Is it ever OK to date your friend's ex? What 'Love Is Blind' gets wrong

Throughout its five American seasons, Netflix's "Love Is Blind" has been packed with dramatic moments — everything from a runaway bride, to one man chucking his fiancée's engagement ring into a hotel pool, to a woman leaving her fiance for another man on the show, and multiple folks second-guessing their engagements after seeing their pod crushes for the first time.

But none has been as shocking as the bombshell — and historic first for the reality dating series — revealed in its latest season: Two castmates, Uche Okoroha and Lydia Velez Gonzales, had dated in the real world and kept it a secret from his pod love interest, Aaliyah Cosby, for several days.

"This is f— up and I don't like it," Aaliyah told Uche shortly after having a cringey conversation with Lydia about the situation. "On the outside world, I would never date a friend's ex. I would never befriend your ex." The tearful confession proved to be too much for Aaliyah, who abruptly left the show just hours before Uche's planned proposal.

Since the episode premiered, devoted viewers have been flocking to forums, TikTok and YouTube recap videos to share their opinions on the circumstance