There Is No Offseason for TikTok’s Top LIB Correspondent

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Rikki Wise’s main occupation these days involves fact-checking the lives of reality TV stars, particularly during seasons of shows like “Love Is Blind”. Although she works as an office manager for a home-care company in Los Angeles, when “Love Is Blind” is on Netflix, she often dedicates between four to twelve hours daily to creating content for her TikTok account @storytimewithrikki. This account has garnered over 7.7 million likes. As Wise puts it, “During a season, you never know what’s going to happen.” Her dedication is such that she would even go to work with makeup on and ready for immediate video recording, should the need arise. During the airing of “Love Is Blind”, she essentially takes a month off her regular job to focus on her TikTok content.

Apart from passionately summarizing events and delving into backstage gossip, Wise – a journalism graduate – is well-known for dishing out insider cast information, such as SK’s infidelity scandal in season three and Tyler’s “secret-children controversy” in season seven. During the Minneapolis season, she conducted interviews with several women for a two-part video about Alex, featuring screenshots and location-tagged photos. (He has yet to address the video’s allegations, which include hosting parties where he supplied minors with alcohol at age 20, making inappropriate comments about sexual assault in texts and an essay, respectively.) Sometimes, relevant parties provide information directly, but Wise credits her audience for also aiding her in finding rumors online to verify. “Without them, I wouldn’t know half of what I know,” she says, explaining that this often begins with viewers sending her Reddit posts or Facebook group links and asking, “Is this true?” She notes that she has debunked false gossip in the past. “I appreciate it when my followers say, ‘We won’t believe it unless Rikkii confirms it, because then we know it’s been verified.’

In the current year, Wise debuted the “Reality Receipts Podcast” in partnership with Ashley Thomson, a well-known insider in the reality TV world (“She was instrumental in exposing the Trevor girlfriend scandal”). The two met through TikTok and have since developed a strong friendship. Their podcast climbed to No. 15 on Spotify’s TV and film chart within a month of its launch, having been the first to reveal that Sara and Joey from the latest season of “Love Is Blind” were dating. Wise claims they possess inside information about the upcoming seasons in Denver and Columbus as well. As they delve deeper into these casts, the pair have also been dishing on shows like “The Valley,” “Battle Camp,” “Temptation Island,” and various other reality series broadcast across different networks. Instead of adhering to a fixed release schedule, they publish episodes whenever there’s sufficient drama (in April, this meant 13 episodes in just 30 days). For someone who follows reality TV as if it were a sport, there’s no offseason: “It’s all about constant action: ‘go, go, go’.

How do you verify the authenticity of the tea you spread? I’ve become quite skilled at filtering out false information. I receive numerous emails and private messages daily containing extravagant claims. Once, someone contacted me to claim that a cast member was portraying herself as an innocent girl when in reality she was promiscuous and had several sexually transmitted diseases. I responded by saying, “You don’t have her medical records, you didn’t sleep with her…I’m not sure what you expect me to do with this information.” However, if there’s even a hint of truth, I’ll proceed by asking for more details and requesting proof. If it’s a text message, I require the phone number to cross-check online or through a phone service provider. I always need visual evidence; I always need screenshots. I also demand a receipt or some form of documentation to confirm the validity of the claim.

It seems you’re quite certain about your current system, but have there been instances in the past when you were deceived? Absolutely, there was a time that still lingers in my memory. In season five, a woman posted on TikTok – something we see often nowadays – who was a catfish. She claimed to be pregnant by Uche and had terminated the pregnancy. Can you imagine? I reached out to her, claiming she would send proof. My instincts told me to wait for the proof before posting, but I made a video about her video, only to find out later it was all false.

On that occasion, I expressed, “Wow, I made a mistake.” However, I promptly took action to correct it! I produced additional videos where I not only unmasked the deceiver but also located and contacted the genuine person whose photos were being misused. At that point, I was quite inexperienced. I wasn’t fully aware of the significance of my words or the trust people placed in me as a reliable source. Although it was regrettable, that experience served as a pivotal moment and lesson for me to comprehend the responsibility associated with my platform. Since then, I’ve always ensured to have evidence before posting anything again.

Inquiry: What prompted you to address the accusations against Alex in one of your recent videos?

Initially, I was hesitant. I thought, This is quite severe. A Reddit thread doesn’t seem substantial enough for me to comment. However, around seven or eight different women approached me independently about this matter. Their courage inspired me. I wondered, If they have the bravery to share their stories, why should I be timid about giving them a platform to speak?

Initially, they preferred to stay anonymous and weren’t comfortable with me disclosing certain details. I repeatedly explained that these details were crucial for the story, without them, we had little to work with. As the story developed, their perspective shifted to “If someone else is going to reveal this information, then you can share mine too.” They began feeling empowered and asserted, “We want our truth to be known. Even if these screenshots can be traced back to us, you can use them because they’re important, valid, and authentic.” There was a substantial amount of data to handle. It took me nearly a week to compile everything.

Had you contacted Alex prior to uploading the video?

No, typically I make an effort to reach out to people who are the subject of my stories to get their feedback. Mostly, they read my message but don’t respond. I saw that Alex viewed my Instagram Story when I posted it. However, the information in this particular case was so sensitive and directly related to him that… frankly, what else could I have said besides a falsehood?

Does it happen frequently that reality TV stars try to subtly manipulate their narratives by sharing information with you? Absolutely, and I can usually spot it from afar. Occasionally, I might get cast members dishing out secrets anonymously, and I can’t help but roll my eyes, thinking, “This is clearly so-and-so.” They may send an anonymous email filled with details… I think to myself, “Alright, you want me to make a video about you. Got it!

Have you ever wondered how it feels when someone questions your authenticity, as Ashley from LIB’s season seven did by labeling certain TikTok journalists “fake” during interviews? Well, let me tell you, I find it quite amusing because now the truth has been revealed! I even shared a video that demonstrated my knowledge of the texts coming from Tyler’s number. While I jest about asking for an apology, truthfully, I don’t hold it against her. In her position, she was simply defending her man. However, I understand that in the heat of the moment, people tend to believe what they want to believe. We’ve all been there!

People will often try to accuse me of lying, even when we’ve broken a big story on the Reality Receipts Podcast. For instance, the recent rumor about Sara and Joey dating – everyone was quick to dismiss it, saying “No, they’re not!” Sara even denied it on The Viall Files, but then Monica confirmed what I had said, adding credibility to my claim. Although they might prefer to label their relationship as “figuring things out” or something similar, Monica implied that they were indeed seeing each other. When I say I have reliable sources, I mean exactly that. I understand that people may not want to believe it when the news isn’t favorable, but the truth eventually comes to light in due time.

Hey there, fellow movie buff! I’ve been wondering if either Sara or Joey checked out my posts. To be honest, it seems like they might have since they’re both on Love Is Blind and these dating reality-TV shows tend to attract a similar audience. You know how it is, I see quite a few of them in my view count every now and then. It’s like, “Hey, girl!” [Laughs] Especially when there’s something negative about them, I find myself saying, “Well… I’m sorry! I don’t really know what to tell you.” [Shrugs with both hands up]

Have any Love Is Blind participants from the group consisting of Micah, Jess, Ashley, and originally Tyler (as he appears to have unblocked you on TikTok since he commented on one of your posts) blocked you on social media?

As a film enthusiast, if you choose to block me, I understand the action, but rest assured that I’ll continue to keep an eye on your content. The reason being, my followers will be more than happy to record and share any compelling content of yours with me. So, in essence, even if we can’t directly interact, I’ll still be able to catch up on your work.

If you decide to block me due to disagreements over our perspectives on a character from a heavily edited TV show, I find that rather unnecessary. After all, we’re simply expressing our thoughts influenced by what the producers chose to reveal. I hope you can see this too. If your true self doesn’t align with these portrayals, then there’s no need for offense. For instance, I once encountered Sandy from The Ultimatum at a concert and jokingly teased her, but my take on her character in the show wasn’t positive. However, she took it in stride and found humor in it. So, it’s important to remember that these opinions are not personal attacks.

Now, if you’re choosing to block me because of private information exposed after the show that you intended to keep confidential, I can empathize with that. But consider that reality TV inherently involves revealing personal details. If Sarah-Jo from grade school decided to share our fifth-grade altercation with me, it would only be natural.

However, if your reasons for blocking me stem from my podcast discussions about events in your real life that you wanted to keep hidden, then I can understand your decision. But participating in reality TV implies a willingness to expose such aspects of your life.

What recommendations could be given to Netflix’s casting team? Some viewers believe they could improve their vetting process for the show. One suggestion is that even in the absence of police reports or formal complaints, Netflix could take a closer look at social media groups for any concerning comments about potential cast members. For example, if someone has been labeled as a “player” or a “cheater,” it may not automatically disqualify them from participating in a dating experiment and finding love, because people can change. However, allegations similar to those made against Alex warrant more attention. Since women were already discussing these issues about Alex before the show aired, Netflix had an opportunity to reach out to some of them and investigate the claims themselves. If they had done so, it’s likely that Netflix would have decided to remove him from the show, as they did with Carter in season five.

Indeed, it seems to me that some individuals are chosen for their dramatic roles in life, as without such drama, there wouldn’t be much of a spectacle. A sprinkle of deceit or inconsistency can indeed make things more entertaining. Although many criticize Netflix for its casting choices, they couldn’t get enough of the Tyler scandal – you know what I mean? They were hooked on it. However, there comes a point where the drama becomes too much and crosses into unacceptable territory. It’s all about finding that sweet spot between entertainment and appropriateness.

Are you open to collaborating with Netflix on something? I’m really enthusiastic about hosting and conducting interviews. I’ve always dreamt of hosting a reunion and asking thought-provoking questions. [Laughs.] A dreamer at heart! However, it’s important for me to maintain my connection with my audience. I worry that a partnership with Netflix might restrict my creative freedom in terms of what I say, do, and share online. People seem to enjoy my content because it’s authentic, and I don’t want to compromise on that. But if there’s a way to balance both worlds, feel free to reach out!

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2025-05-21 19:56