Since it launched in 2014, 90 Day Fiancé has grown to become an enormous franchise complete with fan-favorite personalities and heavily loathed couples. While the couples often reveal dramatic and compelling stories, sometimes, it is the cast members’ mothers who steal the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Over the past 8 seasons, 90 Day Fiancé has introduced audiences to dozens of colorful couples.
The hit TLC series chronicles international couples as the foreign half of the duo obtains their K-1 visa to join their fiancé in the United States. While each season, as well as the many spin-off shows, produces lovable personalities, there are also plenty of villainous characters in the mix. From mistrusting their child’s fiancé to accusations, interrogations and controlling behavior, here are the top pics for the most chaotic and controlling mothers-in-law in the franchise.
Asuelu’s Mother Lesina
90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After couple Kalani Faagata and Asuelu Pulaa went through plenty of drama, and Asuelu’s mother and sister only added to the couple’s problems. While visiting Asuelu’s family in Washington, Kalani was shocked to discover that mother Lesina and sister Tammy expected $1,000 from the struggling couple. When Kalani explained that the couple could only provide a fraction of the amount, things got so ugly with her in-laws that Lesina had to restrain Tammy from fighting Kalani. When the family talked things out later, many fans were further dismayed by the way Lesina spoke to her daughter-in-law. Tammy accused Kalani of controlling Asuelu in order to prevent him from sharing his money with the family. She was not afraid to drop low blows in the argument, while Lesina insisted Asuelu give his family more money. While Tammy reused to apologize, however, Lesina did apologize to Kalani.
Chantel’s Mom Karen
Season 5 couple Chantel Everett and Pedro Jimeno were so popular that they went on to star in the spin-off show The Family Chantel. While some viewers are fans of Chantel’s mother Karen, many also disliked the outspoken and overbearing mother. Along with her husband Thomas, Karen spent the majority of the couple’s time on 90 Day Fiancé grilling Pedro. The parents were extremely mistrusting of the Dominican Republic native marrying their American daughter. They even accused him of “harvesting the American dollar,” by working in the U.S. and sending money back home. The drama spilled over to the first season of the spin-off show. While Pedro got a break in the second season, the family drama didn’t stop. Karen then turned her suspicions to her son Royal Everett’s Filipina fiancé Angenette. While the drama at times made for good reality television, many fans grew tired of Karen’s constant accusations and interference in her family members' love lives.
Pedro’s Mom Lidia
Unfortunately, Pedro's side of the family brought equal drama. His Dominican Republic native mother Lidia and younger sister Nicole joined season 2 of The Family Chantel. While the suspicions were removed from Pedro, Lidia chose to continue in the Everett family’s footsteps when it came to toxic maternal behavior. She immediately was suspicious of Nicole’s boyfriend Alejandro. Lidia was mistrusting of Alejandro from the start, and matters only got worse when she found out he was still legally married. She went so far as to insinuate that he was hiding children from Nicole and said that Alejandro wasn’t “on her level” because he hadn’t attended university. Lydia also insulted her daughter by calling her an “airhead” and treated her boyfriend deplorably, with Alejandro eventually being kicked out of Lidia’s home. Lidia referring to Alejandro as an “opportunist” rang eerily similar to the accusations the Everett parents had against Pedro, showing that Lidia behaved no better than Karen did.
Colt’s Mom Debbie
Season 6 cast member Colt Johnson has become one of the franchise’s biggest villains along with his mother Debbie. Fans first watched Debbie come between Colt and Larissa Lima on the hit show, then mistreat Colt’s girlfriend Jess Caroline on 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? While Colt has been blasted by both of his exes and viewers, Debbie has also frequently come under fire for both her behavior towards Colt’s significant others and how she raised her son. Debbie’s manipulation tactics left audiences chilled, as it truly appeared as though she wanted to sabotage her son’s romantic happiness. Larissa, who is now divorced from Colt, even accused the mother and son of unsuccessfully trying to have her deported. Many believe that Colt is an emotionally underdeveloped man child who suffered from being overly coddled by Debbie. While Debbie might be the most infamous mother on the list, there are certainly other moms giving her a run for her money.
Brandon’s Mom Betty
Betty, the mother of season 8's Brandon Gibbs, is currently competing with Debbie for the fan title of most deplorable mother-in-law. Viewers are outrage over how Betty and her husband Ron treat Brandon’s fiancé Julia Trubkina. The couple has forced Julia to perform work on their farm, despite her being out of her comfort zone, and denied her even having a cup of tea before her chores are finished. Betty refused to allow Julia to share a room with Brandon until marriage, further isolating the Russian dancer. She has inappropriately grilled Julia about birth control and the couple's sex life, enforced bizarre rules about using the hot tub naked, and embarrassingly inquired about hickeys at the dinner table. Furthermore, Betty acted wildly inappropriate when Julia wanted to get married on a sentimental date because it was during "Mother's Day weekend," which Betty considered her time. Overall, Betty has been a nightmare to Julia, causing some fans to refer to her future daughter-in-law as unpaid labor.
Deavan’s Mom Elicia
90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way star Deavan Clegg's mother Elicia showed herself to be a disastrous in-law to Deavan's Korean husband Jihoon Lee, as well as a nightmare mother. While fans found Jihoon’s parents to be delightful, Elicia portrayed herself as the worst stereotype of an American, and many viewers were left cringing by the way she behaved. Viewers found her to be extremely rude, often nasty, culturally unaccepting, and all-around embarrassing to watch. A memorable fight ensued between Jihoon and the mother-daughter duo over how Jihoon was watching Deavan’s daughter from a previous relationship. Many viewers believed Elicia acted extremely rude towards her son-in-law in a cringe-worthy fight that played out on television. With her explosive temper, ignorant beliefs, and lack of acceptance, Elicia made herself an easy choice for show villain. While Deavan also draws criticism from fans, viewers couldn’t help but feel bad for her after seeing her mother.