When a couple only has only 90 days to decide if they want to get married, sometimes the biggest obstacle isn’t their own relationship, but the reactions of their closest family and friends.
TLC’s 90 Day Fiancé has sparked six other spin-offs including 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?, Before The 90 Days, The Other Way, and Pillow Talk, many of which bring back fan-favorite couples who all had their share of skepticism from loved ones. Here is a list of the 5 worst family and friend reactions featured on the show, as well as 5 of the best ones!
Danny’s Dad (Worst)
It’s one thing to be less than thrilled about not meeting your son’s fiancé until days prior to the wedding, but in the case of sugary sweet season 2 couple “Danny and Amy”, Danny’s father is outright cruel. What starts off as a nervous warning that his dad isn’t the biggest fan of interracial marriages, takes the expected spiral downward when Amy and Mr. Frishmuth finally meet.
He repeatedly states that interracial marriages aren’t accepted in the United States and says that he will not treat Amy like a daughter. No one reminds him that this is the mid-2010’s and not, in fact, still the 1950’s. Thankfully, Danny’s mother and siblings show Amy nothing but kindness, proving that the problem indeed is just with Papa Frishmuth himself.
Amy’s Family (Best)
While Danny’s dad is busy spewing less than politically correct nonsense about his son’s relationship with a black woman from South Africa, it would have been completely within their right to feel uncomfortable and even confront him about his rudeness. Instead, Amy’s mother and aunts show him the same patience and love that shines off of Amy in every episode of the season.
Rather than start arguments at the family dinner prior to Amy and Danny’s wedding, Amy’s family makes a genuine effort to meet Mr. Frishmuth halfway. They ignore his racist comments, smiling and laughing through the meal as they share their culture with him, until they finally seem to find common ground and gain his respect.
Mike’s Family (Worst)
It’s difficult for the audience’s heart not to break for shy, 21-year-old Aziza in season 1. Her fiance’s parents openly suspects her of using Mike for a green card and make no effort to welcome her in a way that is comfortable for her. Aziza is reserved and anxious, but eager to please when she meets his family for the first time. Not only does Mike fail to inform them that Aziza has a severe anxiety about eating in front of strangers, but her family shames her it, telling Mike to “make her” eat, then calling her rude for it behind her back.
The cruelty only continues when she’s forced to go to a bachelorette party with the women of Mike’s family and they pressure her to convince them that she loves Mike, only believing that her love for him is real after making her sob in public.
Chelsea’s Parents (Best)
A show like 90 Day Fiancé is bound to be full of dramatic moments, but for every blow-out fight, it’s nice to have a few minutes of relief. Season 2’s relief came in the form of Chelsea’s delightful parents. They are nothing but loving to Yamir from the moment he arrives, treating him like family every step of the way.
When Chelsea is hesitant to move to Chicago for Yamir’s music career, her mother encourages her to think of all that Yamir has given up to be with her before making a decision. The couple has since divorced, but unlike others on the show, it can’t be said that it’s because her parents didn’t approve.
Chantel’s Parents (Worst)
Parents are supposed to be protective of their children, but it’s an entirely different story to try to micro-manage your 25-year old daughter’s life. Chantel’s parents take it too far in season 4.
Despite thinking he is only her boyfriend living there on a student visa, they make no effort to accept him into their lives, continuously interrogating the man who barely speaks English. It only gets worse when Chantel comes clean about the engagement. The family virtually threatens to disown her if she doesn’t force Pedro to sign a prenuptial agreement, which he eventually does.
Evelyn’s Parents (Best)
The relationship between the 18-year old singer Evelyn, and 27-year-old David is a roller coaster of emotions and they spend most of their 90 days arguing about everything from wedding details to where they want to live in the future. Before he arrives, her parents seem excited to meet him and already speak of him like he’s a member of the family.
They even find him a place to stay due to the couple’s faith and desire to abstain from sex until their wedding night. The age difference and online relationship never seems to color the way that the Cormier family treats David, even if they don’t always agree with his opinions. It’s almost suspicious how supportive her parents are of her relationship, but in the end, it feels wholesome.
Matt’s Brothers and Friend (Worst)
One of the roughest parts of watching this show is when you see a nice couple who genuinely seems to be trying to make things work, but their family and friends try to totally sabotage them. Sure, that’s what reality shows are for, but that doesn’t make it any easier to watch a tearful Alla run from a dinner party after her fiancé’s brothers attempt to catch her in a lie.
Throughout season 4, Matt’s brothers and best friend Patrick pelt Alla with leading questions and suspicions to the point of rudeness. Alla clearly doesn’t always have a strong enough understanding of English to defend herself when they try to twist her words. Patrick even leaves them wondering if he’ll make a scene at their wedding.
Matt’s Mother (Best)
It’s hard to go to a new country and leave everyone you know and love behind, especially when you have a 7-year-old son with you. It’s even harder when everyone seems to be against you. Matt and Alla (and their fans) get a much-needed break from Patrick’s negativity and criticism whenever his sweetheart of a mother is on the show. Throughout the season, Matt’s mother regularly spends time with Alla and treats her like a daughter.
She’s one of the only people who isn’t constantly questioning her intentions but lovingly plans her wedding with her, from being the first to see her in her dress, to booking an affordable venue, she encourages them every step of the way.
Elizabeth’s Sisters (Worst)
There’s a difference between being protective of your sister and pulling her back and forth in a tug of war with her future husband in some crazy contest to prove who she likes more. This line is crossed confidently by Elizabeth’s sisters in 90 Day Fiancé season 5. Turned off by how traditional and controlling their sister’s fiancé Andrei is, instead of behaving like adults, Elizabeth’s sisters spend the whole season antagonizing him.
Elizabeth is simply along for the ride, trying to keep the peace between her family and her fiancé, but she reaches a breaking point when her sisters insist on taking away her phone during her bachelorette party weekend and leave a taunting video message for Andrei.
Azan’s Family (Best)
Nicole and Azan’s relationship over season 4 and season 5 is in a word - volatile. They don’t do a lot except for fight, in public and in private. Nicole screams at him in the streets or shoves him, then Azan tells her he doesn’t care about her in an endless back and forth of two people who clearly shouldn’t be together.
Despite Nicole’s blatant disrespect, Azan’s family is always welcoming and hospitable to her. When the young couple gets into uncomfortable arguments, the family acts as gentle mediators, often standing up for Nicole and telling Azan to give her time to adjust. They are definitely more kind to them both than they need to be.
