In this season of 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way, Ariela Weinberg has convinced Biniyam Shibre to follow her to America, but with the way she went about it, Biniyam never really had a choice. Fans are divided between Ariela and Biniyam, as there are valid criticisms about both of them. However, Ariela knows Biniyam’s history and she used her position to strong-arm him into doing what she wanted. Though Biniyam certainly isn’t innocent when it comes to the problems in his relationship with Ariela, the 90 Day Fiancé star still deserved a chance to have a fair discussion about their future.
Ariela and Biniyam have always had a rocky relationship, but during season 3, tensions between them have been growing. Earlier in the season, Ariela invited her ex-husband to stay with them and seemed to purposefully be trying to make Biniyam uncomfortable. Biniyam later behaved horribly after Ariela went back to New Jersey with their son Avi, leaving many viewers (and Ariela) believing he had cheated. On the show, Ariela recently agreed to meet up with Biniyam in Kenya and is giving him a second chance, but only if he moves to America with her on the K-1 visa.
When Ariela confronted Biniyam about leaving Africa, it was hard for some viewers to watch, because it was so clear that Ariela had all the leverage in the conversation. Whether or not he cheated on Ariela, Biniyam's back was up against the wall, and he had no choice but to agree with her. What Ariela had with Biniyam wasn’t a discussion, but an ultimatum. She didn’t give Biniyam room to disagree — it was Ari’s way or the highway. Because the decision to move to America was so one-sided, Ariela runs the risk of seeding resentment in Biniyam for making him leave his home.
There are rumors that Ariela and Biniyam are living in New York, so perhaps Biniyam is okay with moving to the US, but the fact is that Ariela did not go about it well. Ariela is well-aware of Biniyam’s past and how hurt he was when his ex took Biniyam's other son away from him and moved back to America. Ariela was being extremely manipulative in her handling of the situation because she knows Biniyam would do anything to stay in their son Aviel’s life. There was no chance Biniyam would have refused her. Ariela’s desire to leave the continent is completely different than what the couple initially agreed upon, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Biniyam saw her change in heart as a bait-and-switch.
Although it may have been a good idea for Ariela and Biniyam to leave Ethiopia, the way Ariela went about getting Biniyam to follow her to America was totally unfair. Biniyam at least deserved to have a say in the decision, and Ariela only offered him an ultimatum. It doesn’t bode well that the 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way stars' new life in America started with coercion, but for Aviel’s sake, hopefully, his parents can make their relationship work in a different country.
90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on TLC.