There is a concern that 90 Day Fiancé provides a better benefit to its network than to the couples paid to star. People have questions about disparity as each season and spin-off reach televisions and different audiences. There have been discussions of the members needing loans or capital purchases for various ventures, or financial support from their wealthier partners. In some cases, some of the partners even sell their ex's wedding dresses to earn a few hundred dollars. Is it a red flag regarding the partners, or the network?
The show, after all, doesn't just feature dinners and seemingly intimate moments. Couples have to schedule flights to meet each other, make reservations for dating spots, schedule citizenship interviews, and decide if they want to take the plunge together. In some cases, they empty their bank accounts to make sure they can perform a grand gesture. A salary is more than fair to see all of the true love and war break out on camera, especially since it cements the participants' image for social media and later venues. There also isn't a guarantee that the partners from abroad will marry and receive American citizenship.
Women's Health, however, has investigated. They found that the American half of the couples aren't paid less than their predecessors were. On the contrary, they're earning more thanks to the show's popularity. The American stars earned "$500 to $1,000" per episode before 2018 and are now earning $1000 to $1500 per episode. They can earn about $13,000 to $18,000 per season, parents and friends receiving about $250 for each varying season. The foreign cast-members are another story, however, with some saying they aren't paid if they come to the US while lacking an approved work permit.
For many people, that much money would give them some breathing room when switching jobs or deciding on a life change. They don't have to marry a partner that necessarily has financial stability or the great prosperity to earn a high income. What's more, while their wedding may be as dramatic as those that we see in fiction, they have some financial compensation for any hijinks that may ensue.
The money thus is a potential game-changer for individuals, especially since the American salary in dollars would translate well to foreign currency. In the Philippines, for example, one dollar converts to a little over 50 pesos, meaning that the show's salary could provide a steady net cushion for a month. What's more, people are trying to put a price on their dignity as they go forward in their quest of finding true love abroad. The cameras will come and leave, but the recordings will remain on televisions and streaming services. While they may leave the spotlight to settle down and have a family, their images will remain on the screen, for watching and rewatching. A few cast members said that doing the show was not worth it, most infamously Tom. They said that people became judgmental of who they were and how they acted while the show was being filmed. Internet opinions can last for a long time.
With this in mind, should couples earn more from the reality show, which is spiking in viewership and fame by the year? We can argue that they did receive a pay increase, as shown by Women's Health. The bigger concern, however, is that the disparity is becoming clearer and clearer by the year. Romantic couples earn the bread and butter for TLC and provide the crux of the show's entertainment. If we can determine a fair proportion for those that are participating, relative to potential distress and drama, then we can have a fairer assessment of their compensation.
Source: Women's Health