Summary

Big Ed's Klippel-Feil syndrome has caused insecurities but he focuses on losing weight and changing physical traits.
Despite mean comments, Big Ed wants fans to see his caring side, not just his TV persona or social media image.
Big Ed faced surgery delays due to his condition, with concerns about his neck size impacting the procedure.

Big Ed Brown from 90 Day Fiancé has Klippel-Feil syndrome, which makes his body look different from others. Big Ed debuted on one of the best reality TV shows during 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days season 4 with his now ex-girlfriend Rose Vega, who was from The Philippines. He had disparaged Rose's appearance and had made a fake social media account to troll her. However, at the same time, Big Ed was also getting comments about his neck and still dealing with questions about his height and neck length. Here's what to know about the 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? season 8 star.

Questions have always been about 90 Day Fiancé cast member Big Ed's appearance. Some fans thought Big Ed’s neck was hardly visible recently due to weight gain and that he looked different in throwback photos from his younger days. However, that’s not the case, as Big Ed’s condition has been incurable since he was diagnosed with it at birth. Big Ed has been battling his insecurities by focusing on losing weight and changing physical traits like his hair.

90 Day Fiancé's Big Ed Says He Does Have A Neck

90 Day Fiance's Big Ed Brown and Liz Woods, with montage of Yara Zaya behind them — Custom Image by César García

The controversial Big Ed grew up with Klippel-Feil syndrome, making it look like he has no neck. “But I do,” Big Ed told Screen Rant in an interview from early 2021. Big Ed has three vertebrates the size of two, while most other humans usually have seven. His chest cavity is also larger than usual. “I’ve been bullied all my life,” he said. “I learned at a young age I can either let this condition define who I am or I can accept that God made me this way." However, all of Big Ed’s bad memories returned after his reality TV debut because of the mean comments he started to get. They were so bad that Big Ed found it difficult to get out of bed on certain days.

How Big Ed Reacts To Being Bullied Due To Klippel-Feil Syndrome

90 Day Fiance's Big Ed Brown and montage of Liz Woods dot background big ed in blue shirt

“If you walk through the gutter every day and look down that is your life. When you read negative comments about your life that aren’t true you become that sad person."

90 Day Fiancé's Big Ed feels he is misunderstood and wants fans to get to know him better, not just for the person he is on TV or social media. In another interview with Screen Rant from 2021, Big Ed commented, “I want people to know that I’m actually a very nice and caring person.” He thinks people don’t know how much of a generous and caring human he is. Big Ed wants to focus on the fans who think positively about him and laugh at the negativity instead of dwelling on it. “If you walk through the gutter every day and look down that is your life,” Big Ed recalls his brother telling him. He believes, “When you read negative comments about your life that aren’t true you become that sad person."

Big Ed Couldn’t Get Major Surgery Due To His Klippel-Feil

In September 2022, Big Ed was scheduled to get rotator cuff surgery. The rotator cuff is the part of the body that helps keep the top of the arm bone in the shoulder socket, which could tear and cause a lot of pain. Big Ed had revealed he was facing delays in his surgery because the doctors at his outpatient facility didn’t have the right equipment and couldn’t perform the procedure. The delay was caused because of his neck’s size. The medical team was worried they would damage Big Ed’s airway, and he was advised to visit a hospital instead. The nerve blockers had affected 90 Day Fiancé's Big Ed’s breathing and made him lose sleep, but he could nap the next day.

90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? season 8 premieres on Sunday, March 17, at 8 p.m. ET on TLC.