90 Day Fiance couple Michael Jessen and Juliana Custodio de Sousa have announced they are expanding their family!
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Michael, a 41-year-old self-employed wine entrepreneur from Greenwich, CT, has revealed he and Juliana, a 23-year-old from Goiania, Brazil, are in the process of adopting Juliana's young niece and nephew from Brazil.
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"Juliana and I, today, just initiated the process of adopting her niece and nephew from Brazil," Michael revealed in a video posted to his Instagram Stories on Sunday, according to In Touch Weekly.
"They're 8 and 6 years old. And they're in [a] dire situation. The only way to give them a chance at a good life is to bring them to America. We've reached out to my lawyer, we're bringing them over here."
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Michael made the big announcement in a series of videos initially created to express frustration over 90 Day Fiance: Pillow Talk cast members suggesting he's selfish in his relationship after footage aired of the seemingly-wealthy wine entrepreneur wanting a prenuptial agreement during the latest broadcast of 90 Day Fiance's seventh season.
"I started thinking about this, I saw trailers for this episode and it was the Pillow Talk trailers. And Paola Mayfield, she said something when the prenuptial thing comes up with us, she looks at us and says, 'Oh he only thinks of himself,'" Michael reportedly said in the video.
"That's exactly why I get upset about this, [my ex-wife Sarah Jessen] gets upset, Juliana gets upset. It shows how the show distorts the reality of who we are."
90 Day Fiance: Pillow Talk features former cast members offering commentary on episodes of the reality franchise's newest seasons.
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Paola appeared on the December 15 broadcast of 90 Day Fiance: Pillow Talk along with her husband Russ Mayfield.
After initially appearing on Season 1 of 90 Day Fiance, Russ and Paola returned to TLC for Season 1 of 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? and have been part of the cast of all four seasons of Happily Ever After?.
Michael continued in his Instagram video, "And anybody who knows who we really are... come on. We have to live with the consequences of what is being shown on TV because this is being broadcast to so many more people than we've ever met or know."
"To hear words like that, it's like a knife in my heart. I give so much, we all give so much. We care a lot. And here's a little bit of news."
Michael revealed he and Juliana are adopting her niece and nephew from Brazil and bringing them to the United States in attempt to explain why he's not selfish or greedy in his relationship, as Paola had allegedly suggested.
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"So Paola Mayfield," Michael added in the video, "I always think of myself. Okay, thank you."
"But that's how TLC and Sharp Entertainment want to shape it, isn't it? But ultimately, we have to live lives after this is long over. We have to live with the consequences," he concluded.
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Michael also slammed TLC and 90 Day Fiance's production company for alleged "bullsh-t editing" that painted Juliana and himself in a negative light.
Michael was unhappy with the footage that showed the couple meeting with mediator Carolyn Swiggart to discuss their finances in preparation of signing a prenuptial agreement before their fast-approaching wedding day.
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"This is the biggest bunch of manufactured bullshit.... shame on you Sharp Entertainment and TLC
#90dayfiance," Michael captioned an Instagram photo of Carolyn on his television screen after the episode aired, before ranting in his Instagram videos.
Michael was shown telling Carolyn on 90 Day Fiance that he wanted to keep his wealth, property and assets separate from Juliana, who brought little money into the relationship given she's an aspiring model who grew up very poor in Brazil.
The mediator therefore advised Michael to make sure Juliana would be well taken care of in the case of divorce, and Juliana -- feeling like a dependant "loser" -- cried to the cameras about how she feared Michael might leave her penniless and have all the power in their upcoming marriage.
"It's something where I feel like I need to call a little bit of bullsh-t because it's not really who we are. It's not really reflective of our reality," Michael said, according to In Touch.
"I think we're all a little upset that it's kind of cut out the kindness that we truly share together and it was something that was a part of the narrative of our 90 Day Fiance experience that was departing from who we really are... We're all upset about the harshness for which we were portrayed. It hurts our feelings... We're not paid actors. This is still our real lives."
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Michael reportedly insisted 90 Day Fiance viewers will see how this all plays out, and in due time, he'll discuss his feelings on the subject more once he has the liberty and freedom to do so.