Ben Rathbun and Mahogany Roca’s surprising kiss on 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days was nauseating for TLC viewers in more ways than one. 52-year-old Ben was rejected yet again by 22-year-old Mahogany after she left their Huacachina trip without telling him.But Ben didn’t want to give up yet, so he followed her to San Bartolo, where Mahogany, who felt he was immature, somehow gave him another chance. Their reconciliation felt fake to fans considering in the previous episodes she claimed she didn’t know the real Ben and didn’t think of him as her boyfriend. However, then came the cringe-worthy kiss that fans think is one of the most awkward moments in 90 Day Fiancé history.
Mahogany is someone who never showed her real face to Ben during their three-month courtship, even when they discussed having kids in the future. Mahogany lied to Ben about her age, her appearance, and where she lives but had an issue with him not telling her about the kind of relationship Ben has with his ex-wife. Mahogany didn’t say “I love you” to Ben and squirmed whenever she hugged him, which were many clues that should have made Ben realize Mahogany is not the one. However, Ben thought Mahogany kissing him put them “back on track.” Since they developed a “physical connection,” Ben thought it would help their relationship in a positive way.
There were other things that Ben said about the kiss with Mahogany that made it horrifying to the viewers. Ben claimed, “I’ve never kissed anyone like that.” He then did the gesture of blowing air through his mouth before calling the kiss “mind-blowing.” This is when the former pastor revealed that the kiss with Mahogany was “hot." Fans such as Redditor CoelhosMimados wrote “This was the CREEPIEST DATE I have ever seen. He asked her to meet him on some dark waterfront and gave her a teddy bear. I just can't.” A few viewers wondered if Ben is the kind of guy who compliments every woman he wants to date in the same way.
Some noticed Mahogany tried to resist the kiss by keeping her hand on Ben’s chest as if to push him away. Reddit user Admirable_Ad_583 observed that it looked “totally fake” because it looked like their mouths were on the “side of the cheeks and not the lips” during the kiss. What’s even more strange is how Mahogany abandoned Ben all over again in the very next scene after claiming, “the one who is deceiving, using me and playing games here is you.” Why Mahogany showed up to meet Ben in the first place is also confusing, especially after explaining how she likes older men but not ones who are immature like him. “That kissing scene was beyond scripted between Ben and Mahogany. Maybe they can win a Razzie one day!” wrote Twitter user @BabuFrikster.
Ben and Mahogany’s storyline on 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days has started many debates over age gaps, consent, and if she is a paid actress hired to make an otherwise boring storyline interesting. But even if that was the case, the kiss did not add any value to where Ben and Mahogany’s relationship is headed and instead gave the season its most awkward moment. Despite the doubt, it appears Ben and Mahogany are a real couple and were even spotted hand in hand without any camera crew around them. The kiss was perhaps meant to be a romantic moment between Ben and Mahogany under the moonlight but ended up becoming a haunting 90 Day Fiancé moment fans will never forget.
Source: u/CoelhosMimados/Reddit, u/Admirable_Ad_583/Reddit, @BabuFrikster/Twitter