'Love Is Blind' Shake Calls Zanab 'Amber Heard', Demands Justice For Cole
By Kristin Myers on November 11, 2022 at 8:30 AM EST
Abhishek Chatterjee, better known as Shake, was known as the "villain" of season 2 of "Love Is Blind" but his brutal honesty in admitting that he was not physically attracted to the girl he was engaged to marry, Deepti Vempati.
However, he wasn't the only one criticized for body shaming. In season 3 of the hit Netflix reality series, multiple contestants had a lot to say about their partner's physical appearance.
But it was Zanab Jaffrey who attempted to "pull a Deepti," at the altar, as fans say, calling out Cole Barnett for weeks of alleged body shaming that was not shown on screen.
During the reunion special that aired on Wednesday, Zanab claimed that a cut scene involving two oranges was her proof that Cole was trying to police her eating. However, the full clip shows Cole expressing concern that she had only eaten a banana all day. It also shows Zanab admitting that he offered her a poke bowl for lunch, but that she had turned it down because they ate the same thing the night before.
'Love Is Blind' Fans Take Sides Between Zanab and Cole
However, in post-reunion interviews, Zanab claimed that she suffered from an eating disorder and needed to go to therapy to recover from the way he treated her (at the altar, she claimed that he had "single-handled shattered her self-confidence.")
Shake is clearly over the drama and took to his Instagram Stories to call Zanab Amber Heard, the former wife of Johnny Depp who made allegations of abuse against the actor and was later found guilty of defamation in a Washington Post op-ed about abuse earlier this year.
Shake Slams Zanab's So-Called 'Apology' To The Internet
In his Instagram Stories, Shake reposted one photo of Zanab, writing, "This girl tried to pull a Deepti but ended up looking like Amber Heard."
He also took aim at her so-called "apology" to Cole in an Instagram post on Thursday, writing, "Cole, I fought for us until I couldn’t anymore. I know you know that. I know you know why I said what I said. I know you know what you did. It’s ok if you aren’t ready to talk about that yet. Zae."
Zanab then went off on those that criticized her online, writing "the only apology the internet will get:"
"I am sorry. I’m sorry you weren’t in that relationship. I’m sorry you didn’t feel what I felt. I’m sorry we don’t have the same triggers. I’m sorry me standing up for myself, offended you so greatly. I’m sorry you didn’t see all the reasons for what I said. I’m sorry you didn’t live that with me. I’m sorry that you don’t know me. I’m sorry your insecurities are different than my own. I’m sorry your online hate says so much more of you than it ever will of me. I’m sorry Deepti’s wedding was a week before mine, long before you or I knew her story. I’m sorry you are attacking my faith. I’m sorry you don’t believe me. I’m sorry I know how worthy I am. I’m sorry you have the time to be a keyboard warrior. I’m sorry I’m not a paid actress. I’m sorry I can’t cry on demand. I’m sorry you feel manipulated, gaslit and played. I’m sorry I’m your villain. I’m sorry I’m your bad guy - I promise you I’m not."
"One thing about me, I choose my words carefully and I stand by everything I said."
However, Shake wasn’t buying it. “Are you kidding with this?” he asked. “I know JUST the person who you can have a pity party with. Maybe she can help you write a book about your experience.”
Deepti recently published a memoir about her experiences on the show, calling it "I Choose Myself," based on the words she said to Shake at the altar.
Shake was quick to fire off a shot at Deepti, too, reminding fans that "This wedding was a pre planned 'No' where I asked production to let Deepti answer first to minimize her embarrassment (at the expense of mine)."
"We still partied until 5 in the morning. My groomsmen and her bridal party," he added. "What she turned that into is mind blowing to me."
Shake Demands #JusticeForCole
"I know I'll never get an apology from my castmates," Shake admitted. "But EVERYONE on season 3 owes [Cole] one. That includes the useless hosts Nick and Vanessa."
Nick and Vanessa Lachey have come under scrutiny from "Love Is Blind" fans for seemingly preferring some contestants over others.
"The point is, think twice before you agree/disagree with someone just because 'everyone else is,'" Shake went on. "Use your own brain and think for yourself. #justiceforcole."
Season 3 of "Love Is Blind" is currently available to stream on Netflix. No release date has been announced for season 4, which has reportedly already finished filming.