90 Day Fiance: The Other Way star Armando Rubio just took the huge step of introducing Kenneth Niedermeier to his family on Season 2, so how did Kenneth and Armando's relationship turn out? Did they break up or are they still together?
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[90 Day Fiance Spoiler Warning: This report features spoilers revealing if Kenny and Armando split after getting engaged or if the 90 Day Fiance couple is still together now.]
Kenneth, a 57-year-old from St. Petersburg, FL who goes by Kenny, and Armando, a 31-year-old from San Felipe, Mexico, are 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, originally from Ohio, came out at age 19 and was supported by his family, but Armando felt the need to hide his sexuality from his family for most of his life since people in Mexico aren't exactly welcoming or accepting of the LGBTQ community.
Armando even married a woman to save face in society, and his former wife gave birth to a daughter, Hannah, who was six years old at the time 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way's second season filmed. However, Armando's wife sadly passed away in a tragic car accident.
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Armando and Kenneth met by chance on a social media page that served as a support group for gay fathers.
Kenneth is dad to a son Bricen and triplet daughters -- Taylor, Cassidy and Madison -- who are all in their twenties. He welcomed his children with a friend who had been willing to undergo in vitro fertilization.
Kenneth and Armando claim they didn't have a dating agenda at the time they started talking and they bonded through being fathers and simply became friends.
Kenneth told Entertainment Tonight that he and Armando progressed their relationship into a romantic one about a year after communicating.
Kenneth told ET that Armando actually made the first move once the pair established they got along great and their age difference wasn't going to be a problem.
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90 Day Fiance: The Other Way premiered with Kenneth preparing to leave the United States and move to Mexico to start a life with Armando.
Kenneth hated the idea of having to leave his children and grandchild behind, but he was ready to follow his heart and sacrifice for love.
Meanwhile, Armando told his parents that a documentary was being filmed about life in Mexico, not about his blossoming relationship with Kenny.
RELATED LINK: 'MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO BROKE UP? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
But Armando came out to his parents, Virginia and Armando Sr., for the second time during a lunch in Mexico in Episode 3 of the series. (Armando said he came out to his parents once before but their emotional reaction sent him "back into the closet" for a while.)
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Tears streamed down his mother's face as she tried to be supportive, and Armando Sr. said, "You're my son and I see you the same."
But Armando Sr. apparently felt uncomfortable about the idea of Armando living with a male partner in Mexico, and he didn't show up to say goodbye to Armando.
After a long drive to Mexico with his 15-year-old dog Truffles, Kenneth reunited with Armando in their new apartment, which was several hours away from Armando's parents, and they both said it was a "dream come true."
"I don't know how [Armando's family is] going to feel about me; I don't know if they're going to accept us together. It's just a lot of pressure," Kenneth told the cameras.
In addition to concerns regarding Armando's family, Kenneth also had to adjust to life in a different country considering he didn't speak the language or know how to use the currency.
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Kenneth also complained his apartment had no central heat or air conditioners, and the nearest bank was also apparently 40 minutes away.
Armando also wasn't used to public displays of affection with a man, and he refused to hold Kenneth's hand or kiss him while the pair walked around their neighborhood.
Given Kenneth had moved to Mexico for Armando, Kenneth had apparently assumed Armando was further along in that area.
Armando admitted Kenneth could be "pushy" and was more comfortable with his sexuality because he's been out since age 19. Armando therefore thought Kenneth's expectations were a little high and unrealistic.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
"I have to admit I am worried about our safety as a gay couple. Our culture is very macho-centric and people in Mexico are still homophobic... I'm afraid that we might get hurt," Armando told the cameras.
Kenneth told Armando they couldn't live in fear, and Armando felt bad for allowing Kenneth to feel "rejected" and hurt. Armando asked Kenneth to be patient with him and added, "I am where I am because of you."
"Well, I'm not going anywhere," Kenneth replied, adding that he hoped Armando's parents would see their relationship was going to be "forever" and it wasn't "a fling or a phase."
Later on, Kenneth picked his daughters Taylor and Cassidy up at the airport because they were going to witness their father propose marriage to Armando.
Kenneth said he appreciated Armando's loving side and sensitive nature and added, "I love him and I couldn't marry him fast enough. It's a fairy tale for me -- and for Armando."
Kenneth thought it was important to be an engaged man when Armando introduced him to his family.
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Kenneth told Armando that they'd be going out to dinner together, but first, Kenneth suggested they should take some nice pictures down in the rocks near the water.
"I'm totally committed to you for life, but there is something I want to ask you," Kenneth said in tears.
Kenneth then took out a ring and got down on one knee, and Armando's jaw dropped and he seemed overwhelmed with joy and shock.
"I want to ask you," Kenneth began, presenting a ring.
"Are you serious?! Armando asked.
"If you will marry me," Kenneth continued.
"Baby, of course, yes!" Armando replied in tears.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
The men hugged and Kenneth put the ring on Armando's finger. Armando told Kenneth that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with him, and then people at the restaurant shot confetti into the sky from the top of the cliff.
"You are perfect," Kenneth told Armando.
Kenneth and Armando were finally and officially engaged, and so they celebrated an "epic" day at a nice restaurant. Kenneth had invited a couple of Armando's friends who were supportive of his sexuality, and Armando gushed he was "very happy."
"I don't want to hide our engagement. I think it's something to celebrate," Armando explained in a confessional.
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"But when Kenny asked if I'm going to tell my family the same day they're going to meet him, it makes me sick to my stomach. I've been wanting to tell them my whole life, but I don't know when the right moment is."
But Armando faced harsh reality at a subsequent dinner when he and Kenneth's family went out for tacos.
While at the table, Armando touched and tickled Kenneth, which seemingly marked Armando's first attempt at PDA since Kenneth's move to Mexico.
Suddenly, a man walked by and said "bye" followed by an expletive that TLC censored out. Armando seemingly revealed to the group the man had said in Spanish, "Adios f-gg-t."
Armando was clearly upset and shaken by the derogatory, homophobic slur often used in Mexico.
Kenneth's daughters had never seen someone be nasty to their father before, and it even brought Cassidy to tears. Cassidy wanted to "punch that guy in the face" and cried about how people are "so blind."
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Kenneth told his fiance, "We can't give him the power. If we give him the power, he gets exactly what he was looking to get out of us -- a rise."
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? (PHOTOS)
Kenneth said the sad part was Armando was just starting to feel more free with himself and open and flirtatious with Kenneth. One word seemed to tear all of that down.
When it became time for Kenneth's daughters to leave in the mid-season finale of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way's second season, Armando said he loved how supportive Kenneth's family was of his relationship, and he could only hope his family would be like that one day.
"I really love Armando a lot. I believe he is the only person that could take me away from them and take me away from everything I've known and my country," Kenneth shared with the cameras.
The time then came for Kenneth and Armando to drive and pick up Hannah as well as meet Armando's family. Kenneth knew the future of his engagement and relationship hung on how well this meeting was going to go.
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Armando was very nervous to see his family, but Kenneth provided comfort on the drive over.
When 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way returned on October 11, Kenneth and Armando picked up Armando's daughter Hannah, and Kenneth was introduced to Armando's family, who were all gathered around a bonfire.
Armando initially wasn't sure whether he was going to announce his engagement, and Kenneth was upset he wouldn't be able to charm Armando's parents given he didn't speak much Spanish at the time.
Kenneth hoped Armando would just "let it all out" and no longer keep secrets from his family, but Armando noted "it all depends" and asked Kenneth not to pressure him into something he wasn't ready for.
"I am scared. I am nervous. I am worried. I don't know what to expect," Armando vented to the cameras, before telling Kenneth that he needed his fiance to be on his side.
Armando introduced Kenneth to his mother Virginia, but Armando Sr. didn't show up. Virginia admitted it was "strange" to see her son with a man, but she was happy to see Armando and give him a hug.
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Kenneth noticed everyone was staring at him, like an attraction at the zoo, but everyone seemed warm and kind to Kenneth upon meeting him -- with hugs all around.
Armando didn't know what to say and admitted he was lost in his own head. Armando didn't know how to act with Kenneth sitting next to him and assumed his father -- who was allegedly "tired" -- was avoiding meeting Kenneth.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Virginia went into what appeared to be her house and asked Armando Sr. to come outside, but Armando's father said he didn't want to. Virginia begged her husband to just say hello and meet Kenneth, and Armando noted it was a very difficult moment.
Armando Sr. did eventually come outside to hug his son, and he shook Kenneth's hand. It was definitely a nervewracking moment for Armando, and the meet and greet was very quick before Armando Sr. went back into the house.
Armando wished his father had more of an interaction with Kenneth, who was also "very disappointed" Armando Sr. didn't want to get to know him better.
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Kenneth also met Armando's sister Deborah, who cried about the idea of Hannah moving several hours away from her. Virginia broke down into tears about Armando and Hannah leaving, and Kenneth said he completely understood but really loved Hannah and would take care of her.
"I have an announcement," Kenneth said.
"Now what?" Virginia asked.
"Well," Armando said, as he took out his engagement ring and stood up in front of the entire group with courage and pride. "He asked me to marry him. So, we are getting married. I just wanted to tell you."
The group seemed to be in shock and there was nothing but silence. Kenneth told Armando's friends and family the engagement wasn't a quick and spontaneous decision but he knew it was "a lot" for them to take in.
Virginia wasn't sure what to say or how to feel, but she told her son that it was his choice. Virginia was surprised and wished Armando had told her first in private before announcing the news in front of her sisters.
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"I can tell that she's embarrassed and that she's hurt by this announcement. And I'm sad. I'm sad for Armando that his mother took it as something horrible and not as something beautiful," Kenneth said in a confessional.
Virginia expected her husband would also be surprised by the engagement news, and so she actually planned to hide the news from Armando Sr.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Virginia told Armando and Kenneth that they could stay the night, and Virginia added, "Tell him that he is welcome here." Kenneth, however, could tell that the look on Virginia's face was pain and dismay.
Kenneth didn't exactly feel comfortable spending the night, especially because he felt a bad vibe from Armando Sr., but he didn't want to be rude. Armando said he was at least happy his father had made an appearance to shake Kenneth's hand.
"It wasn't the reaction I had hoped for, but it was definitely the reaction I had expected, especially from my dad," Armando told the cameras.
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Kenneth wished it could've been a joyful occasion for everyone, and he didn't want to be viewed as "the bad guy." Kenneth worried Armando's family would blame him for the situation.
The tense and emotional evening, however, ended with Kenneth and Armando embracing and expressing their love for one another.
Did Kenneth and Armando breakup after getting engaged in Mexico or is the 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way couple still together now?
As recently as October 6, Kenneth and Armando appear to still be together and in love.
Kenneth posted a photo of the couple with their arms around each other and wrote, "Be open for love," along with a red-heart emoji.
On September 26, Kenneth shared a romantic black-and-white photo of the couple standing on a balcony with a beautiful landscape in the background.
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"The sky's the limit... #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway," Kenneth captioned the picture.
Ten days earlier, Kenneth uploaded a photo of Armando and himself arm-in-arm at a winery and wrote, "Cheers to Mexican Independence Day," alongside the image.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? (PHOTOS)
Around that same time, Armando wrote "love is love" with a red-heart emoji on his Instagram account when posting a photo with Kenneth.
On September 2, Kenneth posted a cute photo of Armando and himself forming hearts with their hands.
"We are sending [love]! We will miss you during the mid-season break! #sendinglove #loveislove #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway #gaycouple," Kenneth captioned the photo.
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Going back to late August, Kenneth wrote on Instagram, "We choose to live life as we sit fit. #gaycouple."
Kenneth made the post after the 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way episode aired in which a man in Mexico used a homophobic slur to describe Kenneth and Armando's relationship while the two men were out at a restaurant eating tacos with two of Kenneth's daughters.
Kenneth subsequently wrote on Instagram, "Everyone should have the right to live our lives as we see fit. We won't let someone have our power to live and love. #thepoweroflove #lovewins #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway."
On August 18, Kenneth captioned a still photo of Armando and himself from the show and wrote alongside it, "With sharing our story with the world, we wanted to show...When two people are in love, nothing is impossible, anything is achievable. #lovehasnoboundries #gaycouple #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway #loveislove."
Kenneth also gushed about his love for Armando on social media in mid-August after his marriage proposal aired on television, suggesting the couple is still happy and together.
Kenneth posted a video of Armando saying "yes" to marriage and the men kissing each other, and he captioned it, "This was the best moment and the best day ever! Thank you everyone for the amazing reaction, love and support! Love is love #love is love #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway."
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Kenneth later posted a photo of Armando showing off his engagement ring.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
"You just know when it's right. #loveislove #lovewins #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway," Kenneth captioned the image.
As for Armando, he posted a photo with Kenneth from their dinner post-engagement.
"I said yes! #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway #90daytheotherway #proposal #engagement #lgbt #gay #pride #love #tlc," Armando wrote alongside the sweet picture of the men smiling in front of a big bouquet of flowers.
In late July, Kenneth also posted a photo of himself in Mexico on Instagram and wrote alongside it, "Roads that lead me to a beautiful destination. #lovewins #mexicanbeauty #myheart #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway."
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Writing "love wins" suggests he and Armando are still together and doing well. And not long before that, he gushed about making a relationship work on his Instagram account.
"What real relationships are about," Kenneth captioned a photo with Armando in which they were both sitting in front of an iconic Jesus statue in Mexico.
"Yes differences but then understanding, communication, compromising and in the end moving forward together. #jesusloveslove #90dayfiance #90fiancetheotherway."
Around that same time, Armando posted what appeared to be a throwback photo with Kenneth in which they were soaking in a sunset together.
"Two worlds, One love," Armando wrote, along with a heart emoji and two Earth emojis. "#90dayfiance #90daytheotherway #90dayfiancetheotherway #gay #lgbt #pride #love #tlc #jesuslove."
Kenneth also gushed this past summer about how he grew to love Mexico, hinting he "is" still living there.
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"One of the many things I love about Mexico is the beautiful sky, the stars were never so bright... never more at peace, it was (is) serenity," Kenneth captioned an image of himself looking at the sky on Instagram, along with a smiley face.
Armando also shared a photo of the guys enjoying cocktails together and taking in a beautiful view in late July. Although the picture was apparently a throwback, Armando added a hashtag "#love" to his post.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
"Cheers to finally reuniting #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway #90daytheotherway #love #movingforlove #gayfathers #lgbt #kennethandarmando," Armando wrote alongside the photo along with a red-heart emoji.
In mid-June, Armando and Cassidy, Kenneth's daughter, 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."
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.
Around that same time, Kenneth hinted he and Armando are still in "love" during an interview with E! News.
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."
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According to hints made by Kenneth's daughter Cass Niedermeier in late April, Kenneth and Armando were still living together in Mexico at the time.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? (PHOTOS)
"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."
Kenneth revealed October 27, 2019 on Instagram he was moving to Mexico to be with Armando soon.
"#Countdown, little over a month and our #forever starts. #love him #gaycouple #movingforlove #mexico #maydecember #proudofhim #instagay #lucky," Kenneth captioned a selfie of the couple.
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: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
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