Why 90 Day Fiancé Star Michael Ilesanmi's GoFundMe Was Suspended (2024)

90 Day Fiancé news has been dominated in recent months by Angela Deem and Michael Ilesanmi's contentious divorce, and Michael's successful GoFundMe campaign recently came to issue ... again.

There is a lot of context here, so we'll recap it before we get to Michael's GoFundMe and his Instagram statement.

Editor's note: This article contains mentions of alleged domestic abuse, and related topics that could be triggering for some readers and survivors. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please visit thehotline.org for assistance 24/7.

As we've recently explained regarding another TLC mainstay, Sister Wives, personalities on reality TV often become independently notable, making it difficult to suppress major developments in the lives of cast members before their storylines air.

Angela and Michael's breakup was a massive component of a sprawling, multipart 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After series of Tell Alls in August, and the network had to skip ahead in time to address what was by then a widely-reported dispute between the estranged couple.

In early August, Angela dragged a private investigator named Todd to one Happily Ever After Tell All, hoping to prove Michael was somehow scamming her — and she threw a tantrum when Todd came up with bupkis.

In the scenes then-currently airing (filmed in February), Michael and Angela had yet to officially split, although there was no question their dynamic was untenable.

During a Tell All that aired on August 25, Angela made a different scene at the beginning of the episode, announcing to the cast that she wanted to get Michael's "visa annulled" and causing Jasmine Pineda to break down in terrified sobs.

It was awful to watch on many levels, but the same episode was bookended by development of a different sort — Michael addressed 90 Day Fiancé fans to let them know he'd left Angela in secret, and TLC indicated he was "in an undisclosed location":

"Michael said God 'saved' him, and that after hours of walking, he 'begged' (borrowed) a stranger's phone to contact 'one or two' friends.

"Kobe has repeatedly and consistently attempted to intervene on Michael's behalf, and fans on Reddit think that Kobe was one of the friends Michael mentioned."

Fans were pretty sure Kobe Blaise, from Season 9 of 90 Day Fiancé, had a hand in facilitating Michael's escape, and Michael's reiteration of Kobe's advice seemed to validate their theories:

Enough is enough.

I mean, no one deserves to be treated this way.

Of course, some people questioned his story, but by and large, 90 Day Fiancé fans threw their support behind Michael.

After news of Angela's attempts to interfere with his immigration status became public, a GoFundMe campaign created for Michael raised not just money, but support — the commenters apologized to Michael for Angela's behavior, and welcomed him to the United States.

Michael's GoFundMe raised over $50,000, and Angela made no attempt to conceal her resentment over it.

Now his campaign is suspended, and Michael issued a statement on Instagram addressing the situation.

2:06

Related

Why 90 Day Fiancé Can't Get Enough Of Angela Deem Despite Her Abusive Habits

Angela Deem and Michael Ilesanmi have cemented themselves in 90 Day Fiance history, but Angela's abusive behavior has upset some fans.

GoFundMe Suspended Michael's Campaign To Investigate

Why 90 Day Fiancé Star Michael Ilesanmi's GoFundMe Was Suspended (2)

Late on September 23, Michael issued a statement via Instagram.

Alongside a caption, "Clearing up questions and concerns for my family," a two-page statement appeared:

Michael's statement addressed several rumors and circumstances.

First, he updated fans on his pending divorce from Angela, providing a no-nonsense explanation:

"As is widely known, I am currently involved in litigation with my estranged wife, Angela Deem, in the family court of Jeff Davis County, Georgia.

"These proceedings involve both annulment proceedings and my own filings for dismissal and a counter-claim for divorce. At present, there are no active court dates as both parties are in the early stages of pre-trial discovery."

Next, the statement went into rumors about Michael's life post-Angela, before addressing the suspension of his GoFundMe.

Michael was direct, disclosing that reports of fraud triggered an investigation:

"There has been speculation that the funds raised were being misused for personal expenses, such as purchasing vehicles or covering moving costs. This is absolutely untrue."

Since Angela and Michael parted ways in February, Michael has been reluctant to speak badly of his estranged wife.

However, he noted that one of the reports originated in Hazelhurst, Georgia — which, in what can only be a massive coincidence, happens to be where his escape from Angela began:

"One of these reports came from Hazelhurst, GA, according to information provided by GoFundMe. The account remained frozen from August 14 until the end of the month while an investigation was conducted.

"I was only able to access the funds once the investigation concluded in my favor."

Michael hasn't lost his optimistic disposition amid the legal dispute, though.

He closed the statement with a request for continued prayers, adding: "While I don't know what tomorrow holds, today, I am alive, blessed, free, and happy."

Why 90 Day Fiancé Star Michael Ilesanmi's GoFundMe Was Suspended (3)
90 Day Fiancé

TV-14

Romance

Reality TV

Release Date
January 12, 2014

Main Genre
Reality

Cast
Shaun Robinson , Mike Youngquist , Nicole Nafziger , Azan Tefou

Seasons
10

Network
TLC

Streaming Service(s)
TLC GO

Franchise(s)
90 Day Fiancé

Directors
Rogue Rubin , Kevin Rhoades , Jessica Hernandez

Showrunner
Kyle Hamley
Why 90 Day Fiancé Star Michael Ilesanmi's GoFundMe Was Suspended (2024)
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