‘Forbidden Love’ Cast: Meet Couples Juggling Passion & Faith in New TLC Series
Forbidden Love is a brand-new TLC series following four couples who are deeply in love. There’s just one catch—the couples are from different faiths. One partner from each couple is converting to a different religion or has decided to relinquish their family-of-origin and culture entirely.
The relationships will be tested as they face intense traditional differences. In the trailer above, Lensa, a Muslim woman, falls for Chris, the son of a Pentecostal preacher. “A house divided will not stand,” a woman declares in the footage.
For Eli and Laurie, he believes the “only way” their relationship will make it is if she converts to Judaism. Another couple, Ashley and Mohammad, face similar struggles. “So you think I can’t be a good wife unless I am a Muslim?” she asks. Mohammad quickly replies, “Yes.”
During a tense fight, Lindsey stresses to Elmer that she doesn’t want to just be an “Amish housewife” and “baby maker” for him. “Being married to an Amish man is quite different than what I expected,” Lindsey admits.
Scroll down to learn more about the Forbidden Love couples and watch the intense trailer above.
Forbidden Love, Series Premiere, July 21, 10/9c, TLC
Ashley & Mohammad
Ashley, 31, was raised in a conservative Catholic family and is married to Mohammad, 31, a Muslim man. When they fell in love, Mohammad’s twin brother was against their relationship because he would prefer his brother to be with a Muslim woman. And to complicate things further, the pair got married very quickly and have a 3-year-old daughter named Rozie. While Mohammad is passionate about Ashley converting so his daughter will be raised by a Muslim woman, Ashley is conflicted about living by strict Muslim laws, and her family doesn’t feel she needs to change a thing for Mohammad.
Eli & Laurie
Eli, 32, is an Orthodox Jew and Laurie, 36, was raised Catholic. Laurie was the opposite – she was raised a devout Catholic but abandoned her religion after the untimely death of her father. When they met, Eli was already devout, so Laurie decided to convert to solidify their future together. But converting is no small feat. She finds herself giving up her clothes, changing her hair, taking classes, studying for tests, and preparing to completely change her lifestyle, all the while questioning if she can do it and if she’s giving up too much to be with the love of her life.
Lensa & Chris
Kris, 37, is the son of a Pentecostal preacher. When Kris falls in love with a Muslim woman who had already been in two arranged marriages, his father is dismayed. Kris and Lensa, 32, want each other to convert to their respective religions, which leaves them, and their families, at odds. Will one of them leave their religion entirely, even if it means never speaking to their family again? Or will the pressure be too much for the relationship to handle?
Lindsay & Elmer
Elmer, 23, recently left his Amish community to marry Lindsey, 34, but finds it difficult adapting to the “English” world and the fact that he has been disowned by his family. Lindsey is older than him and had many preconceived notions about who Elmer would be as a husband. She thought he would be wholesome and would never have a wandering eye. However, she soon starts to realize that being with someone who was raised Amish is more complicated than she predicted. The stakes are very high with a baby on the way, but even with all the drama surrounding their relationship, their chemistry and sense of humor keep them going.
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