90 DAY FIANCÉ GETTING ‘REAL’ WITH
KENNY & ARMANDO BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ
IN THE WORLD OF REALITY TV THAT CELEBRATES DRAMA QUEENS AND STEREOTYPES, TLC’S 90 DAY FIANCÉ: THE OTHER WAY CELEBRATES A REAL-LIFE LOVE STORY, THE FIRST SAME SEX MALE MARRIAGE OF THE SERIES, WHICH IS BUILT ON TRUST, UNDERSTANDING, AND OVERCOMING LIFE’S CHALLENGES.
Kenny and Armando’s emotional journey was captured in Season 2 of the popular TLC show which included an emotional coming out, cultural homophobia, loss, and a storybook wedding. Regardless of an age difference, language barriers, distance, or circumstance, these two fought the odds and have quickly become reality TV’s favorite couple. Both: Although we were at first apprehensive about being the first [male] same-sex couple on the franchise which was a hidden weight on our shoulders, we were so surprised how 95% of feedback was so positive, supportive, and loving for us. Of course, you have the occasional homophobia that plays a part, but we learned to focus on the positive. It was a beautiful thing to see that our love story touched so many people’s hearts. We received multiple messages about how we changed views on same-sex couples and marriage because they saw a true love story between two men. Our reality helped so many parents and families accept their children because they realized they too can have a normal loving relationship, and that love is just love. Kenny and Armando, separated by different countries, found each other in an online, single parent support chat group. Armando had been dealing with the unexpected death of his wife and raising his daughter, Hannah, while having to hide his sexuality from his family and his daily life. Kenny, a single dad from the beginning, had raised three triplet daughters, a son,
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and was actively involved in helping to raise his grandson. Despite the 25-year age gap, the two instantly connected. Kenny: I could feel Armando’s kindness, sweetness, and giving nature almost immediately. Armando: Kenny’s sense of humor really stood out to me. I was going through tough times, and the way Kenny made me laugh was a shining light in my life at the time. Just like a Hollywood movie, the two decided to finally meet and spend some time face to face. The rest, as they say, is history. Both: We were still friends at the time. We had no agenda, and we spent a few days together as friends. But we both knew when we parted ways to go back home that something magical had happened, and this was just the beginning.
I SAW THE WHOLE FILM CREW ARRIVE AT MY HOUSE. IT WAS THEN I ACTUALLY THOUGHT, “WHAT THE HELL DID I GET MYSELF INTO?”
