’90 Day Fiancé’: Some Fans Wonder if Michael Is Faking His Affection for Angela; Others Think They’re the Real Deal
90 Day Fiancé stars Michael Ilesanmi and Angela Deem had a long, tumultuous road to the altar. But 32-year-old Michael and 54-year-old Angela finally got married in Michael’s home country of Nigeria on a recent episode of TLC’s 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After.
Many fans thought the big day would never come. The couple’s age gap, cultural differences, and difficulty in conceiving a child, as well as Angela’s fiery temper and extreme jealousy, led many 90 Day Fiancé viewers to believe that Michael was just pretending to love his older American bride.
Recently, 90 Day Fiancé fans took to Reddit to debate Michael’s possible reasons for being with Angela. Some argued that he simply wanted a green card in order to get to the U.S., while others thought their relationship might be more genuine than many believed.
Some fans thought Michael was pretending to love Angela for a green card
Michael and Angela have long sparked controversy and confusion among fans. At first, many viewers believed Michael’s intentions were merely to get a green card. Particularly due to Angela’s infertility and the couple’s frequent arguments, most fans seemed convinced that the pair wasn’t entirely sincere in their love for one another.
But, in a recent Reddit post, several 90 Day Fiancé fans recently admitted that they were now somewhat unsure about Angela and Michael’s true affection for each other.
“Honestly, initially, I thought he tolerated her because of the green card,” one Reddit user wrote in a post about Michael. “However, lately, he seems much more comfortable around her. I don’t know if it is some form of Stockholm Syndrome, or he is just that laser-focused on leaving Nigeria.”
The Reddit poster noted that they thought Michael’s relationship with Angela was particularly suspect because he seemed so tolerant of his wife’s attitude—and poker-faced and calm in the face of nearly every conflict.
Several other Redditors chimed in to argue that they thought Michael might simply be making the best of a tumultuous situation in an attempt to move to the U.S. and adopt a new way of life.
“I think Michael is trying to see the positive side and yes, is laser focused in his goal of getting to America,” a Reddit user speculated as to Michael’s motivations.
Other viewers were torn about his true motivations
On the same Reddit thread, some 90 Day Fiancé fans wondered if Michael might have initially sought Angela out in order to gain entry into the U.S., but had since fallen in love with her. Others admitted that they weren’t entirely sure either way, as they were with other couples (like Babygirl Lisa Hamme and Usman Umar, who had both seemed so transparent in their ulterior motives).
“Time will tell honestly,” one Reddit user wrote. “We’ll see what he does, when/if he gets the GC. Then we’ll know for sure if he’s just been the world best GC hunter, or legit loves her.”
Another Redditor wondered, “Is it great acting or he’s really into her? Maybe she grew on him.”
Several fans argued similarly that Michael’s true affections might have grown over time and developed into something deep and real, even if his initial motivations might have been less than pure. Meanwhile, others believed that—however the relationship began—both Angela and Michael were now committed to the relationship due to their shared love of fame and reality TV.
Some fans believed Michael and Angela were truly in love
On another Reddit thread, some 90 Day Fiancé fans insisted that Angela and Michael’s relationship was the real deal, through and through.
One Redditor argued that Michael was far too kind to Angela for what he got from her in return.
“I could see since their first appearance that he genuinely loves Angela,” the poster wrote of Michael. “She treats him horribly though. Very abusive on her part. And to my amazement, he just takes it. Doesn’t even yell at her or swear at her or disrespect her. He’s a really good man.”
Others believed that, all conflicts aside, Michael and Angela would be there for each other through thick and thin.
“Say what you want about Angela’s angry antics, but they seem to genuinely care for each other,” a Reddit user wrote.
Many 90 Day Fiancé couples have sparked controversy and debate around their potential motivations for getting together and appearing on the show. Angela and Michael continue to be one of the most hotly-contested couples among fans in that respect.
On the surface, their many major differences and ongoing arguments led many viewers to draw the conclusion that they were together for the wrong reasons.
However, some fans have come to change their minds about the pair. After all, they did make it through a difficult and tumultuous three years together—and weathered personal issues like Angela’s cancer scare and her mother’s worsening health—before getting married in Jan. 2020.
