Yesterday we reported on MTV’s Catfish creator Nev Schulman’s new relationship advice show on Facebook with his wife of just one month, Laura Perlongo. These two have been together a total of two years and are still in the honeymoon period. I wondered what this over the top very demonstrative couple could actually teach people about relationships other than how to make yours look perfect by using social media. In a new interview with Page Six, Nev and Laura really dish the dirt on their relationship. Normally I wouldn’t report on these people two days in a row but I was pretty surprised by the stuff they revealed. They admitted that they “hooked up with another couple” and said they want to remove the stigma around that however they don’t classify themselves as in an open relationship. Nev also revealed that he broke up with Laura early on, just five weeks after they met. She said she responded to that by ghosting him and claimed that it worked and she recommends it. I guess these two are just as messed up as everyone else and they’ll tell you all about it. Here’s part of their interview with Page Six:
“We were dating for five weeks, just over a month, and I sort of freaked out,” Schulman, 32, told Page Six on the phone Wednesday while discussing their new ATTN: show titled “We Need to Talk.” “We were getting serious fast and I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that so I kind of said some things that were a little … I sabotaged it … I kind of broke up with her.”
A self-described “big fan” of “ghosting,” Perlongo said she disappeared on a pre-planned trip to Europe for two months, which left the “Catfish” host regretting his decision.
“If you want to be in my life, you can’t be trifling,” added Perlongo on the same call, laughing. “I think ghosting works. It’s worked in my life, so I’m a big fan. Some people think it’s not nice, but I think sometimes love isn’t nice.”
On “We Need to Talk,” which streams on Facebook, Schulman and Perlongo will answer audience questions about relationships and dating in the digital world.
Using their own experiences to navigate each episode, the couple will delve into a variety of tough to discuss topics, including open relationships and the stigma surrounding them, as they revealed they have hooked up with another couple.
“It wasn’t a big thing and it doesn’t define our relationship,” Perlongo explained, “but even after that now you’re labeled as those people who hooked up with another couple. I understand the fear of the stigma, but I think on the other hand because it’s commonplace to have these questions.”
She continued, “We want more people to come out and say, ‘We’ve done this’ or, ‘We want to try it’ because that kind of takes the stigma away … there shouldn’t be a stigma.”
Schulman acknowledged that there can be risks if a relationship isn’t strong enough.
“It’s a fun idea … But if your relationship isn’t great or if, for some reason, you feel like you need to sort of open your relationship to improve your relationship, it won’t work,” he advised. “It only adds problems. Just be careful with it.”
Navigating the world of dating apps can provide its own set of complications — people becoming “disposable” because of the endless options available — but both Schulman and Perlongo remain optimistic.
“You go to war a little bit on the apps, it’s true, but if I can give any piece of advice to anyone it’s that give second chances … once in a while,” she told Page Six. “I think a lot of people because of the disposability … we tend to cut people off too quickly. Stick around a little longer.”
They gave some decent advice at the end but the takeaway for me was that these people are shameless and perfect for each other. I’m sure they’re dysfunctional as hell but they’re on the same page with that. As for “reducing the stigma” around having threesomes and foursomes, I agree with not judging people for their preferences about monogamy but it’s difficult for me. I believe monogamy is a choice you make. If both partners want to bring in other people and it’s not one forcing the other that’s ok, but I doubt it’s that clear cut in practice. I’ve heard the argument that monogamy falls on a spectrum that’s similar to gender attraction but I have a hard time with that, likely because I’m firmly on one side of that spectrum, but also because I think its disrespectful to LGBTQ people. Anyway I think that bringing in other people is an asinine idea but I’m old and set in my ways.
As for breaking up early on when one side gets gun shy – isn’t that something you should discuss? Like if you really like the person be vulnerable, ask to talk and make adjustments. Breaking up and/or ghosting them sounds like you don’t give a sh-t. That’s a power play not a communication tactic. Does it seem like Nev and Laura are creating a job so that they learn better communication skills? Because counseling would be easier.
Are they trying to be the D List Kristin Bell/Dax Shepard?
..but when I read that headline I involuntarily said “Ew”
I know. They’re both adults and it’s their lifestyle choice. I’m not hear to shame them but damn I didn’t need to read that. LOL
That poor baby. Ugh.
Has anyone here ever done it? I am into the idea but I can’t exactly ask around within my network. Please share stories!
I was going to write these guys off until I saw the Randy’s Donuts shout out. There’s something to be said for a person who knows a good donut when they have one. Honk for Randy’s!
Sometimes I feel like a big prude when I read about other people’s sex lives. My husband and I, our bed, our sex life… that’s NEVER going to include another couple. For me it is sacred. It’s ours. I don’t want anyone else touching him, and I don’t want anyone else to touch me. I can’t even wrap my brain around how other couples do it. Again, big prude.
I hope no one is actually going to the relationship advice from these two
Can I just say….I don’t like them….something about them turns me off big time.
Individually. Catfish. I have no issues with either. Together talking about this after so little time together… take several seats. It’s silly.
Also, doubt they’ll last. Honestly. They’re still complimenting eachother in a sociological way. Not because it’s a match. That’s less likely.
Meh.
I think it’s because they’re so thirsty.
I agree with this…counselling is needed. It’s best when two screw ups contain themselves to their own kind. But these nits are giving out advice as if they have any that’s good or healthy. Drive by damage to others.
Can someone explain me who is she??? Is she a model, is she a TV personality, what does she do?
Ugh, I actually think that last paragraph is important. I definitely went the way of dating apps after my year of “dating myself” commenced. It was really easy to bounce to something else after a “meh” date, or quit if the stars didn’t align on the location and time of an impending date, or if the person didn’t respond back quick enough…How I met my husband, I was on eharmony. I actually really liked that I had to pay (I found people who paid tended to be more serious since there was an upfront financial investment) and I really liked I didn’t have unlimited access to people – I couldn’t look at a profile and say “Wow, we have absolutely nothing in common but he’s super hot, so maybe opposites will attract!” I was only paired with and had access to people who were matched to me. I also made sure I uploaded pics that truly looked like me, despite feeling crummy about some substantial weight gain. Somehow my now husband and I started messaging back and forth, and arranged to a date that I had to cancel 3 times due to my mother being in the hospital. I often think how lucky I was he was so patient and understanding and didn’t write me off after the first cancellation…or the second….or third, haha.
I’d much rather hear from a low-key couple who have endured genuine hardships. Not having a daily photo opp to post to social media is not a hardship in my book.
She gives me Jodi Arias vibes for some reason. I’m not even sure why exactly because unlike Jodi, she has shown that she can be fine without Nev by going “ghost” on him when he broke up with her. And she looks nothing like Jodi. But somehow I feel like if/when they divorce, it won’t be smooth or amicable.
I don’t know, but they do make an attractive couple.
Haha, I was scrolling down those photos and got to one and thought, “Ah, OK, she’s crazy”. I don’t even know why I thought it, it was just an automatic reaction. There is just something about her that looks very, very unstable to me. So, maybe you’re getting a similar vibe! Of course, I could be totes wrong…
He shows up a lot in Cat Marnell’s memoir — some really funny stories about them being roommates.
I’m baffled that someone hired them for a relationship show. They’re not counselors, and they’ve been in a relationship for a pretty short amount of time.
I feel like the guy behind them on the plane.
Weirdos.
In an episode of “The Untold Stories of Catfish,” it was revealed that Nev was actually in an on-again/off-again relationship with another catfish when he started a relationship with his now wife. So, not completely surprised that their relationship is open.
I give it 18 months
I always assumed he was gay when watching catfish. After seeing so many relationships curated to look perfect on Facebook, only to end in flames, I’m VERY put off by these levels of social media PDA.
These two creep me out big time.There`s something off about them.
i m surprised by how super negative everyone is about them, but this is the first time i’ve ever heard of them…
from what i read, i don’t really see anything wrong. i kinda dig that they’re open about the swinger foursome whatever that was, sounds hot 😉 and yeah there’s too much stigma. if it floats your boat and it’s consensual … i dunno… can totally see it as super risky for couple dynamics, but that’s a choice they made together so whatevs…
and it was probably really smart of her to ghost him after he was lame and wishy-washy. i feel like it’s frankly valuable advice. men just seem to function that way, generally speaking.
I like these two. I follow her snapchat and both of them on instagram and she’s quirky and cool and clearly adores her family. I can see why some might think they’re a bit TMI but hey, they’re not discussing anything that we don’t hear people discuss regularly. They may not have been together for long but as 30-something’s they have enough collective relationship experience between them. Any public forum that could potentially help people to make positive decisions or changes in their lives gets the thumbs up from me 👍