The engagement between Kacie McIntosh and Patrick Suzuki on Love Is Blind Season 9 was one of the shortest in the show’s history. After a strong connection in the pods, their relationship unraveled immediately after they met in person, leading to a confusing breakup that played out both on and off the screen. Their story highlights the complex challenge of transitioning a bond formed without sight into a real-world relationship.
What Happened in the Pods
In the pods, Patrick formed connections with two women: Anna Yuan and Kacie McIntosh. His bond with Anna was particularly strong, rooted in their shared experiences as Asian Americans with immigrant parents. However, Anna left the experiment unexpectedly without saying goodbye, leaving Patrick devastated.
Patrick then focused entirely on his relationship with Kacie. They bonded over their desire to travel and shared views on religion and politics. Both declared their love for each other, and Patrick proposed at the end of episode 4, which Kacie happily accepted. Before their in-person meeting, Patrick expressed his hope that he would be loved for who he was, not for his ethnicity or appearance.
The Meeting and Immediate Fallout
When the couple met for the first time, Patrick was visibly thrilled and excited. Kacie, however, appeared nervous and distant. Shortly after their initial meeting, she asked to speak with him privately in the hotel lobby before the planned group trip to Baja.
In that conversation, a tearful Kacie told Patrick she could not continue with the TV show and needed to go home. She insisted her decision was not about his looks, but she was vague about her reasons, mumbling about family and the need to leave the experiment. Patrick was left confused, believing they would still try to date back home in Denver.
“I really wanted to talk to him more, pursue going on dates, and get to know each other on a more physical level to see if this was really real,” Kacie explained later.
Unbeknownst to Patrick, Kacie had told producers in a confessional, “I just unfortunately don’t think my attraction to him is gonna grow that much. And it sucks.”
Conflicting Reasons for the Split
Kacie has consistently denied that Patrick’s appearance was the reason for the breakup. She described the disorienting feeling of meeting someone you believe you love, only to find they feel like a stranger.
“He’s a handsome guy,” Kacie stated. “It was more about him being a stranger in my arms than it was what he looks like.”
She maintained that her intention was never to break up with him on the show, but rather to pause the televised experiment and date at a more natural pace back in Denver.
Patrick, on the other hand, was blindsided. He had taken Kacie at her word and trusted that they would continue their relationship off-camera. He admitted to a range of thoughts, wondering if he was “ugly,” “not cool,” or if she had other motivations for leaving.
The Post-Show Breakdown
The confusion continued after filming ended. Patrick returned to Denver believing they were still engaged. He revealed that Kacie then began avoiding his calls and texts. When he pressed her for answers and asked for the engagement ring back, the situation escalated.
According to Patrick, Kacie’s final text to him read, “You act like you’re the only one that’s hurt in this situation. I’m gonna keep the ring.” This text exchange and her subsequent silence gave him the closure he needed.
Kacie’s version of events differs. She claims she was the one who reached out to him after returning to Denver and was open to meeting up. However, she said the conversation quickly turned to him demanding the ring back, which upset her and halted any potential reconciliation.
“It took me many months of travel, many months of therapy, and stuff like that. The closure, I figured out pretty quickly. The healing part was the hard part,” Patrick shared about his recovery.
Where They Are Now
Kacie and Patrick are not together. Both have moved on from their brief engagement.
Patrick has shown grace regarding the situation, stating he doesn’t hold a grudge against Kacie. He believes she was being honest and that the experiment simply didn’t work out for her. He also disclosed that if Anna had not left the show, he would have proposed to her instead.
Kacie has expressed some regret about how she handled the breakup, acknowledging that it came off as “gaslighting” and that it was her “biggest regret.” She has shut down speculation that she went on the show for fame, reiterating that she genuinely wanted to find a life partner.
Their story remains one of the most talked-about from Season 9, illustrating the profound difficulty of bridging the gap between the pods and reality.
Also Read: The Real Story Behind Madison and Joe’s Love Is Blind Breakup
