Marissa Rubinetti is not in the dark about how fans see her relationship. “The fans have a lot to say,” she told Swooon. “They have a lot to say about us.”
That is putting it mildly. Season 12 of 90 Day Fiancé features Rubinetti, a Kleinfeld executive, and her fiancé Edward Gomez, a hospitality worker from the Dominican Republic. They have become one of the season’s most discussed couples, but not always for good reasons.
An Opposites Attract Story, By Her Own Admission
Rubinetti does not pretend she and Gomez make an obvious match. “I still look at us sometimes, too, and think we are so opposite, what are we seeing each other?” she said. “But sometimes a connection is more than just having the same interests.”
Her honesty is refreshing. It lays the groundwork for everything she says next about the couple’s criticism.
From Say Yes To The Dress To Center Stage
This is not Rubinetti’s first time on TLC. As a Kleinfeld VP, she had already appeared briefly on Say Yes to the Dress. But this time is different.
“It’s the biggest difference being on 90 Day Fiancé,” she said. “They’re really focusing on me personally, whereas Say Yes to the Dress, I was kind of just on the outskirts and not the center of attention.”
She and Gomez found the show through a Facebook group for K-1 visa applicants. This visa gives couples 90 days to marry, or the foreign partner must leave the country.
Reality TV Isn’t The Dream People Assume It Is
Rubinetti was candid about how hard the experience actually is. “It’s really hard,” she said. “You go into it thinking that it’s going to be really a fun experience, and there are times that it is a fun experience, but having your life and your relationship exposed on TV, and having cameras watching you, and going through all the ups and downs of your relationship is really tough.”
She said the pressure makes it tougher for two people to plan their future in just 90 days.
Fighting Back Against The “Bossy” Label
Many criticize Rubinetti online. They say she controls the relationship, while Gomez makes all the adjustments. She rejected that framing directly.
“They think that I am completely bossy and controlling, and I don’t give Edward his way, and I just want to rule his life, which is not true,” she said. “I want him to thrive in this country, I want him to become the best version of himself, and I want him to be successful. And me guiding him along the way isn’t necessarily trying to control his life, but it’s more of like him developing into the best version of himself.”
The Detail Fans Never Saw On Camera
Here is the part that changes the story a bit. Rubinetti says the fitness and healthy eating push was not her idea at all. Critics often focus on this issue.
“When I’m trying to get Edward to exercise and eat healthy, that’s at his request,” she said. “He came in, and he said, ‘Oh, I really want to lose weight. I really want to get in shape. Can you help me?’ I love fitness, so when he asked me, I wanted to help him the best I could. I’m not trying to like rule his life; I’m just trying to support what he’s asked me to.”
That context matters. Editing on reality TV rarely shows the full request behind a moment, and this is exactly the kind of detail that changes how a scene reads.
Edward Brings Something Out In Her Too
Rubinetti says the relationship works both ways. “Edward encourages me to relax and calm down and not make everything a big ordeal because I have a tendency to get nervous, and anxieties heighten whenever I have some stress on my plate,” she said.
Notably, she had sworn off marriage entirely before meeting him.
More Conflict Is Coming
Rubinetti did not sugarcoat what is ahead this season. “It doesn’t get better,” she laughed. “My stress and anxiety levels continue to rise, and that causes a lot of friction between Edward and I.”
She explained where a lot of that friction comes from. “I had asked him to be more prepared when he came to the United States, and the fact is, he wasn’t. He was not prepared to come here, at least to my expectation, my level of expectation. So, you’ll see a lot of conflict between us about money and just being proactive about getting your life started here.”
The Comments Have Been Brutal
Online reaction has not been kind. One fan wrote that Rubinetti has “become a blonde irritant.” Another said, “More and more, I cannot stand Marissa. She is so damn condescending and just downright hateful. I feel so bad for Edward. Then she shuts him down when he tries to talk. She’s awful.” A third comment targeted her look in a photo. It joked that a character from Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride was “about to lose a good man” because of it.
That last comparison is tough. It shows how personal the criticism of Rubinetti has become, going beyond just her relationship dynamic.
Would She Do It All Again?
Despite the harsh comments, Rubinetti says she would go through the experience again. “I would,” she said. “I mean, as much as it was a very difficult time to be filming the 90 days, at the end of it, it was a really great experience. Now I’m kind of watching myself back on TV, I’m learning a lot about myself, and I’m growing as a person. I’m like, ‘Wow, I could have probably said that in a different way’ or ‘I could have approached that topic differently.’”
She admitted the criticism, however harsh, has actually pushed her toward some self-reflection.
“It’s really hard. The comments are brutal, the fans are brutal, but it’s actually helping me to step back and look from the outside, and say, ‘You know what, I can be better,’” she said. “If I get on another season, it’s gonna be like my redemption season.”
Los Angeles–based entertainment writer covering reality TV, celebrity news, and pop culture exclusives.
