Jarrette Jones and Iyanna McNeely.Photo: Adam Rose/Netflix
Love is Blind’sIyanna McNeelyis opening up about her divorce fromJarrette Jones.
“I’m okay, and getting better,” McNeely said after being asked how she’s doing during Friday’s episode of theDiary of An Empathpodcast. McNeely and Jonesannounced their splittwo weeks ago after a year of marriage.
The reality star revealed that right now her biggest struggle is knowing thatLove Is Blind: After the Altarwill premiere on Sept. 16. “I’m going to have to relive a lot of stuff, which is the hardest part of it,” she said.
McNeely continued, explaining that the special’s air date forced them to ask some important questions. “Every time something like the season premiere coming out orAfter the Altarcoming out, there’s always the knowing that the security of our marriage will be in the spotlight again,” she said.
She added, “We’ve given it a year, we’ve experienced the same issues repeatedly.”
McNeely then went on to speculate what could’ve happened if the show wasn’t looming over their heads. “I think if the cameras weren’t there or if we didn’t have to deal withAfter the Altarthen I think we would have just had a lot more time to figure it out.”
Charles Sykes/Bravo/Getty
This week, on the newest episode of her podcast,Feel in the Blank, theLove Is Blindalum opened up about the reaction she received from fans after she and Jones announced their separation.
Speaking to her co-host Kayla Scott and their guest, fellowLove Is BlindstarNatalie Lee, McNeely revealed that her followers' reaction to her post was so hurtful that it brought her to tears.
McNeely, who met and wed Jones during the Netflix hit’s second season, went on to explain how the response from fans “was overwhelming.”
“[People] are so mean,” she noted. “It’s making assumptions about people who you don’t know. And then, still, the annoying part of basing their opinions on our combined screen time of a 10-episode show, and using whatever excuse that is to explain a year-and-a-half relationship.”
“After that day, though, I learned my lesson,” she continued. “I turned off all of my notifications and I’ve been fine ever since.”
RELATED VIDEO: ‘Love Is Blind’ ’s Iyanna McNeely and Jarrette Jones Announce Split
Two weeks ago, McNeely and Jones announced their split via Instagram, explaining that they reached the decision after “much thought” and planned to “begin the process of divorcing.”
“While we have love for each other, our lives are going in different directions, and that’s okay,” the statement read, in part. “Coming to this decision was far from easy and we will always wish each other the absolute best.”
“We hope you all give us some space as we close this chapter of our lives,” they continued, before thanking loved ones and theirLove Is Blindfamily for their support. “This experience has taught us so much about ourselves, vulnerability and love. We don’t regret a single thing!”
McNeely and Jones met through the pods on the Netflix hit’s second season, which aired earlier this year. Jones also developed a connection with Mallory Zapata, but he ultimately picked McNeely in the end and the two got engaged.
While the coupleeventually made it down the aisle, they experienced some bumps leading up to their wedding day. The two Chicago natives worried about the differing lifestyles clashing, but ultimately chose to comprise to make their love work.
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However, asshown in the newLove Is Blind: After the Altarteaser, things got rocky for McNeely and Jones not long after tying the knot.
“Marriage is not easy. If anybody tries to tell you it is, that’s a lie,” Jones said in the trailer, which was released last week, while McNeely added, “Is this a mistake that we made? Or, is it something that should be fought for?”
source: people.com
