Matilda and Niles Valentine are the fastest newcomers on 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days, but there are worries about the Ghanaian native.
Niles and Matilda first connected online when she messaged him “out of nowhere.” They chatted online for about two years, and Niles fell in love during their conversations. Due to his autism, Niles found it hard to connect with others, which made him feel isolated.
However, he believes he has found the love of his life. He was so sure that Matilda was the one that he proposed over the phone, even though they had never met in person.
Like other stars from Before the 90 Days, they have not met yet, but the couple plans to get married during Niles’ trip to Ghana. Niles believes Matilda is his soulmate, but I am not fully convinced about their situation.
My biggest concern is how quickly Matilda wants to rush into their wedding plans. They have been connected since Matilda randomly messaged Niles online, which makes their relationship feel rushed.
Because of his autism, Niles struggled with social situations, was bullied as a child, and often avoided sharing his true thoughts.
Still, his conversations with Matilda made him feel special, leading to his quick proposal. Matilda was excited and began planning their wedding right away after she accepted.
Niles felt overwhelmed and anxious about getting married so soon. He was worried because his family did not support the relationship and his decisions.
Therefore, Niles wanted to take more time to get to know Matilda and save up to give her the wedding of her dreams.
Niles tried to be honest with Matilda about his feelings. But when he spoke up, she responded with a firm “don’t let me down.”
This made him rethink his words and wait to talk more in person. I understand Matilda’s excitement about marriage, but I also see Niles’ perspective. If Matilda truly loved Niles, I think she would be more willing to wait for a wedding.
Another worry is how openly Matilda has talked about her family’s need for money and her wish to live in America, which raises questions about her true motivations. Quick marriages are common in this franchise.
For example, Tigerlily Taylor and Adnan Abdelfattah got married just after she arrived, mostly due to Adnan’s Muslim faith. However, I question Matilda’s reasons for wanting to rush into marriage.
In her confessional, Matilda mentioned that her father was a carpenter but has passed away. Because of this, her family lost that income source.
She helps her mother sell plantains at the market, but they do not earn enough money and are barely getting by. Additionally, she finds Offinso boring and wants to live in a place with fancy clubs and large restaurants.
While many people on 90 Day Fiancé want to enjoy the benefits of living in America, they usually see these perks as extra bonuses that come with being with the one they love.
It seems Matilda cares more about her lifestyle and living in a nice place than being truly happy with Niles.
In the end, I feel Matilda might be taking advantage of Niles. Since Niles has autism and finds it hard to understand social cues, it is possible that he does not realize how Matilda may be manipulating him emotionally. I think Niles was right to postpone the wedding.
Spending time with Matilda in person will help him better understand their relationship and see if she genuinely cares for him.
If she truly cared and understood more about his autism, I hope she would be willing to wait patiently. I just hope Niles stays true to his plan and speaks up when he finally meets his Ghanaian queen. 90 Day Fiancé and its spin-offs air on TLC and are available to stream on Max in the U.S.
