Fans of 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days are openly criticizing new cast member Laura after she referred to her Turkish boyfriend, Birkan, as “the love of her life” before their first in-person meeting, calling the sentiment “delusional” given their significant age gap and apparent awkwardness on their initial date. The couple, who met on Snapchat, is featured in the current eighth season of the TLC series, which documents Americans traveling to meet their international partners for the first time. Viewers have taken to social media to express skepticism, pointing to a twenty-year age difference, Birkan’s hidden financial troubles, and Laura’s complicated friendship with her best friend, Michal, as major red flags .
What Happened Between Laura and Birkan?
Laura, a teacher from the United States, traveled to Turkey to finally meet Birkan after they connected online . Before the trip, she spoke of him in glowing terms, describing him as having an “amazing bad boy aesthetic” and being “straight off the pages of a romance novel” . She confidently labeled him the love of her life .
However, the reality of their first meeting did not match the online fantasy. In confessional footage, Laura expressed immediate concern, stating that their interaction was “very awkward” . She questioned whether Birkan was hiding something or was simply not attracted to her in person .
“I feel like something is really wrong. It’s like he doesn’t know who I am. And I don’t know who he is,” Laura said in a clip from the show .
This stark contrast between her earlier declarations and the uncomfortable reality is what has fueled much of the fan reaction.
How Fans Are Reacting on Social Media
The audience response on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) has been overwhelmingly critical of Laura’s perspective. Fans have focused on several key issues, with the age gap being the most frequently cited concern .
- The Age Difference: Many comments highlight the two-decade age gap between Laura and Birkan, with one fan sarcastically noting, “Laura looks like she’s on her way to a mother son dance not to meet her new boyfriend” .
- Questioning Her Judgment: Other viewers directly challenged Laura’s description of Birkan, with one stating, “Laura is delusional. She really thinks that that 20 something dude is the love of her life” .
- Parental Concerns: Fans also echoed the skepticism voiced by Laura’s own parents, agreeing that Birkan’s motives could be related to securing a “ticket to America” rather than genuine love .
What Are the Other Challenges in Their Relationship?
Beyond the age gap and initial awkwardness, the couple faces additional complications that have been revealed on the show.
Birkan’s Financial and Career Struggles: In private conversations, Birkan has admitted to significant financial troubles that he has not fully disclosed to Laura. A former professional soccer player whose career ended due to a knee injury, he told friends that subsequent business ventures failed and he has been unable to find stable work . He confessed, “She knows that I have some troubles, but she doesn’t know how much” .
The “Michal” Problem: A major point of contention is Laura’s extremely close friendship with her best friend, Michal. The two do nearly everything together and are so close that people often mistake them for a married couple . Laura herself has acknowledged that Michal may have romantic feelings for her that go beyond friendship . This dynamic deeply bothers Birkan, who sees Michal as a direct threat to his relationship.
“Sometimes she even compares me to him. This is what I’m afraid of… I want her to end the friendship,” Birkan said. “I don’t trust Michal… if she doesn’t cut Michal out of her life, I don’t know if this relationship is going to work” .
Family Skepticism: Laura’s parents were apprehensive from the start. Upon learning about the 20-year age gap, her father joked, “I think I got hair on my chin older than that” . Her mother was more direct, voicing a fear common among viewers: “He wants a ticket to America. That’s what I think he is thinking. He doesn’t love you” .
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Where to Watch and What’s Next
90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days airs on TLC. The next episode, Season 8, Episode 4, is scheduled to air on December 28, 2025. Previous episodes are available to stream on Discovery+. The preview for the upcoming episode suggests continued tension, as Laura grapples with the strange behavior she sensed from Birkan during their first encounter .
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