Love Is Blind: Madison & Joe's Breakup Was Completely Staged?!

Prepare for some major reality TV drama, because Madison Maidenberg from Love Is Blind Season 9 just spilled the tea on her split with Joe Ferrucci, revealing their on-screen breakup was totally fake!

TL;DR

• Madison Maidenberg claimed her Love Is Blind Season 9 breakup with Joe Ferrucci was staged for cameras; the real split happened off-screen the night before.
• Joe ended things, telling Madison she "wasn't it" and he'd say no at the altar, but later teared up and kissed her during a post-filming dinner.
• Madison opened up about her vision condition, retinitis pigmentosa, and how Joe's comments about her body led to an eating disorder, but she's now single, healing, and more confident.

The Curtain Pulls Back: Was That Breakup Even Real?

Alright, Love Is Blind fans, grab your popcorn because this is a big one. You know Madison Maidenberg and Joe Ferrucci from Season 9? Their super tense, super awkward breakup scene on the show? Yeah, Madison says it was all for show. According to her, the actual split happened the night before, completely off-camera, and what we saw was a dramatic reenactment!

Can you even imagine? Having to re-do one of the most painful moments of your life just for the cameras? Madison recounted her side of the story on the "Love To See It" podcast, and it sounds incredibly difficult. She described going back to their apartment after a tumultuous day, ready to commit, only for Joe to deliver a brutal truth bomb.

"His face dropped. He went totally pale and he looked me in the face and said, 'You’re not it. I’m going to say no at the altar.' And that was honestly the actual breakup."

— Madison Maidenberg on the "Love To See It" podcast

That hits differently, doesn't it? Knowing that the raw emotion she was trying to convey on screen was likely a memory of an already-painful experience. Madison, a 28-year-old digital designer, was all in, ready to jump if Joe was, but he clearly wasn't on the same page.

Joe's Side of the Story: A "Breaking Point" at the Tux Shop

While Madison recounts the dramatic off-camera conversation, Joe, a 29-year-old sales executive, also shared his perspective on why he pulled the plug. He admitted to Us Weekly that he reached a "breaking point" during his wedding tux fitting, abruptly running out. He felt it was "disingenuous" to continue with the motions if he knew he couldn't say "yes" at the altar.

"Why am I going through these motions if I have in my head that, ultimately, I’m not going to be able to say yes on that wedding day?" Joe recalled. He acknowledged he could have handled it better, suggesting his departure from the fitting was his way of signaling his deep-seated doubts.

However, Madison's account adds another layer of drama to that particular day. She claimed that after their wedding dress and tux fittings, she had no idea Joe walked out mid-fitting. She even ran into other Love Is Blind cast members, including Kacie, who Madison felt Joe was flirting with. Meanwhile, Madison was still feeling "giddy" with her ring on her finger, telling the guys at the tux fitting how much she loved Joe, unaware of his true intentions or actions.

More Than Just a Breakup: Madison's Personal Journey and Health

Beyond the relationship drama, Madison has been incredibly open about her personal life, including a rare vision condition and the impact Joe's comments had on her body image.

Seeing the World Differently: Living with Retinitis Pigmentosa

Madison was diagnosed at 21 with retinitis pigmentosa, a condition that causes a gradual loss of vision and can lead to blindness. She explained that in low-light situations, her peripheral vision is extremely difficult, meaning she often can't see below someone's nose while talking to them. She also experiences what she calls "TV static" over her vision, affecting her depth perception and causing her to trip and fall frequently.

Madison applied for Love Is Blind after learning about casting in her hometown of Denver, specifically wanting to experience what her life might be like if she lost her vision. Her appearance on the show gave visibility to this community, leading to hundreds of messages from people with the same condition, thanking her for raising awareness. She even shared a touching pickup line she received: "'Baby girl, he broke your heart. But I will help you when you’re blind, mi amor.'"

A Struggle with Body Image and Healing

Another challenging aspect Madison shared was how Joe's comments about her body negatively affected her. Early in their relationship, Joe admitted he usually dated "more petite women," a comment that Madison said triggered an eating disorder she had previously struggled with.

"Obviously, like many women, I had my own insecurities about my body. But his comments triggered something in me that really brought that disordered eating forward," she bravely admitted. While she's no longer struggling with the eating disorder itself, she still contends with the mental battles that come with it.

Since filming wrapped in mid-2024, Madison has slimmed down but emphasizes that her focus is on health and confidence, not a number on a scale. "I am healthier than I’ve ever been. I am so proud of the body that has carried me for 28 years, and that is what deserves to be celebrated rather than a number on a scale." We love to hear it!

The Post-Show Twist: A Kiss, Tears, and Confusion

You might think after all that, Madison and Joe would go their separate ways permanently. But this is reality TV, folks, and there’s always another twist! Madison revealed that weeks after filming, she and Joe met up for dinner.

"We say goodbye. We kind of start making out and he starts tearing up," Madison recounted. Talk about confusing! She texted him afterward, asking why he cried, and his response was simply, "I don’t know, that was weird."

Joe's later comments to Us Weekly further fueled Madison's frustration. He downplayed their entire relationship, stating they shared a "strong, physical connection" but adding, "I think that and fighting were the only two things we did." Madison was "shocked" by this narrative, calling it "sad" and untrue, emphasizing that they had many good, connecting moments.

Moving Forward: Madison is Single and Accepting Recommendations

Despite the confusing post-show encounter, Madison has clearly moved on and is focusing on her healing journey. She's "single and accepting recommendations," sharing her wishlist for a future partner: "grounding, assured consistent energy." She's actively avoiding "inconsistent, destabilizing [and] confusing" vibes, which, let's be honest, sounds like a direct reflection of her experience with Joe.

She credits an "incredible therapist" and a strong support system for helping her "fully recalibrate" and learn to trust her intuition, spotting red flags for what they are. Her journey is a powerful reminder that even after public heartbreaks, self-growth and confidence can flourish.

Season 9: A Love Is Blind First and What It Means

Madison and Joe's story is just one part of a season that made Love Is Blind history – but not in a good way. Season 9 was the first-ever season where zero couples actually made it to the altar. Ali and Anton, Kalybriah and Edmond, and Megan and Jordan all called it quits before saying "I do."

This unprecedented outcome left fans disappointed, with many calling for the show's cancellation and critics citing major casting issues. Madison herself reflected on it, saying, "I don’t think we found the right pairings, but everyone is incredible in their own ways."

Despite the backlash, Netflix has already renewed Love Is Blind for a tenth season, with hosts Nick and Vanessa Lachey expected to return. Hopefully, future seasons will see more success stories and fewer staged breakups!

Reunion Revelations: What Happened When They Faced Off?

Madison and Joe did come face-to-face during the Love Is Blind Season 9 reunion, which aired on Netflix Wednesday, October 29. Madison had teased "all the tea spills," promising "closure, confrontation, and emotional honesty." Given all the behind-the-scenes revelations, we can only imagine the fireworks that went down when these exes reunited to discuss their messy, and partially staged, breakup.

FAQ: All Your Burning Questions About Madison & Joe

When did Madison and Joe really break up? Madison claimed the actual breakup happened off-camera, the night before the scene shown on Love Is Blind Season 9, Episode 11. What is Madison Maidenberg's vision condition? Madison has retinitis pigmentosa, a rare condition causing gradual vision loss, particularly affecting peripheral vision and making low-light situations difficult. She also experiences "TV static" vision, impacting depth perception. Did Madison and Joe get back together after the show? No. Although they met for dinner weeks after filming and even shared a tearful kiss, Madison revealed Joe later downplayed their relationship. She is currently single and focusing on healing. Why did Joe break up with Madison? Joe told Madison she "wasn't it" and that he would say no at the altar. He later explained to Us Weekly that he reached a "breaking point" during his tux fitting, feeling it was "disingenuous" to continue if he knew he couldn't commit.

Sources:

• The Tab - Wait a second, Madison and Joe’s break-up on Love Is Blind was completely staged?!
• Us Weekly - Love Is Blind’s Madison Maidenberg Is Single After Joe Ferrucci Split
• The US Sun - Love Is Blind star Madison Maidenberg showcases smaller frame in skimpy bikini
• The New York Post - Love Is Blind star Madison Maidenberg opens up about losing her vision and finding unexpected admirers online
• Primetimer - Love Is Blind star Madison Maidenberg opens up about losing her vision and finding unexpected admirers online
• Swooon - Madison Maidenberg breaks silence on emotional Love Is Blind breakup and reunion