the altar. While political conversations had been relatively sparse in previous seasons, Carton and Miller’s decisions put these issues front and center, leading to debates online.
Notably, conservative commentators like Tomi Lahren and Laura Ingraham criticized Carton’s stance. Ingraham posted on X, “Let’s find him a nice, conservative 20-something girl. He’ll look back and laugh at this.”
Claire Fallon and Emma Gray, co-hosts of the Love To See It podcast, pointed out that this season reflects the political polarization shaping modern relationships. “It’s interesting how we’re seeing the national dating scene mirrored here. It raises the question of how can we settle down with someone if their values clash so deeply with our own?” Fallon remarked.
BEFORE YOU CONTINUE!
Sara Carton and Virginia Miller are showing us the importance of standing firm in our values, even when it comes to love. We believe in supporting individuals who make brave decisions for the greater good, and we stand with both women for their advocacy of LGBTQ+ rights and Black Lives Matter.
As a special offer for our free subscribers, we're offering a 50% discount on our annual plan to help continue the fight for equality, justice, and progressive values. Support our work in amplifying the voices that matter.
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During the "pods," Carton, a 29-year-old oncology nurse, shared that her sister is lesbian and emphasized the importance of finding a partner who supports LGBTQ+ rights. She also discussed her active involvement in the Black Lives Matter movement, which was sparked by the killing of George Floyd in her hometown. Her match, Ben Mezzenga, a 28-year-old developer, expressed a desire to be open-minded but admitted to being “ignorant” about politics and the BLM movement.
After their engagement, Carton introduced Mezzenga to her sister and took him to church to understand his perspective better. However, Carton remained uncertain about their compatibility. At the altar, Carton decided to turn Mezzenga down, explaining, “Ben, I love you so much, but I’ve always wanted a partner to be on the same wavelength. So today, I can’t.”
She later confided in her family, revealing that she was disappointed by his lack of curiosity and his indifferent response to the Black Lives Matter question. “When I asked him about it, he said, ‘I guess I never really thought too much about it.’ That affected me,” she said.
In the reunion, Mezzenga expressed regret, acknowledging that his privilege had hindered his understanding of such issues. “I knew it was important to Sara, and I wanted to be vulnerable about my ignorance. I’m embarrassed about how that conversation went, but I’m thankful that Sara helped me see things differently,” he reflected.
Although they tried dating after the show, Carton and Mezzenga ultimately parted ways. Carton shared that Mezzenga distanced himself after offering what she called “scripted apologies.”
Meanwhile, Miller, a 34-year-old health care recruiter, and Buckley, a 29-year-old youth director, initially avoided political discussions. However, in episode 10, Buckley revealed his conservative family background. Miller explained that while she valued differing opinions, certain political views were non-negotiable for her.
At the altar, Buckley said, “I do,” but Miller hesitated, saying, “I love you so much, but I’m just not ready.” In her confessional, Miller referenced politics without elaborating further, but during the reunion, she revealed more about her core beliefs.
“I 100% support the LGBTQ community. I believe in women’s right to choose, and I think different religions should be valued,” Miller stated. “These issues are fundamental to me.”
Buckley, however, was more willing to look past differences, explaining that relationships don’t need complete political harmony. “In a relationship, I think you can love someone even if you don’t agree on everything. As a Christian, I believe in loving everyone, regardless of their views.”
Ultimately, both Carton and Miller made difficult choices, showing that for some, love cannot truly thrive without political alignment and shared values on critical social issues.
BEFORE YOU WALK AWAY!
Sara Carton and Virginia Miller have shown us the importance of standing firm in our values, even when it comes to love. We believe in supporting individuals who make brave decisions for the greater good, and we stand with both women for their advocacy of LGBTQ+ rights and Black Lives Matter.
As a special offer for our free subscribers, we're offering a 50% discount on our annual plan to help continue the fight for equality, justice, and progressive values. Support our work in amplifying the voices that matter.
Don’t miss out—take advantage of this offer today and become an exclusive part of a movement that stands for what’s right. Click on the offer button below.
Reality TV isn’t known for its deep political statements, but Love Is Blind Season 8 delivered a rare moment of clarity. Contestants Sara Carton and Virginia Miller walked away from their engagements, not because of cold feet, but because their partners failed the test of basic human decency.
Carton, a staunch advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and Black Lives Matter, couldn’t ignore Ben Mezzenga’s indifference to racial justice. When she asked about BLM, he shrugged and said he hadn’t thought about it. That was all she needed to know. Miller, meanwhile, found out too late that her fiancé came from a deeply conservative background and realized she couldn’t compromise on fundamental rights.
Critics whined that they “put politics above love.” But love without shared values isn’t love, it’s tolerance. And some things are not up for debate.
I won't sugarcoat it—this show is one of my absolute favorites. I was genuinely impressed by these young women's strong beliefs and values; their decision to prioritize themselves and not settle for less truly resonated with me. Love is a part of what makes a marriage work; it's fundamentally about trust, companionship, empathy, and having a partner to confide in. Yet, when political views clash, it can significantly strain relationships. These women are choosing with their minds rather than their hearts, and perhaps if more people approached love this way, we’d encounter fewer disappointments. Regardless, this shift in perspective is changing the narrative around relationships.