90 Day Fiancé Star Big Ed Opens Up About His Relationship With Liz - Exclusive
November 10 was a big day for Ed "Big Ed" Brown, one of the stars of the TLC franchise "90 Day Fiancé." Fans know Big Ed for his self-appointed nickname as well as his highly publicized relationship with Rose, which was documented during Season 4 of "90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days." Big Ed's relationship with Rose didn't work out, but that didn't mean that he gave up on finding love. After a tumultuous first season starring on the spin-off series "90 Day: The Single Life," which showcased Big Ed falling in love with Liz Woods, the social media breakout played coy about his relationship status during an interview with The List.
But just a few days later, the status of Big Ed's relationship with Liz came full circle. Speaking to People, the "90 Day Fiancé" star revealed that he and Liz are engaged. "Never in a million years did I think that I would ever be together with Liz — it's just surreal," he told People. "She said yes. And ... I did a beeline to the jewelry store and bought the biggest diamond I could find," he shared.
Speaking to The List before the engagement news was announced, Ed spilled the details about his experience with his now-fiancee and the journey that brought him to a new sense of purpose in his relationship with Liz. Here's what "90 Day Fiancé" star Big Ed had to say.
Therapy helped Big Ed navigate his relationship
Ed "Big Ed" Brown found his forever, but it wasn't an easy road to get there. The breakout star has gone through a lot, and when he realized he wasn't being a good boyfriend, he knew he needed to change. "It's easy to say, 'Love yourself and laugh at yourself,' which I tell my fans, but the hardest thing for us to do is to really look at who we are," Big Ed told The List. "I'm not good at being in a relationship, and I proved that with Rose and I proved that with Liz."
This self-realization prompted Big Ed to seek therapy, and he revealed that the experience changed his life. "It's been a wonderful journey with my therapist. There's a lot that I've learned about myself," he said. But as captured on camera during the first season of "90 Day: The Single Life," things didn't initially go so well for Big Ed and Liz Woods. While the two have reconciled since, as proved by their engagement (per People), their relationship originally went sideways.
"Something that came up quite often in my relationships with Liz and even with Rose is that I was listening to everybody else but what was in my heart," Big Ed shared. "That got me in trouble. I think that's what really ruined my relationship with Liz." Of course, the bond between them wasn't unsalvageable. As Big Ed shared with us, "Liz made me a better person."
Big Ed's advice for dating in the public eye
While Ed "Big Ed" Brown has found his happily ever after, he went through some very public relationships before settling down. Namely, Big Ed was known within the "90 Day Fiancé" franchise for his relationship with Rose, which had some jaw-dropping moments. From Big Ed's shared shower with Rose's dad to the reality star asking his then-girlfriend to get tested for STIs to Big Ed spending thousands on Rose before they even met, it's safe to say the breakout personality made a name for himself. But is Big Ed's reputation within the franchise authentic? We asked, and Big Ed had some answers when it came to dating in the public eye.
"I knew this going into the franchise day one, 'Before The 90 Days,' that you were opening your life, your entire life, your entire past, everything about you, to the world," Big Ed said to The List. "I'm 56 years old. I'm not perfect. We all make mistakes through life and we learn from them. But thankfully, because of my age and in a mature way, I'm able to deal with a lot of the criticism."
Big Ed also had some dating advice to offer his fans. "Don't let your family and friends tell you what to do, who to like, who to love. It has to be your choice," Big Ed said. "That's probably one of my biggest breakthroughs in therapy, but I recommend it for anyone."
"90 Day: The Single Life" Season 2 premieres Friday, November 12 on discovery+.