Chloe Veitch is one of the most well-known faces on Netflix. From her stints on The Circle, Too Hot To Handle, and Perfect Match, audiences have followed Veitch’s journey to find love with diminishing results. Through it all, her beauty, spirit and wit have shone through. So, when Netflix approached Veitch about hosting a new dating show called Sneaky Links: Dating After Dark, she jumped at the chance. “I think everyone can see that my trying to find love on Netflix just wasn’t working, do you know what I mean?” asked Veitch. “Netflix was actually interested in seeing me make the transition to host.” And who was she to argue?
Filmed at a cute hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona, Sneaky Links: Dating After Dark introduces a group of sexy singles in search of true love and ready to abandon causal hookups and “friends” with benefits. They are shocked to discover that the other guests are their most recent situationships. Veitch and relationship expert Spicy Mari are there to help them not fall back into bad habits and to explore new connections. When asked about the twist, Veitch could only laugh. “Every first season of a show is… crazy,” said Veitch. “I’m so glad I wasn’t talent on that show because they were completely blindsided.”
However, Veitch was there for all the daters. “As the host, I’m like the big sister,” said Veitch. “If they want to cry, I’ve got a shoulder for them to cry on. If they want to laugh, then I’ll be the one to tell the jokes.” Veitch’s kindness, empathy and humor was needed as the group navigated new dynamics and past dramas. “I saw they were actually there for the right reasons because they loved sneaking,” explained Veitch. “I mean, I did back in the day, so I feel like I was the perfect mentor.”
Veitch stopped by the Decider studio to talk about the new Netflix show, how her ADHD diagnosis has empowered her, and whether men and women can truly be friends.
DECIDER: Your transition from talent to being the host of Sneaky Links: Dating After Dark was so seamless. Whose idea was it? Were you ready to break from trying to find love on TV to helping others find love on TV?
CHLOE VEITCH: I can say wholeheartedly, and I think everyone else can see, that my trying to find love on Netflix just wasn’t working, do you know what I mean? One thing that I did learn from that experience is to love myself in my own skin. I’ve been shocked at how many people reach out to me online and talk to me about my advocacy for people suffering from ADHD and dyslexia. People also love on how I can be crazy and weird, but then also sexy [laughs]. I gained confidence through the fans’ kind words. Netflix was interested in seeing me make the transition to host. They were like, “okay, Chloe, we think you’re ready.” And I’m like, “am I? Really? Okay.”
Were you aware of the Sneaky Links: Dating After Dark twist when you signed on to the be the host?
To be honest with you, I don’t think so. Every first season of a show is… crazy [laughs]. No one really knows what’s going on, not me as the host and especially not the talent. Oh my god. I’m so glad I wasn’t talent on that show because they were completely blindsided. The only twist that I was aware of was that we were telling them that they were going on a show called “Love Rules,” and it was actually Sneaky Links: Dating After Dark.
Can you share any insights into the casting process?
Quite a few people wanted to leave after they found out the twist. The casting process lasted a year. They kept on pushing back to find and interview more people and to see if there were any connections. Kelsey and Colt had seen each other or followed each other before they went on the show.
Really?
Nashville’s a small town, yeah?
What struck me was how sincere people were about trying to change their “sneaky links” ways. Most people were there for the right reasons! Did that take you by surprise?
Yes and no. Walking onto a reality TV show the first time… it’s exciting, it’s exhilarating, and you want to make the most of this opportunity. It was my job to put them at ease. As the host, I’m like the big sister. If they want to cry, I’ve got a shoulder for them to cry on. If they want to laugh, then I’ll be the one to tell the jokes. As I got to know them, my love for them grew. I saw they were there for the right reasons because they loved sneaking [laughs]. I mean, I did back in the day, so I feel like I was the perfect mentor.
Spicy Mari is the relationship expert on the show. Were you happy to have her by your side? How did you two get on?
Honestly, if I’d done it by myself, the train would have crashed. I love psychology and sociology. I want to study them and go back to college right now. I’m now obsessed with learning about the dynamics of romantic relationships. That interest was sparked by Spicy Mari. Being with her on set was amazing. She was always there for me. If I woke up and I felt my ADHD was playing up or I hadn’t slept or I had a 15 page script to read and learn within like 10 minutes before going to set, she would be the one to pull me up. I’m glad that she did the show with me.
The show was filmed in Scottsdale, Arizona and I heard you got heat stroke? Can you tell me about that?
It wasn’t that bad. I’m actually exaggerating. I remember it was about 40 degrees Celsius outside [104 degrees Fahrenheit]. We were standing outside for a long time, and though we were under some shade and had plenty of water, I just wasn’t used to that weather. I’d just moved to LA the day before. I was in London before that. After we filmed, I went to the green room and started throwing up. I thought maybe I had dodgy chicken or something, but then the medic came in and said, “okay, we think you have heat stroke.” They took great care of me, and the Netflix executives checked in on me too.
The daters at one point reveal their body counts, and I was truly shocked when Brandon said 60 and Nicole S. estimated probably 3 times that. What was your reaction?
I was honestly expecting the guys to have like triple-digit body counts. In this day and age, it’s just the norm to have sex, you know, and to just do it. That’s why no one has a sustainable relationship, which is why we brought them on the show [laughs]. So, I was quite shocked that he said it was only 60. Did you know that a study showed that when a woman estimates how many people she slept with, she cuts the number in half. If a guy estimates how many women he has slept with, he multiplies the number by two or by three.
Nicole S. must have read that study!
She’s a smart girl.
There’s a question that comes up on the show: can men and women be friends? What’s your opinion?
I’ve got loads of guy friends as well as friends who are girls. I think there’s a level of emotional maturity that you have to reach before you can be friends. If you would have asked me that questions two years ago, I would have said no.
Last I checked, two couples are still together: Zoe and Travis and Avery and Manny. How do you feel about them? Will they go the distance?
Last Halloween, Manny sent me a Halloween photo of the two of them through Instagram saying, “Chloe we’re still together!” I was like, “oh my God, yes, the show’s gonna do great.” [Laughs] It was a selfish moment, but I’m so happy for them! I absolutely love Zoe and Travis. It took them a minute to get it together on the show, but they got there. I see Angelique and Logan have been posting together.
Really?
Yeah, I’ve been meaning to reach out to them. I’m like, is this a thing?
I’m rooting for them! Did your time on Sneaky Links make you reevaluate any past relationships that you’ve had?
Definitely. I connected to Angelique’s story. She was getting pushed about and put into different corners. She was always confused, and I feel like all women have been through that. I’ve learned quite a lot from Spicy Mari as well, and her tactics. She told me , “You need a purpose, Chloe. You need someone that you want to love and have babies with and build a life with.”
I know you’ve been very open about your mental health journey, your struggles with ADHD and dyslexia, and your sobriety. How are you doing today?
It was only recently that I’ve been speaking out online about ADHD. Only in the last 30 years have women been taken seriously enough to get proper ADHD diagnoses. My mum tried to get me diagnosed when I was younger and she failed. They told her: “She hasn’t got ADHD; she’s just hyper.” As an adult, I did research and was able to see a proper doctor who took me seriously. My ADHD diagnosis has given me validation. I don’t ever think badly of myself now. Also, helping other people through my social media platform is God’s gift. I love that I’ve got ADHD because then I can help people to overcome it or to lean into it. Let’s be weird together.
We contain multitudes!
Exactly. I’m neurodiverse, babe. I’m neurodiverse. I don’t want to be neurotypical.
The first season of Sneaky Links: Dating After Dark is now streaming on Netflix.
Read the full article here
