Fans rally behind Ciara Murphy as Love Is Blind UK backlash grows

Love Is Blind UK viewers have rallied behind London-based Pilates instructor Ciara Murphy amid online backlash over her approach to dating. The 29-year-old, one of 30 singletons who entered the show's pods hoping to find a spouse, formed connections with Jack Bradshaw and Ajay Cheema before ultimately accepting a proposal from Ajay.

During the series three opener, Ciara revealed that one man had spent £15,000 taking her on a single date, a claim that quickly captured the nation's attention. Netflix's own profile of the contestant describes her as having "a taste for luxury, which manifests in extravagant brunches, dinner parties, and at least three dates a week with eligible bachelors whom she expects to pull out all the stops."

Supporters say she is 'the realest on the show'

While some viewers have criticised her standards, a wave of fans has pushed back, arguing that Ciara's outspoken attitude is precisely what makes her worth watching. Journalist Jason Okundaye summed up the mood of her supporters in an Instagram story, writing: "Everyone hating on her when she's the realest on the show idc." Ciara herself quietly re-shared the post on Sunday afternoon (August 23), signalling she is well aware of the debate surrounding her.

Another fan defended the star on Reddit, sharing: "I love Ciara! She's flawed, sure. She's a bit of a gossip, has a bit of an ego, etc, but she's just human imo. She has such a unique personality and she is honestly really funny and I think people just don't understand her sense of humour. I'm pretty sure she is completely unserious about 70% of the things she says."

Someone else agreed, saying: "I found her super funny and it appears pretty obvious that she's exaggerating certain things just bc it's a show."

Doubts over her 'wealth'

Alongside the defence, some viewers have questioned whether Ciara's lavish lifestyle is as authentic as it appears. A Reddit post claims that her designer handbags are not from Coach's regular collection but from Coach Outlet, making them significantly cheaper than normal retail. The implication, as one viewer put it, is that Ciara might not be as wealthy as she'd like viewers to think.

Ciara has boasted about her non-negotiable princess treatment and leaned heavily into an "expensive taste" persona. She has said that a man once spent £15,000 on one date with her and that her minimum spend on a date is £300.

As a Pilates instructor, it's estimated that she makes around £250 a week, working across four studios in Barnes, Colliers Wood and Fulham. To be specific, she teaches at Studio, Level Out, PYC Studios and Maison Pilates. Maison Pilates charges £30 for one class, and Pilates instructors there earn an average hourly rate of approximately £31.67, with advertised pay ranges typically falling between £25 and £40 an hour, according to Glassdoor. So, if she taught around 10 classes a week, she could be making around £250 a week.

The first eight episodes of Love Is Blind UK season three are available to stream, with the remaining three episodes, including Ciara's wedding, due to drop on August 26.