Love Is Blind season 3 viewers originally supported Zanab Jaffrey over her fiancé, Cole Barnett, but after their engagement dramatically ended, Zanab's previous status as a fan favorite quickly disappeared. When Zanab and Cole met in the Love Is Blind pods, their initial connection was obvious. Although Cole shared a short-lived connection with Colleen Reed, who ultimately married Matt Bolton, he found himself more attracted to Zanab's personality and proposed to her. Cole and Zanab were a clear case of opposites attract, but their physical attraction intrigued Love Is Blind fans when they met in person.
Unfortunately, Cole and Zanab's relationship began to deteriorate shortly after they met the other Love Is Blind season 3 cast members. As the four-week experiment continued, multiple signs indicated that Cole and Zanab weren't ready for marriage. Many viewers who watched Cole and Zanab's engagement unfold on Love Is Blind agreed that Zanab was being untreated unfairly, and like Matt and Bartise Bowden, Cole was labeled as immature and unfit for a relationship. The tides suddenly turned on Zanab and Cole's wedding day, however, and by the time the Love Is Blind season 3 reunion aired, Zanab officially turned into the show's newest villain. Here's how Zanab and Cole's unexpectedly traded roles on Love Is Blind.
Love Is Blind Fans Sympathized With Zanab's Tragic Background
While Cole was confident and outspoken in the Love Is Blind pods, Zanab was more reserved and laid back. As they continued to converse, Zanab, who moved to the United States from the United Kingdom, revealed that she lost both of her parents as a teenager. Although fans thought Cole displayed several red flags, they sympathized with Zanab's backstory, especially as she was frequently emotional over her parents' deaths throughout the season.
Love Is Blind Fans Criticized Cole's Comments Towards Zanab
Like Shake Chatterjee from Love Is Blind season 2, Cole's brutally honest opinions and unfiltered statements didn't go over well with viewers. Cole, who flirted with Colleen during a pool party, shocked fans when he admitted that Colleen and Raven Ross were more attractive than Zanab. While Zanab was criticized for her unnecessary attempts at control, Cole was further slammed by Love Is Blind viewers when he inappropriately asked if Zanab was bipolar. By the time their wedding came around, fans overwhelmingly agreed that Zanab deserved a better partner.
Love Is Blind Fans Were Shocked By Zanab's Wedding Speech
Although Raven and SK "Siriku" Alagbada's decision surprised Love Is Blind fans, they were completely shocked when Zanab said "I don't," at the altar. While viewers expected Zanab to reject Cole, they didn't know how to react when she told Cole he demeaned, disrespected, and downright destroyed her self-confidence. Although Love Is Blind viewers didn't want Zanab and Cole to get married, they found Zanab's rant to be unnecessarily rude and borderline manipulative, especially as Cole was clearly blindsided by the accusations.
Love Is Blind Fans Are Infuriated With Zanab's Non-Apology
Zanab's faltered reputation didn't improve when the Love Is Blind season 3 cast reunited to hash out the season, as Zanab, who was supported by her co-stars and hosts Nick and Vanessa Lachey, continued to accuse Cole of unverified behavior. While Cole has expressed regrets since Love Is Blind season 3 concluded, Zanab infuriated viewers when she posted a passive-aggressive non-apology on Instagram. Instead of taking responsibility for her part on Love Is Blind, Zanab doubled down on her actions and sarcastically recognized her new status as a Love Is Blind villain. Although Zanab initially won viewers over, it only took hours for her public perception to tank.
Love Is Blind season 3 is available to stream on Netflix.