Love is Blind: France just made franchise history, and not in the fairytale way. Contestant Gallien Braghini, 37, became the first person ever kicked out of the pods for breaking the rules. His surprise exit in episode three, which is now streaming on Netflix, shook both the cast and the audience.
Like every version of the show, the French edition locks singles in “pods,” cutting them off from the outside world so they can fall in love without distractions. The phones were gone. Was there any outside contact? Nope, there was not. But Gallien broke the golden rule, though neither he nor Netflix will spill exactly what he did. All we know is he is out, and the mystery is almost as dramatic as the love stories.
Gallien's removal marks an unprecedented moment in the Love is Blind universe, which has featured multiple international versions without similar incidents. The elimination particularly affected contestant Tatiana Bazin, who had been developing a strong connection with Gallien before learning about his rule-breaking behavior from fellow participant Thomas Belmonte.
Love is Blind: France: Gallien’s rule violations explored
Production announced Gallien's removal through a French title card stating he was "no longer part of the experiment" due to breaking rules about contacting the outside world. The message emphasized how contestants must remain completely isolated for the show's psychological experiment to function properly.
Gallien acknowledged his mistake during a confessional interview filmed before his departure. He admitted to breaking experiment rules but declined to provide specific details about his actions, explaining:
"I wasn't necessarily hoping that this adventure would have a fairy tale ending, but now I'm leaving through the side door, which is pretty pathetic."
He elaborated:
"I feel bad for the girls for not finishing what we started."
The 37-year-old contestant took full responsibility for his actions on Love is Blind: France, stating he "only had himself to blame" for the situation. His departure left multiple romantic connections unfinished and created confusion among the remaining participants.
Fellow contestant Thomas Belmonte, 37, provided more context about Gallien's rule-breaking behavior. Thomas described Gallien's actions as "unacceptable" and felt compelled to inform Tatiana Bazin about what actually occurred.
According to Thomas, Gallien met a woman at his hotel "a couple of times" while filming was underway. This revelation suggested the rule violation involved romantic encounters outside the controlled experiment environment. Thomas explained:
"I'm going to let Tatiana know that she's a beautiful person, and that she needs to find someone who can be there for her."
He had previously ended his own connection with Tatiana to pursue Kim Musano, his eventual fiancée, on Love is Blind: France. Thomas positioned himself as protecting Tatiana from someone he deemed unsuitable for her and her son.
Tatiana, 39, expressed shock and disappointment upon learning about Gallien's behavior. The cosmetics entrepreneur and single mother had developed genuine feelings for Gallien during their pod conversations. In her confessional, Tatiana said:
"If he had been in front of me, he wouldn't have gotten away with it."
Elaborating, she added:
"I guess God was protecting me from something."
Despite her disappointment, Tatiana maintained optimism about finding love within the experiment. She referenced her connection with another contestant, Yannick Rikko Yamanga, suggesting her journey wasn't over. The revelation felt like a personal betrayal to Tatiana, who had been authentic in her interactions with Gallien.
What does this mean for the experiment?
Gallien's removal highlighted the strict protocols governing Love is Blind: France productions. His elimination demonstrated that rule violations have serious consequences, regardless of contestant popularity or story arc development.
The incident also affected multiple romantic narratives on Love is Blind: France, particularly Tatiana's journey toward finding love. Her experience serves as a reminder that the show's controlled environment exists to protect participants' emotional investments.
Love is Blind: France continues streaming on Netflix, with remaining contestants pursuing connections within the experiment's guidelines. Gallien's removal serves as a cautionary tale about respecting the show's unique format and rules.
Love is Blind: France is now streaming on Netflix.