90 Day Fiance: The Other Way featured Armando Rubio saying goodbye to his family to begin a life with Kenneth Niedermeier in Mexico, but did the couple work out or have Armando and Kenneth split -- and are they still together now?
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[90 Day Fiance Spoiler Warning: This report contains spoilers revealing if Kenneth and Armando have broken up or if the 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way couple is still together].
Kenneth, a 57-year-old from St. Petersburg, FL, and Armando, a 31-year-old from San Felipe, Mexico, are the second same-sex couple and the first pair of gay men to star on the 90 Day Fiance franchise.RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? (PHOTOS)
Kenneth, born and raised in Toledo, OH, revealed he had a very "normal and happy" childhood but left the city as a teenager because he knew there was something "different" about him and he needed to find himself.
Kenneth therefore moved to Florida and discovered his true self and sexual preference while in a gay nightclub one night in Florida. He came out at age 19 and felt nothing but relief, especially since his parents were supportive.
"Their first words were my mom saying, 'Don't worry about it. You're fine.' They didn't have any problem with it. They love their son and it didn't matter," Kenneth recalled on Season 2 of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way.
Kenneth and Armando met on a social media page that served as a support group for gay fathers.
Armando has a six-year-old daughter Hannah and Kenneth has a 26-year-old son Bricen as well as 23-year-old triplet daughters -- Taylor, Cassidy and Madison -- whom Kenneth welcomed with a friend who had agreed to undergo in vitro fertilization.
Kenneth told Entertainment Tonight in a recent interview he and Armando weren't looking for love when they began talking online, nor did they have a dating agenda for getting to know one another.
"We didn't meet on a dating app; we just became friends. So that thought [of romance] was never there for us," Kenneth told ET.
Kenneth and Armando met in person in Mexico about a year after they began communicating, and feelings apparently developed quickly because their personalities and values simply "meshed."
RELATED LINK: 'MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO BROKE UP? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Kenneth revealed Armando was the one to make the first move and take their relationship from a friendship to a romance.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW"So initially, Armando brought it up and he was like, 'You're actually the type of guy I would go for,' or something like that. And I was surprised because of the age difference," Kenneth told ET.
"I said, 'What about our age difference?' And he said, 'I don't care.' And once he didn't care [that was it!] It's been the best relationship I've ever had."
90 Day Fiance: The Other Way's second season has featured Kenneth preparing to move to Mexico so he can be with his love at all times and really pursue a partnership.
A part of Kenneth was devastated to leave his family, and he predicted he'd face struggles in Mexico given the country is not as accepting and welcoming of the LGBTQ community like America is.
But Kenneth was following his heart and said Armando was "worth everything" to him.
"[Armando] hasn't talked to [his parents] yet. They have no idea he's even moving [four hours away] let alone he's in a relationship with a guy," Kenneth told Madison during a heart-to-heart conversation.
"Hopefully they'll have open hearts and will accept us. All you can do is hope."
Armando apparently told his parents that a documentary was being filmed about life in Mexico, not about his blossoming relationship with Kenny.
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RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Armando revealed he was gay to his parents once before, about three years ago, but their emotional reaction and disapproval sent him "back into the closet" for a while. However, Kenneth had optimism Armando's parents would eventually come around.
Kenneth was leaving for Mexico around Thanksgiving 2019, and he told his family he had already purchased an engagement ring and intended to ask Armando to marry him.
Kenneth's daughters worried Kenneth was taking things too fast, but Kenneth said he had known Armando for three-and-a-half years even though they hadn't spent much time together in person.
During a lunch with his parents Virginia and Armando Sr. in Mexico in Episode 3, Armando decided to come out to them for the second time.
Armando explained he had spent his whole life hiding who he really is and just got married to a woman to please his parents and prevent community gossip.
"There were nights where I cried alone because of hiding who I was. I know it's a process to accept it, but I just want you to know this is who I am," Armando cried to his mother and father.
"As a son, the only thing that you have more than anything, are your parents. So when you feel like they don't love you, it's hard."
Armando's mother broke down into tears and said she'd love her son no matter what, but the fact he's gay was clearly difficult for her to embrace and understand.
Armando Sr. said, "You're my son and I see you the same," but he felt uncomfortable about the idea of Armando moving several hours away from home and having a male partner living with him in Mexico.
Armando Sr. noted he would "need some time" to come around to the idea.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
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The day then finally arrived when Kenneth was going to leave behind his life of 57 years to pursue love.
Kenneth said he felt guilty about leaving his children and grandson and was extremely emotional, joking he "may need psychiatric help after this."
Kenneth's kids were heartbroken but also excited for their father to enjoy being in love.
Kenneth cried when saying goodbye to his family, and he cried while driving his car at the start of his long road trip to Mexico.
"I didn't think it would be this hard," Kenneth confessed.
Hannah apparently loved "Kenny" very much and wanted to live with him because they had fun and Kenny gave her toys, and so she was ecstatic to learn they'd have a home with Kenny and a room of her own. Hannah also looked forward to having two dads.
Armando was so pleased that his daughter was excited about the family they were about to have.
Kenneth was then shown driving to Mexico, about 11 hours a day for several days, with his 15-year-old dog Truffles. Kenneth adored his dog and said she had traveled all over the country with him.
Armando was admittedly "sick to [his] stomach" about the idea of introducing a man as his partner to his family. He also had an emotional goodbye with his mother, who still loved her son dearly regardless of his sexuality, and sister Deborah.
"I hope that you will welcome us together," Armando told his mother.
"Okay son," his mother replied.
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Armando wanted to feel accepted but his father didn't even show up to say goodbye. Armando felt, deep down, his father was upset because he was leaving to live with a man.
Armando said he was "hurting" because his mother was sad, but he was looking forward to his life and future with Kenny, who was "leaving everything he knows" for Armando.
Is the 90 Day Fiance couple still together or did Kenneth change his mind about living in Mexico with Armando?
As recently as late June, Kenneth posted a photo of himself and Armando wearing matching #LoveWins shirts while taking a hike together.Even if the picture was a throwback, Kenneth's caption suggested he was proud of Armando for coming out to his parents and they're still a happy couple.
"Last Monday night on TLC. Love won! #lovewins #comingout #acceptance. #90dayfiancetheotherway #90dayfiance #throwback," Kenneth wrote in regards to the June 22 episode.
One week earlier, Armando and Kenneth's daughter Cassidy made it clear they've become extremely close!
Cass captioned a promo video for 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way, "The time is now!! Get to know my family and hear my dads story airing TONIGHT at 9/8c on @tlc for the official premier of @90dayfiance:the other way @kenneth_90day @armando_90day."
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Armando replied with an emoticon that has stars for eyes and then Cassidy wrote to him, "@armando_90day I love love love you! So excited."
Armando sweetly responded, "@cultivation.and.inspiration love youuuu!! Here we go!"
Armando has also commented on other photos posted on Cassidy's Instagram page recently.
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When asked why they signed up for 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way, Kenneth explained, "We both went into this wanting to tell our story. We want to show our love and we want people to see that. I said in one of the teasers, love is a powerful thing. Love can stop wars. We're hoping that love can melt hearts and love can open minds."
Kenneth added that he hopes viewers "might tune in and watch out story and they might change their minds and open their hearts even wider."
According to hints made by Kenneth's daughter Cass Niedermeier in late April, Kenneth and Armando are also still living together in Mexico.
"Seriously missin my daddy.... can't believe you moved to Mexico almost 5 months ago, life is not the same around here w/ out you, I miss seeing your face and hearing your voice all the time," Cass wrote April 28 on Instagram in a since-deleted post.
"Literally in tears right now writing this, my daddy is my best friend and although I am so happy he's livin his best life in Mexico with the love of his life, my heart isn't the same without him around."
"And with this quarantine canceling my trip to see you at the end of March, and not knowing when I can book another plane ticket, it's got me feeling emotional. I love you with all my heart daddy!!!" she added.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
The heartfelt message served as the caption to a photo of Cass and her father posing for a picture together in Rosarito, Mexico, which suggests Cass had visited Kenneth at his new home at some point.
According to Starcasm, Kenneth replied to the post, "Oh Cass, you have made tears come down my face...you will never understand how much my life has been about you, your sisters, brother and Coop, why my move was so hard, you guys have been my world...it was so painful and my heart was so sad when I moved... my love for you all has no boundaries, always know that."
"You will visit sooner than later I know that!" he added. "You are my child twin, the Apple definitely didn't fall far from the tree with you! Love your to life my beautiful daughter."
Kenneth revealed October 27, 2019 on Instagram he was moving to Mexico to be with Armando soon.
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Armando replied, "Can't come soon enough my love! Been waiting for this moment so long, will be the best."
Kenneth's house in Florida sold in July 2019 for close to $350,000, and then he left for Mexico four months later on November 30 with his dog Truffles on a four-day road trip, Starcasm reported.
"When I left my hometown of Toledo Ohio when I was 19, I was running away from something, running from who I couldn't be... in Florida I found myself and who I was meant to be! Tomorrow I am running again, not away, but towards something, to love, #lovewins #loveislove," Kenneth reportedly wrote in part on Instagram at the time.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? (PHOTOS)
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
