Love Is Blind’s Izzy and Stacy Deny Bullying Johnie — Though He Admits to ‘Disgusting’ Behavior (Exclusive)

Warning: This post contains spoilers from the Netflix Season 5 finale Love is blind.

Love is blindIzzy Zapata and Stacy Snyder want to set the record straight after fans criticized their behavior during a tense standoff with costar Johnie Maraist.

At the beginning of Season 5 of the Netflix hit, Izzy bonded with Johnie in the pods. At the same time, Izzy was also forming a relationship with Stacy. Izzy eventually broke things off with Johnie to pursue Stacy and the two became engaged.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing as Johnie was quick to criticize Izzy for his choice, claiming he wouldn’t be as happy with Stacy and even attacking Stacy for her physical appearance. The trio eventually got into a heated argument at the barbecue that escalated to the point where some accused Stacy of “abusing” Johnie.

Now, Izzy and Stacy — who made it to the altar but didn’t tie the knot in the Season 5 finale — are sharing their take on the situation exclusively with PEOPLE.

Love is blindIzzy Describes His Emotional Wedding Day And His ‘Switch-Flip’ Moment (Exclusive)

Izzy talks to Chris and Stacy at the Love Is Blind cast barbecue.

Courtesy of Netflix

Izzy admits that he regrets the situation and wishes he had done things differently.

“It was despicable behavior on my part, how I did it, I guess how I put it,” he says. “But… I don’t regret calling her out for the truth. I just did it. I’d say it was poor delivery, but I don’t regret the message.”

“It was definitely worse than I thought,” he says, looking back at the scene. “I was really disgusted with myself when we saw it. I didn’t think it would be that bad… But I learned from it. I saw my mistake and moved on.”

Love is blind’with Stacy on Izzy’s ‘Big Mistake’ — and Why His Wedding ‘Surprised’ Her (Exclusive)

Izzy, 31, however, doesn’t think fans’ claims of violent behavior are justified and insists he and Stacy, 34, were “definitely not bullies”.

“People said, ‘Oh, you’re obsessed with Johnie that you have to go back and talk to Johnie.’ And I said, ‘I didn’t care about Johnie at that point.’ I didn’t even want to have that conversation with her. I was told to have that conversation with her,” he says. “So, if it were up to me, I wouldn’t have said anything to her and just minded my own business with Stacy, but we had to have that conversation.”

“Obviously my behavior was bad and the delivery was bad. But at the same time, if you’re all going to sit here and hold me accountable for my behavior, why can’t we hold her accountable for what she did?” asks Johnie, 32. “There was a thing [with her other pod connection Chris Fox] — find out what she said about me when I interrupted her — [and] the way she talked about Stacy. And then she started telling the girls like, ‘Oh, he’s going to regret it or Stacy is going to be disgusted when he sees her at the unveiling because she’s not attractive.’ And so it was all just building up to where it escalated.”

Izzy and Stacy at a barbecue with the cast of ‘Love Is Blind’.

Courtesy of Netflix

Defending her now-ex-fiancée, Izzy adds, “Stacy didn’t do anything. Stacy minded her own business. When we were in a group with guys, we didn’t want to reveal who we were dating because it got sticky. So Stacy did. And just because Johnie was telling the whole world that I was her number 1 but Stacy kind of kept it quiet, Johnie thought Stacy was being vague for keeping it quiet…Stacy is the only person, she kept her mouth shut after hearing all that the things he says, like…come on. There’s only so much we can take. You’ve got to stand up for yourself.”

Love is blind’with Stacy on Izzy’s ‘Big Mistake’ — and Why His Wedding ‘Surprised’ Her (Exclusive)

Stacy has a similar perspective, telling PEOPLE, “The exact opposite of what people experience has happened, which is super frustrating.”

“I understand that every story has to have a plot or a hero and a villain, but how this whole thing unfolded was literally the opposite,” she says. “I never felt the need to talk to people about what she was saying about me behind my back because I didn’t care and moved on.”

“And then it just went on, where it was like she was trying to put me down, put me down and make me look bad in front of other people. People I knew would come up to me and tell me what she was saying, including my physical appearance that she was attacking.” , she continues. “At the barbecue, me and her and Milton were sitting outside and Milton was saying to Johnie like, ‘Hey, I don’t know if you know Stacy very well. I don’t remember talking to her in the pods, but we met in Mexico and she was great cool.’ And Johnie says, ‘Oh, isn’t she memorable?'”

“She pushed my buttons,” he explains. “And I just let it slide. And then I said, ‘This is not right for me. You’re crossing the line and I’m going to handle it. . . . That’s why I was so fiery. I’m here trying to be a compassionate, understanding woman to another woman. And then I find out you’re doing the opposite, and then you start attacking me and telling me I’m cheating. I was in shock. And I had it.”

The cast at the barbecue in the movie ‘Love is blind’.

Courtesy of Netflix

Although Izzy and Stacy were together at a barbecue, things ended up falling apart on their wedding day as Izzy said yes to forever and Stacy said no at the altar.

“I want you and I want to say yes. But right now I would be doing you and myself a disservice to say ‘I do’ when I feel there are many things we need—and most of all, we need time,” she told him.

As for Johnie, it was revealed at the barbecue that she rekindled her relationship with Chris at the airport on the way home after her relationship with Izzy fell apart.

Love is blindChris opens up about his capsule breakup, second chances and why he doesn’t hold any grudges (exclusive)

Chris, 28, previously told PEOPLE that he doesn’t hold a grudge against Johnie despite being her second choice.

“Through that experience, I fell in love with her and she’s an amazing person inside and out,” he said. “When you do your best, it hurts to be rejected. Everyone out there is trying to do what’s best for themselves, you’re trying to find your person. And she’s so smart. I won’t blame her because she actually made the wrong decision, she doesn’t go with me, but she’s making what she thinks is the right decision for her at the time, and I can’t be mad at her for that. Just move on.”

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Love is blind season 5 is streaming in its entirety on Netflix. Fans will find out the relationship status of these couples, as well as the rest of the cast, when the Season 5 reunion airs Sunday at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM ET.

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Source: HIS Education