I didn’t know anything about his past relationships, and we had never even had a discussion about how we felt about being friends with exes. Dating Around was totally random; one of those fluke things that fell into my lap. I’m not somebody that’s ever pursued a career in acting or reality TV, but one of my friends was trying out for it.
“You go on a lot of first dates that suck, or that are average, or that are OK. But you’re not like, super stoked to go on a second date.” Unfortunately, I lost my job due to the pandemic, which hit me on a personal level because I’ve always been really independent. I invested my entire career in fashion and retail, which is imploding. It’s been a challenging time for me, but James was there when it all first happened and has been really supportive. He listened to all my shit when I sat there feeling sorry for myself, even though I should be grateful because there are a lot more people that are way worse off than me.
Episode 2: Gurki (social media handles and other info about lead + contestants)
Luke confirmed on the podcast Reality Life With Kate Casey that he is “single and ready to mingle,” and also that he has gotten “thousands of DMs.” Victoria is now in a relationship with someone else. However, the two do follow each other on Instagram and occasionally toss each other a like. “When you would normally turn left, turn right on this show,” co-creator Paul Franklin said to Refinery.
Why Gurki and her awful date With Justin still makes us cringe…
But the moment has another, more literal significance—because that smiling gent is Adolphus. Today, Basra credits that date from hell with leading to her current relationship—with none other than Dating Around’s director, James Adolphus. “I would’ve been totally happy if he wasn’t in the picture,” she said. “We just happened to build something afterwards.”
I actually dated someone shortly after my divorce. Were together for a solid two-and-a-half, three years. I felt like that whole time I was just defending myself. The night is mercifully cut short when Justin storms out of the bar, commenting, “I’m over this.”
I don’t want Luke to get an STD because he’s going to be hit up like crazy by all these young girls. We just had this weird bonding moment with strangers. I just wanted to inspire people, and hope that other women that were divorced found some inspiration that you can be happy and it’s okay,” Basra says. That white guy that gets really angry was a proper dickhead.
I hate saying that we had a failed relationship. James is incredibly special and I was still head over heels in love with him when I realized it wasn’t going to work right now. Unlike my parents who made it work because they felt they had to, it’s 2020, and no one has to be together. As of right now, I am going off on my own continuing search for what I need to be my best self. He came back to New York in early November, and that time he apologized about September and begged to meet me. We went out for drinks and started dating more seriously after that.
Tiffany’s Instagram account is private, but her follower count has grown significantly in the past few days, so you could give a follow request a whirl — she accepted mine! She announced on her stories that she is “still single and learning how to eat.” A self-aware legend! All three of them are mutuals with Luke on Instagram. We hope that Dating Around season 2 is on the way, and we hope that this involves a good catch up with the shining star of episode 2.
We had been filming during long hot summer nights and the after effects of a scary date were still lingering for me on this last day of filming. But, James’ genuine smile gave me warmth and made for a perfect ending not only to this episode but to this experience. It’s not like it was arranged, even though he came from the same background. When I started having doubts, we were already engaged. I feel bad ‘cause I feel like keep feeling like they put all this pressure on me.
He was still filming the other episodes and was leaving town two days later, but he made the time and we met up for dinner. While she didn’t find love with any of her five blind dates on the show, Basra did spend almost two years in a relationship with a man she now says will be in her life forever. It’s rare for someone to actually find love on a reality show, and rarer still for it to blossom between on- and off-camera talent. Even though the relationship is now one of friendship, Basra says it’s still a love story worth learning from. Here, Basra recounts their unconventional love story to Refinery29. The format of the show allowed Gurki to go on five blind dates with five distinct personalities.
Dating Around turns reality dating on its head.
In any event, that Gurki didn’t feel pressured to pick any one of her five dates speaks volumes about Dating Around. Not only does a subject on a dating reality series Squirt pics choose to be alone, but her decision is treated with both respect and nuance. By contrast, similar shows like The Bachelor franchise, MTV’s Are You the One?
Within the industry, it’s taboo to date talent. Usually there’s a very clear line of no dating the cast, no talking to them on a personal level, et cetera, when you’re a part of the crew. But I think it seemed like an exception because of that horrible situation with Justin. I cried while James and I hugged, we talked a bit more, and then I went home.
Even if the relationship didn’t last forever, this whole thing still feels very serendipitous. I can honestly say after being with James, I was meant to be on the show… to learn not only that I want a relationship and love, but to learn what I want love to look like for me. I realize now that I do want to build a future with someone.