The Circle season 7's Darian reveals what happened with Jadejha after filming: 'Love at first sight'

Warning: This article contains spoilers for the The Circle season 7, episode 9, "Help! I'm Drowning."

Listen, Darian Holt knows he messed up on The Circle.

Half of season 7's fan-favorite showmance was given the opportunity to guarantee his safety in episode 9's blocking when he got the Disruptor twist, which allowed him to choose one of the Influencers. Instead of picking his self-proclaimed "queen" and "Circle wife" Jadejha Edwards, who made it clear that she would always protect him in the game, Darian gave the power to Kevin Fernandez.

Unbeknownst to Darian, Kevin was already planning to betray him thanks to Madelyn Rusinyak's lies about him. So when Kevin became Influencer, he immediately backstabbed Darian and blocked his former bro. "I dropped the ball," Darian tells Entertainment Weekly of his decision to make Kevin Influencer.

Below, Darian explains why he didn't make Jadejha Influencer, where his relationship with his Circle wife stands today, and how he feels about Kevin's betrayal.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Why did you choose Kevin as Influencer over Jadejha?

DARIAN HOLT: That night, immediately when I got Disruptor, I 100 percent had in my mind that I'm choosing Jadejha. And I really wish that they would've gave me the option then, because they gave me time to sleep on it. When you're just in a room by yourself and you're overthinking the game, something that can be so obvious, you get to overthinking. But she was playing a really good game — she was right in the middle, she was probably like third every single time, she was never an Influencer. If I did choose her, I was thinking about looking out for her still, because I knew the moment if I would've selected her as an Influencer, automatically they would've known I was a Disruptor. I know she would've saved me, but I feel like it would've been a target on her back.

With Kevin, I will say my goal was to get Madelyn out of the game. Kevin was one of my only alliances that I still had remaining after Andy left. Had I known what I know now, definitely wouldn't have chose Kevin. But I did think that he would possibly take out Madelyn. But looking back, horrible decision, [even though] I was looking out for Queen Jadejha in terms of not bringing that extra attention to her.

Did you worry that leaving the game would have a negative impact on Jadejha moving forward?

Yes, because I don't know how the ratings went after I left, in terms of her alliances. But of course, I was her No. 1 ally, she was my No. 1 ally. I would've been able to continue to push her in a No. 1 position, and I do feel like people would've started gravitating towards us in the game. We would've became a lot more powerful, looking back now.

What was your immediate reaction when you saw that you were blocked?

I think I broke something. I kicked the bottom of something and put a hole in it. I was extremely upset, but that was my own doing. I know everybody's been like, "Why did you choose Kevin?" Well, I couldn't see that Kevin was in the midst of backstabbing me, but now that you see it on camera, I'm like, "Kevin definitely wasn't the choice." I was disappointed in myself. I should have 100 percent went with the safe option, even though I was thinking further along in the game. I should have just been strictly thinking, "Save myself now and then make it to the next round."

When did you find out Kevin was the one responsible for your blocking? Did you realize immediately or did it come out later?

If I recall, Gianna was the one that dropped it in the chat. So I think finale night, that's when [I learned the truth]. But I don't think I realized it was that deep until I just recently watched the episodes, truthfully. I knew he had blocked me, and I knew he had been manipulated. I didn't realize how strongly manipulated he was and how deep he was into trying to get me eliminated, and I just literally threw it in his hands.

To be fair, it's not like you could have known what Kevin and Madelyn were talking about behind your back.

Exactly. I was trying to be true to my alliance. They don't show everything, but he was one of my strong alliances. And in terms of numbers, I was thinking of keeping him on my team. Obviously, I thought I would've been rated high, but I didn't know he was backstabbing me, so all that went out the window.

What's your relationship with Kevin like now that you know the truth?

Me and Kevin, there is not any beef. We all know what we signed up for. It is a reality show. The night after the finale, everyone got along. It's no bad blood. It does suck to see it in person now but it was a game for $100,000, and it is what it is. Do I hate it? Yes, I hate he did that s---. And do I hate picking him as an Influencer? I hate that I did that s--- as well.

Speaking of relationships, what's going on with you and Jadejha now?

[Laughs] Well, I mean, we're seeing each other. I live in Houston, she lives in Houston, so we kick it. We hang out. We have good vibes. [Laughs] I'm blushing a little bit.

Prepare to keep blushing because I'm going to keep asking for more details. Are you boyfriend/girlfriend?

[Laughs] Well, I don't want to say... We're seeing how things go, but we are very close. We are very, very close.

Did you officially get together as soon as filming ended?

Probably right after. I don't want to put no dates on it, because I really can't recall. But it was pretty soon.

What has it been like watching this season and seeing how you both were interested in each other from the very first second you saw each other's profiles?

Oh, yeah. I love it. I'm glad she wasn't a catfish. I mean, love at first sight, that's what it felt like, just watching it all unfold. Lovey dovey eyes, heart eyes, heart eyes, heart eyes, heart eyes, heart eyes, heart eyes.

In The Circle, it's heart eyes at first sight.

Right. Literally. Boom. Now, that's a good decision. Picking Kevin wasn't. So you live and you learn. I'm a man that learns from his mistakes.

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