The premise of the social experiment that is Love is Blind is that strangers can fall in love and get engaged before ever meeting their partner face-to-face, but Sara Carton and Joey Leveille, who were originally partnered with Ben Mezzenga and Monica Danus, might have some explaining to do as fans are convinced the two are dating. Love Is Blind season 8’s come and gone, but we’re not done talking about the participants and where they stand today, especially if an unexpected pairing pops up. Love Is Blind has produced some surprising pairs, some of which are still going strong.
From season 8, out of all the couples the show focused on, only Taylor Haag and Daniel Hastings remain together today. The other couples—Joey and Monica, Sara and Ben, Devin Buckley and Virginia Miller, and David Bettenburg and Lauren O’Brien—failed to get married or stay together after the show. David and Lauren never made it down the altar, while the other three did, but broke it off before actually tying the knot.
Sara And Joey Didn’t Marry Pod Partners
Joey & Monica and Sara & Ben Broke Up At The Altar
I wasn’t expecting either Sara and Ben or Monica and Joey to break up at the Love is Blind altar, but that’s exactly what happened on the season finale. Sara and Ben had different political beliefs, which came up during the season, but was something Sara ultimately couldn’t reconcile with. She chose to leave Ben at the altar, but Ben seemed to think they could still date after the show. At the reunion, we find out that they tried to make it work, but Ben essentially “ghosted” her after a planned, temporary move to Nashville.
As for Monica and Joey, the two had a fun, playful relationship that never quite turned romantic. Though they seemed like a good match, they seemed to be more friends than lovers. Monica’s sister also expressed doubts that the two would make a good couple, but they walked down the aisle anyway. In the end, Monica said she wanted to be 100% sure about the partner she married, and she just couldn’t say that about Joey, so they chose to split, and it seemed amicable.
Sara And Joey Were Rumored To Be Dating
They’ve Reportedly Been Spending Time Together Since The Show
Sara and Joey first sparked dating rumors when they sat next to each other at the Love is Blind reunion. That might seem like a stretch to assume they’re dating, but the Reality Receipts podcast reported that Sara and Joey had been spotted together at a hair salon in Minneapolis, where the season was set. The podcast claimed to have several reliable sources who confirmed that the two were dating and were waiting for “things to die down” before they went public.
“They they may deny that’s the word on the street and in our DMS.”
The podcast also reported that Joey’s original partner, Monica, was blindsided by the news. Sara and Joey had a connection with each other while in the pods, so dating after the show isn’t completely out of left field. Sara and Monica reportedly don’t follow each other on Instagram, adding fuel to the rumors that Sara is dating Joey and that Monica is hurt by their coupling.
Neither Ben and Sara nor Joey and Monica ended up saying “I do” at the Love is Blind altar, so technically, they’re all free to date whomever they choose. It would be a tough blow for their original partners, but as fans of Married At First Sight know, these types of “couples swaps” can happen, no matter how inappropriate they feel.
If Sara and Joey developed a connection outside the show, they should be free to pursue it.
Sara Denies Dating Joey (For Now)
Sara Said They’re Just Close Friends
Love is Blind’s Sara Carton appears virtually on The Viall Files podcast
Sara wasted no time in setting the record straight on her and Joey. She appeared virtually on Nick Viall’s The Viall Files podcast to clear things up, saying, “To be clear, me and Joey are not dating.” She went on to say that during her time in the pods, she, Joey, Monica, and Ben were all dating each other.
“There was a love square between me, Monica, Ben and Joey. We were all talking to each other until the second to last day in the pods. Of course, naturally in that circumstance, you do connect with people. I feel like me and Joey did establish a really great friendship.”
Sara told Nick and his co-hosts that she and Joey didn’t even reconnect until months after the show ended, and they’ve developed a tight friendship since then. She didn’t deny that there might be sparks between them, however. Sara even hinted that maybe in the future, she and Joey might date.
“This whole situation, I’ve felt very close with Joey. I’m fond of our relationship, but I [also] feel very well-supported by all those involved. I’m just very grateful that I’ve met him, but, yeah, we definitely have a friendship. We’re definitely not dating… I don’t know what the future will hold. But, I do know for right now, I definitely have no capacity to even think about a relationship.”
But for now, we can clear the air and say that Sara and Joey are not currently dating. There are probably a lot of emotions for all involved now that the season has aired, and the dust has settled. As they navigate their lives post-show, a strong friendship might be just the thing that leads to a fulfilling relationship one day, no pods necessary.
