After four years on the air, fans still can't get enough 90 Day Fiance, the quirky reality show about international couples meeting and falling in love as deadlines for their visas quickly approach.
But, of course, not everyone featured on the show is living happily ever after. One of the show's original stars, Danielle Jbali, says she is flat broke, and blames her situation partly on the show.
In an emotional Facebook post on December 1, Jbali shared her tough financial situation with fans, and begged them to help her get back on her feet.
"Well I need to address something," her post began.
As she went on to explain, fans have been speculating about her life without knowing "the whole story," so Jbali decided it was time to "set the record straight."
"I work two jobs and go to school full time trying to better myself so I can get a better job," she wrote.
"One job I work eight hours as a home health aide and the other job I take care of mentally handicapped adults and that job cut my hours down to 20," she explained.
"My oldest daughter goes to college full time and she [has] dealt with some medical issues for the last two months," she added.
Jbali also revealed that she bought a trailer, which was meant to be "a home for me and my girls," but now expects she will have to move after falling behind on her lot rent.
The mobile home park actually took Jbali to court, and could still force her to leave despite the fact that she eventually paid the overdue rent.
It didn't help her situation when Jbali discovered black mold under her bathroom floor, which had to be replaced. She also says a pair of water line breaks put her even further in debt.
Despite appearing on a popular reality show, Jbali actually says her time on 90 Day Fiance - specifically the split from her ex-husband Mohamed - is at the heart of her current money trouble.
"I bought my trailer with cash. I had to pay a lawyer to do the divorce," Jbali revealed in a recent interview.
"We don't make tons of money from TLC on this show. I don't know what people are talking about. I bought things that I needed and did things I need."
Other couples featured on 90 Day Fiance have backed up Jbali's claim, revealing they were paid next to nothing, especially when compared to the stars of shows like Teen Mom.
A friend of 90 Day Fiance couple David and Annie who appeared on the show claimed that David earned just $1,000 an episode, and another $2,500 to appear on the show's tell-all special.
Annie, meanwhile, was not allowed to earn a cent because she was in America on a temporary visa.
If Jbali's paycheck was anything like David's, it's easy to see how her cash from the show would be long gone by now.
While Jbali is making extra money by taping cameos or promoting products, she says it's just not enough to keep her family afloat.
While the reality star only asked for prayers on social media, not money, a friend has since approached her offering to set up a GoFundMe page for her family.
The fundraiser aims to collect $5,000 to help Jbali get out of the red and stay in her home.
You can visit the GoFundMe page for Jbali and read more about her story at this link.
[H/T: In Touch]
