Taylor Swift once said, “Hey Stephen, I know looks can be deceiving,” and she was apparently right. I think everyone watching Love is Blind season 7 assumed the ginger of the cast, Stephen Richardson, was as white as they come, but he enthusiastically revealed to Monica Davis that he is actually mixed race. During the same conversation, he called Monica (who’s Black and Latina) a “mutt,” which is a pretty insane thing to say in 2024, but she somehow appeared unbothered. Since the first six episodes of the season aired, Stephen’s been getting backlash for using that word. So, let’s get into it: Here’s everything we know about Stephen Richardson, including details about his family and ancestry.

Love Is Blind: Stephen’s Ancestry, Job, Family, Instagram

Breaking Down Love Is Blind Star Stephen’s Ancestry

Basically, Stephen thought he was Italian, but his sister’s 23andMe DNA test told a different story. While chatting with Monica in the pods, he was excited to tell her about his West African ancestry. “For the most part, I identity as white,” he clarified before explaining that his father is “three-fifths or half Black.” In an interview with People, Stephen specified that he has Nigerian, Ghanaian, and Congolese ancestry. When he shared that he did some research to learn more about his African heritage, Monica said she thought that was “very cool.”

Stephen told People that his mother always said to him him, “You’re a mutt.” (Oh, dear. There’s that word again.) “I was told I was Italian,” he explained. “And so it was so cool to finally be connected to a culture versus just having, you’re a mixture of things.” He claims that he grew up “being so proud” of his alleged Italian heritage, which apparently ~is not a thing~. It was his grandmother who told him that he was Italian, but she passed away a few years ago. “So just a bunch of questions, no answers,” Stephen continued. “It was very weird.” I have to agree. That is pretty damn weird.

Mind you, in a screenshot he shared of the 23andMe results, it says Stephen is 13 percent Sub-Saharan African, so wouldn’t that mean his father is only about a quarter African? IDK, I can’t do math.

What Is Stephen From Love Is Blind‘s Instagram?

I’m honestly a little confused why you wanna follow Stephen on Instagram, but you can find him at @officialrichardson if you’re so inclined. Whichever producer stalked Stephen’s Insta and decided he was perfect for this show… I have questions for you. In January 2023, this man posted the wildest caption I’ve ever seen in my life: “‘Don’t expect any change from me’ -Kim Jong Il/ Me to a homeless man in DC once.” Simply why?? Aside from that completely unhinged moment, you’ll also find a lot of photos and videos of his daschund, Clementine. I think Clementine should’ve been cast instead.

What Is Stephen From Love Is Blind‘s Job?

Stephen’s a former Marine, and these days, he’s a proud electrician. It seems like he’s back to work after his Love is Blind stint — on October 4, he posted a series of photos and videos from a day on the job. “Grinding my life and my joints away until there is nothing left,” he wrote in his caption. Well, that’s sad.