'Love Is Blind' stars Micah and Irina call their on-air behavior a 'coping mechanism' after fans dubbed them 'mean girls'

Reality TV show "Love Is Blind" has been one of the most talked-about shows of the year, with fans eagerly awaiting its second season. However, two of its stars have come under fire for their on-screen behavior.

Micah Lussier and Irina Solomonova, who appeared on the first season of "Love Is Blind," were dubbed "mean girls" by fans due to their treatment of other contestants. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly (EW), Micah and Irina addressed these accusations.

"We didn't intend to be mean or intentionally hurt anybody," said Solomonova. "But looking back at it now, we understand why people might have perceived us that way."

Lussier added that their behavior was a coping mechanism in response to the stressful environment they found themselves in during filming.

"When you're isolated from the world for weeks at a time, emotions run high," he explained. "We were just trying to navigate our own feelings while also dealing with all the drama around us."

Despite facing criticism from some viewers, Micah and Irina say they've learned valuable lessons from their experience on reality TV.

"We've grown so much since then," said Lussier. "We know how important it is to treat others with kindness and respect."

Solomonova echoed his sentiments: "At the end of the day, we regret any pain we may have caused others during our time on 'Love Is Blind.' We just hope people can see that we're not bad people – we were just trying to figure things out like everyone else."

The couple's comments come as anticipation builds for season two of "Love Is Blind." While no official release date has been announced yet, fans are already speculating about which couples will make it to the altar this time around.