90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days star Benjamin Taylor is coming to Akinyi Obala's defense, asking 90 Day Fiance viewers to respect her and her family as well as their privacy.
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RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY KNOW? (PHOTOS)
"I started with 90 Day Fiance to share a journey and the experience that I went through with others. This included some of the challenges, love and heart break that comes with it," Benjamin wrote in his lengthy post.
90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Day's third season has featured Benjamin, 33, from Phoenix, AZ, traveling to Nairobi, Kenya for a romance with Akinyi, 26.
Although Benjamin said he loved Akinyi and could envision spending the rest of his life with her, a marriage proposal in her culture automatically results in a marriage.
Benjamin was therefore left second-guessing his decisions, especially since he had a young son Grayson at home.
Aside from Benjamin's doubts and concerns, he was expected to pay about $3,000 to have Akinyi as his wife. Benjamin, however, could only offer groceries and $800, which didn't seem to be enough or satisfy her protective father.
"Eight hundred dollars is very insulting because the bride price is something that makes you feel proud of the man who's marrying you. Even men who aren't rich in Kenya get to $3,000 and more, so I don't think he has any excuse," Akinyi said in a confessional during the latest episode.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Benjamin continued in his post, "I chose to do the Bride price ceremony on my own merits. I respect Akinyi's family and the amount of patience that they had to exercise [due] to my lack of knowledge."
"I chose to do this because of the beauty that I found within the culture. I did not come into this journey clueless," he wrote.
"I had done research, spoken with Akinyi and talked with others in America from her tribe. It is not okay for anyone to treat Akinyi, her family, or friends with disrespect."
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOWBenjamin insisted he was simply not prepared for what Akinyi's family deserved.
"The amount that I took for the bride price is not acceptable in the culture. Please respect Akinyi, her family and friends. Her Father and Mother welcomed me into their house with lots of hospitality," Benjamin wrote.
"They prepared food for me and were accepting to my lack of knowledge surrounding their culture. As it's said in John 15:12. 'My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.' -- Please respect the privacy of their family. Unless you have something positive to say, please keep it to yourself. Benjamin Taylor."
In addition to hashtags of the TLC show and its many spinoffs, Benjamin added "Benjamin and Akinyi," "love one another," and "respect" to his post.
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Akinyi told Benjamin during the latest episode of 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days that if her father determined $800 wasn't enough for Akinyi's hand in marriage, Benjamin would have to find a way to come up with more cash.
Benjamin worried Akinyi was going to disappear and he'd be left devastated if he couldn't figure the situation out.
90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days' third-season finale will air Sunday, October 27 at 8PM ET/PT on TLC and immediately be followed by Part 1 of the season's Tell-All reunion special on 9PM ET/PT.
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RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY KNOW? (PHOTOS)
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
