Nick Lachey, Vanessa Lachey Shockingly Kick Couple Off The Ultimatum

Nick Lachey, Vanessa Lachey Kick Couple Off The Ultimatum in Shocking Season 4 Moment

The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On season four is off to a rocky start.

In the latest installment of the Netflix reality series—which follows real-life couples who enter “trial” marriages with a new partner before deciding whether they’re ready to get engaged to their original connection—hosts Nick Lachey and Vanessa Lachey shocked fans as they booted participants Alex Johnsen and Jebin John from the show.

After Jebin attempted to secretly pass Alex a note during episode two in which he criticized her for building connections with other men, the message was swiftly intercepted by production. And it’s safe to say the Lacheys were not happy.

"Communication is paramount in this entire experience, I think you're all aware of that," Nick told the six couples participating in season four, which dropped on Netflix July 15. "But that communication, frankly, has to happen on camera. That's part of this experience."

By attempting to keep his and Alex’s communication on the low, the hedge fund manager proved he wasn’t ready to fully lean into the experience.

"Jebin, I think I can speak for the room about the clarity you've given us on you not being ready to be involved in this experiment,” Vanessa said in episode three, "and I think that it's going to negatively impact the rest of the group, if I'm being honest.”

So, in an Ultimatum first, he was removed from the show.

Courtesy of Netflix © 2026

“Unfortunately, we're going to ask you to leave the experience at this point,” Nick said. "You can go ahead and go."

Ahead of their reality TV debut, Alex and Jebin, both 23, met while working at a grocery store before their relationship turned romantic six years ago.

In the scathing letter, Jebin expressed jealousy over Alex’s budding connection with fellow participant Killian Grondin.

"I want to say things can get better, but this time you did it. I honestly hope to God you guys weren't touching on camera,” he wrote in the secret letter. "I'm not f--king doing this. Who knows what else you've done? You're into him. I don't even know. There is no way we are getting married."

Courtesy of Netflix © 2026

But because the experiment calls for couple participation, Alex couldn’t stay on the show while single and was also sent home during the dramatic cast gathering.

"You've got to find someone that grows with you, that evolves with you, most importantly, that respects you and loves you," Vanessa told Alex. "But because he has left, and there is an awkward number [of couples]. We unfortunately will have to also ask you to leave, as well."

As Nick added, "He's stolen this from you, and that is super unfortunate.”

To see where more Ultimatum couples are today, read on...

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App