“Love Is Blind”: Uche Explains Missing Reunion as Lydia Claims He's 'Obsessed' and Made 'Bets' on Her Relationship

As Uche Okorhoa explained his absence and promised to address what was said about him at the reunion, Lydia Velez Gonzalez exclusively told PEOPLE that Uche bet on her and Milton Johnson getting married

Warning: This post contains spoilers from Love Is Blind season 5.

Love Is Blind's Uche Okoroha is revealing the reason he missed the show's season 5 reunion.

While some fans may suspect he skipped the taping to avoid being put in the hot seat due to his actions and words on the show, Uche, 34, explained in a post on his Instagram Story on Monday that he was away on a business trip.

"Unfortunately I was unable to attend the reunion due to being out of town on a business trip," he wrote. "As an entrepreneur, building my company is a big part of my life and it's taken me 7 years to get where I am now. My time is finite and there was an incredible opportunity that I could not risk missing to record a TV show."

Related: Love Is Blind: The Biggest Bombshells from the Season 5 Reunion

However, he acknowledged that viewers — and his fellow castmates — likely still have some pressing questions for him, especially after the discussions involving him that took place during the reunion. As the cast reunited without Uche, they formed a united front when it came to their distaste of Uche's behavior while filming, including his alleged constant badmouthing of other contestants behind their backs.

"Accountability is important to me. I have watched the reunion and there are several things that I will be addressing soon. You will not be left without answers, I promise," Uche added in his post, teasing more to come.

The lawyer and entrepreneur's update about his absence from the reunion came hours after he shared a cryptic photo on his Instagram Story, seemingly showing off his new girlfriend. The shot featured a shadow image of him holding hands with a mystery woman.

In an interview on the Miss Understood podcast earlier this month, Uche confirmed he was no longer single. "I’m in a relationship. I have a girlfriend," he said, noting that his experience on the show has given him a new perspective when it comes to relationships.

“I think a lot of the things that I have learned from this show has already helped me in my relationship, in terms of my communication and watching my tone and choosing my words very carefully,” he explained. “I think that has helped out immensely, and I’m thankful for having those lessons. I do think it’s made me not only a better man, a better communicator, but a better boyfriend in my relationship.”

Related: Love Is Blind's Lydia and Uche on What They Knew Before the Show — and the Role Producers Played (Exclusive)

During the reunion episode, Aaliyah Cosby — who left the experiment early after discovering that Uche and fellow season 5 participant Lydia Velez Gonzalez had previously dated — shared her skepticism about whether the two plotted to come on the show together.

"You told multiple women you were hoping to run into somebody from your past," Aaliyah told Lydia. "We had a conversation, one on one, outside of filming, where you told me that you and Uche discussed coming on this show... I just want answers."

Lydia dismissed the claim, telling Aaliyah she didn't know Uche would be part of the experiment. "We had a conversation of two seconds in November 2021, 'Oh yeah, I saw the casting [call]. Oh yeah, I did too.' And that was it," she said. "I had — and I'm going to say it really clearly for the public — I had no confirmation that Uche was going to be there."

Related: Love Is Blind's Lydia Says the 'Ship Has Sailed' on a 'Great Friendship' with Aaliyah (Exclusive)

Milton Johnson, with whom Lydia ultimately tied the knot, also spoke about how Uche repeatedly attempted to pry into his relationship with Lydia during filming — as if he was still hung up on her — and even texted him on his wedding day for details.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE last week, Lydia took things a step further, accusing Uche of being "obsessed" with her relationship with Milton.

"He had bets against me and Milton getting married — like actual bets," she revealed. "And I'm like, 'Why are you so concentrated on someone that is not yourself?'"

"Our relationship passed, and I promise you that day, [I said], 'This is the last time you're even going to see my face.' And I kept my promise. I kept my word, and I don't know why he [has] this infatuation with my relationship. If I can tell him something right now, it's like, 'Please let it go. Keep my name out of your mouth because I don't want to be in it,'" she continued.

She also addressed the text message she received from Uche when the show began airing, offering to talk to her about anything that went down on camera — and the shocking revelation that he sent the exact same message to Aaliyah.

"Now you have the nerve to send the same text to me and Aaliyah? It's like, no, I'm not going to speak to you. No I'm not. You're going to spread lies, go for it. Serve it with a huge platter. I know my truth. I know that I didn't do all the things that you're accusing me of, and I'm fine with it," she said, adding, "I am just over him."

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Love Is Blind season 5 is streaming in full on Netflix.

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