“Love is a dagger, a pretty thing. A thing that enchants, but also hurts,” says Connor, one of the new faces on Love on the Spectrum US Season 2. Over the course of the season, cameras follow seven dating hopefuls in the neurodivergent community. And, just like Connor says, they each experience the highs, lows, and in-betweens of romance, as many are just beginning their journey to find a soulmate.
While the season may have come to a close, Abbey, James, Journey, Steve, Tanner, Dani, and Connor are still continuing to navigate the world of dating and relationships. So, what are they up to? Who’s still together since filming wrapped? Well, we caught up with all of your favorite daters and asked them to look back on their highlights from the experience, and to share updates about what their love lives look like now.
What have you been up to since filming?
I have been making lots and lots of hats and spending time with my amazing boyfriend, David. In 2023, I got to meet Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel, which was a dream come true. I also got to go to the Disney remake premiere of The Little Mermaid. And of course, I have been to many water parks and took a cruise that Royal Caribbean sent me on with my family. I wrote a new song with my friend Casey and it is about how my mind works with autism. It’s called “Categories” and you will be able to hear it on Spotify and all those places.
How has your relationship with David evolved since the trip to Africa?
It has grown a lot and we have so much in common. We do fun things together and go to places together like water parks and the zoo. We like to make s’mores together. David is so supportive of me. He helps me calm down and understands me. He gets and surprises me. He texts me every morning and that makes me so happy. We love spending time together. For our third anniversary, I want us to go to Atlantis Bahamas and go down a waterslide together. And, we want to go back to Africa.
Any recent fun moments or dates with your partner?
I got to see The Lion King Broadway show here in LA with David. We loved it and we got to meet the actor who played Mufasa. His name was Gerald. I spent New Year’s Eve with David, and I played his favorite Avril Lavigne song and I sang to him. We do so many fun things together. And we went to the Roar & Snore at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and heard the animals at night. It was so fun.
How have you been since filming?
I have been doing well. I have spent much of my free time reading, and watching shows on Netflix since we finished filming. I added a shield to my weapon collection this past Christmas!
What’s the latest on your relationship with Emily? Are you two still together?
We still keep in contact by text and go out together from time to time. Emily and I have both decided to be platonic. I am still single.
How has your experience on the show changed your outlook on love and dating?
It has made me more open to dating and the idea of being in love. The show has taught me that there is a lot of time, effort, and work that goes into dating and getting to know someone. It gives me confidence to know I have been on several dates now. I hope to one day find the right woman.
Since you are such a movie and TV fan, what are some of your current favorite Netflix shows?
Oh man! Where do I begin? Let’s start with numero uno The Dragon Prince! I also enjoy Blue Eye Samurai, DreamWorks Dragons, and Super Giant Robot Brothers.
How have you been since filming?
I’ve been thrilled about the future of both my dating life and my company, although things have become busier than ever. The DaniMation team and I are excited to see an increase in student sign-ups for our one-on-one animation sessions. Recently, I had the privilege of keynoting at two autism conferences in Hershey, PA, and Orlando, FL. During these events, I shared my personal journey as an autistic individual and the inception of DaniMation. On a personal note, I just celebrated my 29th birthday on Jan. 9! In the midst of everything, I’ve always reminded myself, “Life is not a race.”
What’s the latest on your relationship with Adan? Are you two still together?
Adan and I are currently staying connected through text messages. Our last date was in July, and I recognize that he’s juggling a busy schedule with college and a part-time job. I genuinely wish we could find more time to spend together. On a positive note, my best friend Devin has suggested the idea of meeting somewhere in the middle for our next date. It sounds like a great plan to bridge the distance and make our time together more manageable.
What are your dreams for DaniMation in the coming year?
In this coming year, on March 3, 2024, DaniMation will mark its 15th anniversary. This has ignited my inspiration to create something truly special in honor of this milestone. First, we will be premiering new projects at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024. Second, motivated by impactful keynote speeches, I am currently in the process of developing a biography that delves into my personal life and the inception of DaniMation. Third, one of my aspirations is to invest time in crafting my own animated series, collaboratively developed by a team predominantly consisting of neurodiverse individuals. Fourth, to better balance my time between teaching, production, attending animation events, and dating, we are actively recruiting more neurodiverse animation instructors who will eventually assume some of my teaching responsibilities.
How have you been since filming?
I have been doing wonderfully since filming ended; I am still working, still finding time to spend with friends, and enjoying the fame and recognition that the series has brought to me.
What does your dating life look like now? We hear you are now dating a single mom!
I was dating a woman with two children, but she and I broke up, since I decided that I did not wish to be in a relationship with a woman who had children, so I am now single again.
Do you have favorite moments from the show over this past season?
I could not possibly choose a single moment from the series that I enjoyed most, but I certainly enjoyed visiting Hammond Castle in Gloucester, MA, since that is one of my favorite places to visit.
How have you been since filming?
Good! I enrolled in pastry school in April and it’s been very challenging as well as exciting. Life is happy right now!
What does your dating life look like now?
Still painfully single! I haven’t been on a single date since the show and I can’t manage to get past the talking stage even after all this time. I’m still looking for a girlfriend but it’s less important to me than it was last spring.
How has your experience on the show changed your outlook on love and dating?
I learned that finding love isn’t an easy process. There’s so much more to finding love than just having similar interests. You have to be compatible, trusting, and fair to the other person. Although I’m still looking, I can’t wait for the day where I find my perfect girl!
How have you been since filming?
I have been feeling grateful for having another experience with dating on Love on the Spectrum. I am feeling grateful that I am able to express real feelings while I am being filmed, and that carries over into the rest of my life. People recognize me when I walk down the street and everyone is so wonderful! They are accepting of who I am, and seem to know and appreciate me for exactly who I am. Sometimes even more than I accepted myself in the past. I have made new friends and caught up with old friends who recognized me in the show and reached out to me. Filming the show has given me more confidence to go on dates. I have seen a few of the dates that I met on the show and have become friends with them, meeting periodically for coffee and enjoying each other’s company as friends. Now that I am connecting to all of these lovely people, they are helping me to embrace my neurodiversity even more — maybe to another level. I am becoming more and more comfortable with being neurodivergent and am appreciating my differences, for that is what makes me who I am. People seem to like me for who I am. I really love them! It goes in all of these directions.
How has your search for love been going?
My search for love has its ups and downs. I connected with a few women. There was one particular lady who made great efforts to find me by reaching out to my life coach, Elaine. I really connected with this lady over the phone and had many wonderful conversations with her. However, we are taking a little bit of a break as it was moving very fast. I had an emotional experience with her over the phone which gave me real feelings that I don’t think I have ever quite experienced before. It was very special and unique for both of us, which is funny because we hadn’t really met in person, yet. I am still exploring these feelings within this relationship.
Do you have any favorite moments from the show?
While we were filming, I was able to talk about something that I don’t normally talk about. In the past, I would shy away from this subject. I do recall opening up to Sharona telling her that I do not allow myself to show any feelings of vulnerability, as I worry about what others may think. I am afraid to show that I can cry, as I have worried that crying shows signs of weakness. Sharona was very understanding and accepting. She took the time to explore what I was expressing and had her own thoughts about it. She seems to be a really strong person herself, and made me feel that a strong woman can be with a gentleman who is vulnerable. I felt in that particular conversation that I was able to talk about something that had been weighing on my mind for decades. If anyone out there feels the way I do, then they will see they are perfect just the way they are, and I understand them. On a sidenote, even though I felt a connection with Sharona in this conversation, and was fond of her, I did not feel a romantic connection.
How have you been since filming?
I have been doing great since the series! I had a lot of fun over the summer, and I am still working at my job at The Shepherd Hotel and I love it. I am still living with my roommate Frankie and we are having lots of fun in Clemson.
How has your search for love been going?
Right now, I am not dating anyone and I am good with being single for now. Kate and I are very good friends since the show and we text and stay in touch. We got together with some other friends after Christmas and went to see the lights at the zoo in Columbia, SC. It was super fun!
Do you have any favorite moments from the show?
My favorite memories from filming were our lunch date and the zoo. I always love going to the zoo! I also really enjoyed meeting Cian [O’Clery], Emma, Jessica, and Freddy, the cameraman. Everyone was so nice and it was a great experience for me and Kate.
