Big Ed Brown is a 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days alum who rose to fame by evoking the outrage of franchise fans, thanks to his rude treatment of his former flame, Rosemarie Vega. Now, he's come out smelling like a rose, as he's acquired social media clout and scored new franchise appearances, including a gig on 90 Day: The Single Life. Those who just can't stand Big Ed wonder how anyone can support him, but he's got plenty of fans, including his franchise costars, David Toborowsky and Annie Suwan Toborowsky. While Big Ed gets trolled by haters, he's laughing all the way to the bank, thanks to an estimated net worth of $800,000. Is Big Ed really a fan favorite?
When Big Ed, who is now 55, fell for Rosemarie (also known as Rose), he was older than her dad. She turned 25 on November 28. The May-December dynamic was just the beginning in terms of how he was going to irritate TLC viewers! He met up with Rose in the Philippines and then cemented his position as one of the most controversial cast members. He did this by asking Rose to use mouthwash and telling her to shave her legs. Rosemarie, who lived in poverty, had an untreated ulcer, which was causing her bad breath. Fans felt for the young woman, who is a single mother. They didn't appreciate the way that Ed tore her down. This begs the question, "Why is Big Ed's career going so well?"
The easy answer is that almost everyone loves a villain, if only for sheer entertainment value, whether it's The Joker or Thanos or Ed's fellow franchise alum, the very frugal Colt Johnson. 90 Day Fiancé franchise villains are fun to dislike. "Bad" franchise stars attract followers like nobody's business. People always want to see what they'll do next. Of course, followers also want to see what the haters are saying in the comments. Some of Big Ed's followers are very supportive of him, but he does get dragged by trolls daily. It's safe to say that some of his "fans" may be stopping by his IG page in search of a little diverting drama. Luckily, Big Ed was born to provide it. See Big Ed partying on St. Patrick's Day below:
Big Ed's gross-out mayo hair conditioning sessions and bad romantic experiences bring in the virtual crowds and keep franchise fans glued to screens. As Rosemarie Vega becomes a YouTube sensation, Big Ed carves out his own niche online. He recently virtually reunited with Rose on 90 Day Bares All and it was a kinder reunion than many viewers expected. Big Ed's days of demanding that Rose take an STD test and creepily photographing her are over. Ed told Rose he was sorry and blamed heartbreak for his conduct at the prior (and explosive) Tell All. While Ed's apology redeemed him, he had fans without it. Positive comments on his IG have always appeared, and recent ones include, "I love who you are," and "My birthday Cameo you did was fantastic." His loyal fans think he's hilarious. That's his superpower. Also, he's able to laugh at himself.
Is it time to celebrate the 90 Day Fiancé villains, without whom the franchise's shows might be more like bland romantic comedies? Perhaps, but some villains cross the line. It's up to viewers to decide who deserves adulation, or redemption, or no attention at all. Big Ed and Rose patched things up, so maybe there's hope for warring alums from 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days and other franchise hits.