Love Is Blind’s Patrick Suzuki Still Believes Love Is Blind, Actually

by

It’s still early in the season, but the Denver edition of Love Is Blind has already done something new: a breakup that happened right after the couples revealed themselves, but *before* their vacation. Patrick Suzuki, an Asian American man who worries about how his ethnicity affects things, proposed to Kacie McIntosh, a white woman, and she said yes-but quickly started having doubts after seeing him. In a confusing conversation at her hotel, a stressed McIntosh told Suzuki she didn’t want to go on the usual post-engagement trip with him. She never directly said she was ending things, even though Suzuki kept asking if that’s what was happening. McIntosh claimed it wasn’t about how he looked, but the timing felt significant, and the show highlighted the underlying issues, especially considering how much time it spent showing Suzuki worrying about being an Asian American man.

On its own, this situation is a common struggle for Asian American men, who are often seen as less desirable in the U.S. dating world. But this is Love Is Blind, and things are rarely straightforward. In the pods, Suzuki found himself attracted to both McIntosh and Anna Yuan, another Chinese American contestant who initially captured more of his attention. Both Suzuki and Yuan grew up in Colorado, where they were surrounded by mostly white potential partners. However, before they could explore a connection, Yuan decided to leave the show, which led Suzuki to focus on McIntosh and, ultimately, to experience heartbreak.

During a Zoom call the week the ninth season premiered, Suzuki seemed like a completely changed person. He explained that since filming wrapped, he’s been dedicated to personal growth. “I’ve gone to a lot of therapy,” he said, “and I’ve been working on many things about myself – both internally and externally. I’ve been hitting the gym really hard, and trying my best to stay focused on work and learning.”

First off, how are you doing?
Man, things have been hectic, with so much support coming from my friends and family. It’s been surprisingly positive online too. I mean, it’s just the internet, but it’s still great to see.

So, you and Kacie got engaged, the reveal went well, and everything appeared good. But then, at the hotel, she seemed to hesitate. Can you describe what that moment felt like for you?
It was a really confusing mix of feelings. I initially thought, Maybe the stress of everything was just getting to her, and she wanted to go home. I was incredibly anxious, because we weren’t supposed to see each other until we arrived in Mexico. When I found out she wanted to talk, it was like a rollercoaster – my heart would sink, then race. I just wanted to stay calm and listen to what she had to say.

Were you worried about what was going to happen when you were taken to the hotel?
I was definitely starting to feel scared. But we were a very close team, even though the show didn’t show all of it. She was the only person I had. They took away our phones, so I couldn’t talk to my friends or do anything at all. It was just me and her, and I trusted her completely.

You met with her, and she was very upset, but she wasn’t actually ending the relationship. It was a really confusing conversation. She also said the show’s producers were asking if her doubts were about your appearance, but she told them that wasn’t the case. How did you react to that?
I was caught off guard. I hadn’t seen her in a while, so I was just glad to see her and wanted to hug and comfort her. I was mainly thinking, Let’s try to understand what’s going on with you. If you’re feeling pressured about this, I trust you and want to work through it together.

When did it finally feel like the relationship was over for good?
I honestly wasn’t sure. It was a strange situation, to be frank. Part of me thought, Is she actually trying to fix things? Is she not trying to end this? But I couldn’t figure out what she meant. It wasn’t until I had time to sort through my feelings… it probably took about a week to hit me, Oh, I see now, she was letting me know she couldn’t continue.

Have you reconnected at all since filming wrapped up? To be honest, not really. After we finished filming, things just sort of fizzled out. We didn’t have many conversations. We exchanged a few texts, but I never had a chance to talk to her privately, one-on-one.

How do you interpret her decision?
I focus on what she *did* rather than what she said. I specifically asked to talk, either in person or over the phone, but she told me she wasn’t prepared to. I respected her feelings; if she needed more time, that was enough for me to understand that a resolution wasn’t going to happen. It’s best for both of us to simply move forward separately, even without a clear explanation or ending.

Do you think her response wasn’t related to your appearance?
I initially did believe her. However, after reviewing the footage… I suppose I had a feeling all along. I simply attempted to move past it and recover, which proved to be a much longer process than anticipated. But yes, watching the recording clarified things.

During the show, viewers noticed you seemed to connect with both Anna and Kacie. You and Anna had a lot in common – you both are Asian American and from Colorado. It seemed like you really hit it off. Growing up where you did, you mostly dated white people. Can you talk about what your connection with Anna meant to you?
Yeah, it’s tough because I don’t think the show showed all the fun, joking moments we had. We initially thought we’d just be friends, but we clicked instantly, and that connection naturally grew into something romantic. I think we both thought, Wait, this could actually work. Her parents lived in Fort Collins, and my parents were in Longmont, only about an hour away. It felt like everything lined up in terms of how we wanted to live our lives. We had so much fun, we laughed a lot, and we wanted the same things, which helped our friendship develop into something more.

When she left the show, were you immediately thinking of her as the best option?
Absolutely. She departed in the middle of the production, and you usually consider a few different actors, but we really felt a strong connection with her.

Shortly after Anna left, you were chatting with the guys and mentioned feeling “too similar” to her. Was that a genuine feeling, or were you just saying that to shield your feelings?
We were just joking around, and I was pointing out how alike we were – things like growing up in similar environments and both trying to downplay our backgrounds in the pods. So, it was probably taken a little out of context, but it was mostly meant as a lighthearted comment.

Anna leaving seemed to shift your feelings towards Kacie, with whom you already had a strong bond. How did things move so quickly to an engagement? Having not experienced the pods myself, it feels like a sudden change of heart.
Being in those pods for ten days is incredibly intense, and I was actually getting to know both Anna and Kacie at the same time. It wasn’t just Anna; I was dividing my time equally between them, day and night. While I was upset when Anna left, I was deeply invested in the experiment at that point. I started to confront my own insecurities, and I realized some of my concerns were rooted in my identity as an Asian man. A bit of ego also started to surface.

Let me tell you, I was receiving a lot of positive attention from many women, not just those two. They kept telling me things like, “You’re confident, you’re cool, I like you.” It felt really amazing. It was incredible – for the first five days, they didn’t even realize I was Asian, and it was great to see that. It just made me think that, honestly, is love truly blind.

Really?
Look, as a movie buff, I always think about chemistry on screen, and yeah, there *needs* to be some physical attraction, at least a little. But honestly, when you’re talking about *real* love – the kind that runs deep – I think it goes beyond that. It’s kinda blind, you know? Like, it doesn’t *see* flaws the same way.

You mentioned briefly concealing your background, and I observed a significant pause when directly asked about it. Could you share what you were considering in that moment?
I was torn. A part of me wanted to keep it private for as long as possible. But another part felt that wouldn’t be right. I felt it would be unfair to not tell this woman I was Asian, because there are important cultural and ethical considerations when building a life together. My mother came directly from Cambodia, and she’s very… I’m not sure how to describe it… very deeply connected to her Cambodian heritage. Initially, I thought it wasn’t necessary to discuss it. But then I realized that if I’m not being open and vulnerable, it’s not fair to ask someone to marry me without them knowing the real me.

Before you started filming, did you have a support system of other Asian men in Colorado to talk about your experiences with dating? Or was Love Is Blind the first time you really explored those feelings?
Not at all. I’ve been talking with other Asian men for years. I have a huge family – a hundred cousins! – and we all share similar experiences. This topic comes up constantly. It’s not just a U.S. thing either; it happens everywhere outside of Asia – in Europe, Canada, and so on. My cousins and I have been discussing this for a long time.

You said the healing process was lengthy. How did you cope with everything that happened?
I did a lot of traveling. I was born and raised in Colorado, and growing up, I was usually the only Asian student in my class, so I didn’t realize there was anything different. It wasn’t until I moved to L.A. in my late 20s that I discovered there are many places in the U.S. with a larger Asian population and more diverse cultures. That was a real eye-opener. I love Colorado – my family is all here – but I didn’t have much exposure to those cultures growing up. It was a journey of discovery, and I got to explore other cities. I visited Seattle and Europe, and really immersed myself in different cultures. New York was amazing. Do you live in New York?

I previously lived there, but now I live in Vancouver. The city has a large Asian population-around 60 percent.
I feel a need to return. All that travel really broadened my horizons and helped me grow as a person. It taught me that race and ethnicity aren’t the most important things. Often, people are simply shaped by where they come from, and sometimes all it takes is a fresh outlook to heal and develop.

What motivated all your travels?
I really wanted to visit all the Chinatowns. I know it might seem strange, but I felt I needed to. First of all, the food is amazing. And second, I just wanted to experience them firsthand.

How has this experience shaped you going forward?
That situation, and the disappointment that followed learning the truth, really taught me the importance of self-assurance. You need to believe in yourself and value what you offer in a relationship. Don’t be afraid to be yourself. It helped me grow a lot, and that’s how I see it.

Are you dating right now?
Yeah. I’d like to keep that private for now.

Did Mom get a chance to watch the show yet?
Maybe she will soon. It’s really funny, so I asked her yesterday if she was planning to watch it. But she responded by asking if I wanted something to eat! She always tries to take care of me like that – you know how Asian moms are. I just told her, “Okay, Mom, no worries. I’ll see you in a few days.”

Read More

2025-10-03 17:57