Season 9 of Love Is Blind promised romance, drama, and a few shocks, but no one expected contestant Anna Yuan’s sudden disappearance so early in the season. The 28-year-old, who quickly became a fan favorite, seemed to be one of the strongest contenders in the pods. She built deep emotional connections with two men — Patrick Suzuki and Blake Anderson — before she abruptly left the show at the start of episode 3 without saying goodbye. Viewers were stunned, especially since Anna and Patrick’s relationship had looked like it was heading toward an engagement.
Anna has now opened up about what really happened and why she decided to walk away.
From the start, Anna and Patrick shared a rare bond. Both were children of Chinese immigrant parents, and they connected deeply over shared family experiences and cultural roots. Their conversations were heartfelt, funny, and real — so much so that fans were already rooting for them to end up together. Anna later told Netflix’s Tudum that growing up as the child of immigrants created an instant connection between her and Patrick because they understood each other’s family responsibilities without needing to explain them.
However, behind the scenes, Anna was struggling. She revealed that leaving her parents behind for the show was harder than she imagined. Because of the language barrier, she’s always acted as their main support system. When she told them that she would be cut off from her phone during filming, they panicked and thought something bad might happen to her. Even after calming them down, Anna said she couldn’t stop feeling guilty about being away. Eventually, the pressure built up to the point where she broke down completely.
She admitted that she cried so much her eyes were swollen and said she felt embarrassed and emotionally exhausted. Even though she had formed real bonds in the pods, she started questioning whether she was truly ready to be there — or if she was taking a spot from someone else who was genuinely prepared for love. That’s when she decided to leave.
Viewers were especially shocked that Anna didn’t say goodbye to Patrick. Producers offered her the chance, but she refused, choosing to leave quietly in her pajamas, makeup-free, and avoiding cameras. For someone who had claimed she’d never ghosted anyone before, this move surprised fans. Reflecting on it now, Anna says she could have handled the situation differently but doesn’t regret walking away. She explained that while her connection with Patrick was meaningful, she didn’t feel it was strong enough to lead to a lasting marriage.
After Anna’s exit, Patrick didn’t stay single for long. He soon shifted his attention to another contestant, Kacie McIntosh, and eventually proposed to her in the pods. But by episode 6, the relationship had fizzled out, and Kacie called off their engagement.
As for Blake Anderson, Anna’s other connection, he also chose to leave the show without proposing. He told producers that he realized he needed more time to build a real relationship than the pod format allowed. In his own words, he’s “practical to a fault” and didn’t want to force a proposal that didn’t feel right.
Anna’s quiet exit left a lasting impression on fans, reminding everyone that love — even in a show built around blind connections — comes with very real emotions, pressures, and tough choices.