The Ultimatum just made Netflix history with unprecedented contestant removal

The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On season 4 finally hit Netflix on Wednesday, July 15. As soon as the experiment started for all six couples, it ended for one couple after one contestant broke the rules.

For the first time in the history of The Ultimatum, a couple has been removed from the reality TV series by production.

At the end of The Ultimatum season 4 episode 2, the six couples gathered with Nick and Vanessa Lachey for "The Choice." It's the phase of the experiment when the contestants choose their person to couple up with for the next part of the experiment.

When the couples gathered, Nick and Vanessa revealed that one contestant, Jebin John, broke the rules when he tried to hand a note to his partner, Alex Johnsen, earlier in the experiment. Episode 2 ends with Vanessa revealing that production got the note before Alex could read it, and they asked her to read it on camera to the rest of the couples, which she does at the beginning of the third episode.

What did Jebin's note say?

The third episode opens with Alex reading Jebin's note in front of everyone. It's an interesting choice to make her do that in front of the group, but it's clearly out of transparency for everyone involved.

Here's what the note from Jebin to Alex reads:

"I'm really not sure what you came here to do. You already had two dates with Killian. Then you look me dead in the face and say you're falling for someone. You say that you should go talk to him. You say his name over and over to me and point at him when he walks by."

"Up until this point, this experience has made me feel less confident in you. Clearly, you have something else in your mind. I am not the focus for you.

"I don't want you to make me look dumber than you already have. You ruined it. You ruined everything. You f***ed us over. I want to say things can get better, but this time, you did it. I honestly hope to God you guys weren't touching on camera.

"I'm not f***ing doing this. Who knows what else you've done? You're into him. I don't even know. There is no way we are getting married."

After Alex reads the note, Nick opens the room up for discussion. Alex claims that she didn't do anything wrong. Killian gets involved, and he claims that he and Alex actually connected because Jebin and Killian are so similar with their sense of humor.

Finally, after the cast basically begged him, Jebin apologizes to Alex for putting her in that position and for what he said, but the damage is done. Nick and Vanessa ask him to leave the show, and he does without another word.

Unfortunately, Alex leaves the show, too, because there is an odd number of participants.

So, how did Jebin break the rules of The Ultimatum?

The note is full of problematic, troubling, abusive language, and shaming. That could have been enough for Jebin to be banned from the experiment. The other part of the issue is that Jebin tried to go around producers and the show by communicating with his partner outside of the show. Interactions are supposed to happen on camera.

There are times in the show when these couples are not supposed to converse with each other for a few reasons. First of all, these trial marriages are meant to test the contestants by spending time apart. Second, the show, of course, wants these conversations to play out.

I understand both aspects, but it's quite challenging to enforce, especially when the trial marriages begin because the cameras just aren't with these contestants all hours of the day and night. This show, specifically, in the past has struggled to show things that play out. Often, something happens off camera, and then we just see the fallout or the second or third conversation.

Anyway, The Ultimatum season 4 continues on Netflix with only five couples remaining after Alex and Jebin's removal. Only four couples continue with the process and go into the next phase of the experiment: the trial marriages.

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