Love Is Blind star Daniel Hastings was under scrutiny when his fiancée, Taylor Haag, suspected that he had followed her on Instagram before filming began. Nevertheless, in the latest episodes of season 8, Daniel firmly reiterated that he had never met Taylor before their in-person encounter after the pods.
“If I had recognized anything, I would’ve informed the production team halfway through,” stated Daniel, 30, to Taylor, 32.
Taylor, a colonoscopy nurse, explained that she used an app to monitor her Instagram followers and unfollowers, but Daniel maintained his stance.
“I might have followed you and then unfollowed you at some point. It’s possible, but I don’t remember doing that. If I had seen you, I’d remember,” Daniel responded.
A Love Is Blind producer offered Taylor the chance to check her app on the phone, and upon doing so, she found no proof that Daniel had ever followed her on Instagram. Feeling “crazy,” she found comfort as Daniel, a sales account executive, reassured her.
“Please don’t feel crazy. My feelings for you remain the same, and I hope... Do you trust me?” Daniel asked, and Taylor affirmed that she did. “I swear I didn’t know your appearance. Whatever helps you process this, I’m supportive. I’d love to go on [the couple’s trip to] Honduras with you. If you’re hesitant, I’m happy to go back home with you. I’ll be wherever you are.”
Courtesy of NetflixTaylor and Daniel’s discussion likely reassured fans after episode 6 of Love Is Blind season 8 concluded with a cliffhanger.
In the last scene with Taylor, she fought to hold back tears as she shared her fear that Daniel may have exploited details from her Instagram profile to deceive her into a relationship.
“I began reflecting on all the significant moments that seemed destined to bring us together. But eventually, I wondered if it was all too perfect,” Taylor shared during a chat with Entertainment Weekly on Wednesday, February 19. “I mentioned in the pods how everything felt so smooth before the dramatic twist. At that time, I was single, and it wasn't unusual for single men to follow me on social media. It almost felt like a dating app, where you met new people. Considering various aspects, that's the conclusion I reached in my mind.”
Some viewers doubted the authenticity of Taylor's narrative, speculating that she invented it because she wasn't interested in Daniel. However, she refuted these claims.
“I've received a lot of tough criticism... The majority of feedback suggests that I concocted this elaborate story to avoid looking bad because I wasn’t attracted to Daniel,” Taylor told the magazine. “It's truly surprising how quickly people form judgments about your character based on just a six-minute TV clip.