'Love During Lockup' star 'wouldn't recommend' dating inmates, but still found love
After appearing on “Love After Lockup” during season 4 and going through a tumultuous breakup with her then partner, Monique Robinson swore she would never date another criminal.
Then she met Titus and decided to appear on season 7 of “Love During Lockup” on We TV.
Why did she give another incarcerated man a try?
“I think because it just really wasn't going well with men who were free,” Monique told PauseRewind. “It just seems like we were just lacking the emotional and mental connection, like I just didn't feel any like closeness with them, and I was just kind of like fed up, honestly, like I tried dating apps. I just really wasn't coming across anybody who mentally, like, did it for me.”
Monique gave an app connecting with prisoners another chance and connected with Titus, who has been incarcerated for the past 13 years on charges of aggravated robbery with a firearm, kidnapping, and carrying a concealed weapon.
When she spotted Titus on the app, Monique said she was “immediately” attracted to him.
“I just loved his big arms, and I just loved how he kept his profile real short and sweet, because then that enticed meI’m like I want to know what he's all about, you know? And then I reached out to him, and we hit it off.”
The connection went so well, Monique moved to Ohio to be closer to Titus, who is still serving his sentence.
Monique kept the relationship private for almost a year, even keeping it from her sisters, who hadn’t been fans of her ex either.
“I’m the oldest but they treat me like I’m the youngest,” she said of her sisters Calandra and Sylvia.
During the second episode of “Love During Lockup,” Calandra and Sylvia get a chance to speak with Titus on the phone but aren’t convinced of his intentions towards Monique.
“They felt like he didn't have any future plans with me, as far as, like, how the conversation went over the phone. They felt like he's probably playing games, he's not serious, but I'm the type of person, like, I gotta see for myself. I gotta see what’s really going on, you know?”
Monique admitted to some trust issues early on, but she’s gotten closer with him, more-so after filming of the season ended. She also has been “building bonds with his family and feeling closer to them.”
So, would she recommend finding love with a person behind bars?
“Well, I wouldn't recommend anybody to do this, but if this is something that you're interested in doing, I would say, just be careful,” Monique advised. “Make sure you know who you're talking to. Like, do research on their case, their background, their charges and yeah, just make sure the other individual [has] pure intentions.”
Monique says she “made sure I researched Titus” and while there’s plenty of “Love During Lockup" left this season, it sounds like things are positive for now.
'Just stay tuned for me and Titus’ journey, I think you guys are gonna learn a lot more about me during this season,” she teased. “And yeah, me and Titus we’re building, and hopefully you guys will be able to continue to watch us on our journey.”
“Love During Lockup” airs Fridays on We TV.
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