90 Day Fiance couple Armando Rubio and Kenneth Niedermeier's story will continue when 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way's second season returns October 11 to TLC, but what's the latest on this couple? Have they broken up or are they still together and living in Mexico?
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[90 Day Fiance Spoiler Warning: This report features spoilers revealing if Kenneth and Armando split after getting engaged or if the 90 Day Fiance couple is still together now.]
Kenneth, a 57-year-old from St. Petersburg, FL, and Armando, a 31-year-old from San Felipe, Mexico, are the first pair of gay men to star on the 90 Day Fiance franchise.RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? (PHOTOS)
Kenneth, originally from Ohio, came out at age 19 and was supported by his family, but Armando felt the need to hide his sexuality from his family for most of his life since people in Mexico aren't welcoming or accepting of the LGBTQ community.
Armando even married a woman to save face in society, and his former wife gave birth to a daughter, Hannah, who was six years old at the time of filming 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way. However, Armando's wife sadly passed away in a tragic car accident.
Armando and Kenneth met on a social media page that served as a support group for gay fathers, but the men insist they didn't have a dating agenda at first and just became good friends as time passed.
Kenneth is dad to a son Bricen and triplet daughters -- Taylor, Cassidy and Madison -- who are all in their twenties. He welcomed his children with a friend who had been willing to undergo in vitro fertilization.
Kenneth told Entertainment Tonight that he and Armando took each other out of the friendzone about a year after communicating.
Kenneth told ET that Armando made the first move once the pair established their age difference wasn't going to be an issue and their personalities just meshed.
90 Day Fiance: The Other Way premiered with Kenneth preparing to leave the United States and move to Mexico to start a life with Armando.
Kenneth's heart broke over the idea of having to leave his family, but he thought his relationship with Armando was worth sacrificing and compromising.
Meanwhile, Armando told his parents that a documentary was being filmed about life in Mexico, not about his blossoming relationship with Kenny.
RELATED LINK: 'MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO BROKE UP? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
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But Armando came out to his parents, Virginia and Armando Sr., for the second time during a lunch in Mexico in Episode 3 of the series. (Armando said he came out to his parents once before but their emotional reaction sent him "back into the closet" for a while.)
Tears streamed down his mother's face as she tried to be supportive, and Armando Sr. said, "You're my son and I see you the same."
But Armando Sr. apparently felt uncomfortable about the idea of Armando living with a male partner in Mexico, and he didn't show up to say goodbye to Armando.
After a long drive to Mexico with his 15-year-old dog Truffles, Kenneth reunited with Armando in their new apartment, which was several hours away from Armando's parents, and they both said it was a "dream come true."
"It is difficult to hear that Armando's father was not out to send him off when he left because we are going to be picking Hannah up in a week, and that's when I'm going to be meeting Armando's parents as well," Kenneth said in a confessional.
"I don't know how they're going to feel about me; I don't know if they're going to accept us together. It's just a lot of pressure."
In addition to concerns about the future, Kenneth had to adjust to life in a different country. He didn't speak the language or know how to use the currency. Kenneth also complained his apartment had no central heat or air conditioners. The nearest bank was also apparently 40 minutes away.
Kenneth said spending the night with Armando was "amazing," but he clearly had to get over his "culture shock."
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"He does not like any kind of PDA, but I moved here and this is our life now. And I know I plan on asking him very soon to marry me. I would think he would be further along than what he is," Kenneth told the cameras.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Armando admitted Kenneth can be "pushy" and was more comfortable with his sexuality because he's been out since age 19. Armando therefore thought Kenneth's expectations were a little high and unrealistic.
"I have to admit I am worried about our safety as a gay couple. Our culture is very macho-centric and people in Mexico are still homophobic... I'm afraid that we might get hurt," Armando told the cameras.
Kenneth told Armando they couldn't live in fear, and Armando felt bad for allowing Kenneth to feel "rejected" and hurt. Armando asked Kenneth to be patient with him because people in Mexico barely accepted homosexuality and his culture was very different from Florida.
"I am where I am because of you, and that's the truth," Armando told his boyfriend.
"Well, I'm not going anywhere," Kenneth replied, adding that he hoped Armando's parents would see their relationship was going to be "forever" and it wasn't "a fling or a phase."
Later on, Kenneth picked his daughters Taylor and Cassidy up at the airport because they were going to witness their father propose marriage to Armando.
Kenneth said he appreciated Armando's loving side and sensitive nature and added, "I love him and I couldn't marry him fast enough. It's a fairy tale for me -- and for Armando."
Kenneth thought it was important to be an engaged man when Armando introduced him to his family.
Kenneth told Armando that they'd be going out to dinner together, but first, Kenneth suggested they should take some nice pictures down in the rocks near the water.
"I'm totally committed to you for life, but there is something I want to ask you," Kenneth said in tears.
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RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
"I want to ask you," Kenneth began, presenting a ring.
"Are you serious?! Armando asked.
"If you will marry me," Kenneth continued.
"Baby, of course, yes!" Armando replied in tears.
The men hugged and Kenneth put the ring on Armando's finger. Armando told Kenneth that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with him, and then people at the restaurant shot confetti into the sky from the top of the cliff.
"You are perfect," Kenneth told Armando.
Kenneth and Armando were finally and officially engaged, and so they celebrated an "epic" day at a nice restaurant. Kenneth had invited a couple of Armando's friends who were supportive of his sexuality, and Armando gushed he was "very happy."
"I don't want to hide our engagement. I think it's something to celebrate," Armando explained in a confessional.
"But when Kenny asked if I'm going to tell my family the same day they're going to meet him, it makes me sick to my stomach. I've been wanting to tell them my whole life, but I don't know when the right moment is."
But Armando faced harsh reality at a subsequent dinner when he and Kenneth's family went out for tacos.
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Suddenly, a man walked by and said "bye" followed by an expletive that TLC censored out. Armando seemingly revealed to the group the man had said in Spanish, "Adios f-gg-t."
Armando was clearly upset and shaken by the derogatory, homophobic slur often used in Mexico.
Kenneth said he wished he had heard the slur because he would've said something back to the man, but Armando said that could've caused a fight and so that's not the right way to go about it.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? (PHOTOS)
Kenneth's daughters had never seen someone be nasty to their father before, and it even brought Cassidy to tears. Cassidy wanted to "punch that guy in the face" and cried about how people are "so blind."
Armando admitted the hate still bothered and affected him, but Kenneth told his fiance, "We can't give him the power. If we give him the power, he gets exactly what he was looking to get out of us -- a rise."
Kenneth said the sad part was Armando was just starting to feel more free with himself and open and flirtatious with Kenneth.
"One word from a guy can tear it all down," Kenneth told the cameras, before telling Armando to just live the way he wants.
The incident, however, made Armando doubt how affectionate he'd like to be with Kenneth in the future.
When it became time for Kenneth's daughters to leave in the mid-season finale of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way's second season, Armando said he loved how supportive Kenneth's family was of his relationship, and he could only hope his family would be like that one day.
"I really love Armando a lot. I believe he is the only person that could take me away from them and take me away from everything I've known and my country," Kenneth shared with the cameras.
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Armando was very nervous to see his family, but Kenneth provided comfort on the drive over.
Did Kenneth and Armando split after getting engaged or is the 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way couple still together?
As recently as October 6, Kenneth and Armando appear to still be together and in love.Kenneth posted a photo of the couple with their arms around each other and wrote, "Be open for love," along with a red-heart emoji.
On September 26, Kenneth shared a romantic black-and-white photo of the couple standing on a balcony with a beautiful landscape in the background.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
"The sky's the limit... #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway," Kenneth captioned the picture.
Ten days earlier, Kenneth uploaded a photo of Armando and himself arm-in-arm at a winery and wrote, "Cheers to Mexican Independence Day," alongside the image.
Around that same time, Armando wrote "love is love" with a red-heart emoji on his Instagram account when posting a photo with Kenneth.
On September 2, Kenneth posted a cute photo of Armando and himself forming hearts with their hands.
"We are sending [love]️! We will miss you during the mid-season break! #sendinglove #loveislove #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway #gaycouple," Kenneth captioned the photo.
Going back to late August, Kenneth wrote on Instagram, "We choose to live life as we sit fit. #gaycouple."
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Kenneth subsequently wrote on Instagram, "Everyone should have the right to live our lives as we see fit. We won't let someone have our power to live and love. #thepoweroflove #lovewins #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway."
On August 18, Kenneth captioned a still photo of Armando and himself from the show and wrote alongside it, "With sharing our story with the world, we wanted to show...When two people are in love, nothing is impossible, anything is achievable. #lovehasnoboundries #gaycouple #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway #loveislove."
Kenneth also gushed about his love for Armando on social media in mid-August after his marriage proposal aired on television, suggesting the couple is still happy and together.
Kenneth posted a video of Armando saying "yes" to marriage and the men kissing each other, and he captioned it, "This was the best moment and the best day ever! Thank you everyone for the amazing reaction, love and support! Love is love #love is love #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway."
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Kenneth later posted a photo of Armando showing off his engagement ring.
"You just know when it's right. #loveislove #lovewins #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway," Kenneth captioned the image.
As for Armando, he posted a photo with Kenneth from their dinner post-engagement.
"I said yes! #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway #90daytheotherway #proposal #engagement #lgbt #gay #pride #love #tlc," Armando wrote alongside the sweet picture of the men smiling in front of a big bouquet of flowers.
In late July, Kenneth also posted a photo of himself in Mexico on Instagram and wrote alongside it, "Roads that lead me to a beautiful destination. #lovewins #mexicanbeauty #myheart #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway."
Writing "love wins" suggests he and Armando are still together and doing well. And not long before that, he gushed about making a relationship work on his Instagram account.
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"Yes differences but then understanding, communication, compromising and in the end moving forward together. #jesusloveslove #90dayfiance #90fiancetheotherway."
Around that same time, Armando posted what appeared to be a throwback photo with Kenneth in which they were soaking in a sunset together.
"Two worlds, One love," Armando wrote, along with a heart emoji and two Earth emojis. "#90dayfiance #90daytheotherway #90dayfiancetheotherway #gay #lgbt #pride #love #tlc #jesuslove."
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? (PHOTOS)
Kenneth also gushed this past summer about how he grew to love Mexico, hinting he "is" still living there.
"One of the many things I love about Mexico is the beautiful sky, the stars were never so bright... never more at peace, it was (is) serenity," Kenneth captioned an image of himself looking at the sky on Instagram, along with a smiley face.
Armando also shared a photo of the guys enjoying cocktails together and taking in a beautiful view in late July. Although the picture was apparently a throwback, Armando added a hashtag "#love" to his post.
"Cheers to finally reuniting #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway #90daytheotherway #love #movingforlove #gayfathers #lgbt #kennethandarmando," Armando wrote alongside the photo along with a red-heart emoji.
In mid-June, Armando and Cassidy, Kenneth's daughter, made it clear they've become extremely close!
Cass captioned a promo video for 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way, "The time is now!! Get to know my family and hear my dads story airing TONIGHT at 9/8c on @tlc for the official premier of @90dayfiance:the other way @kenneth_90day @armando_90day."
Armando replied with an emoticon that has stars for eyes and then Cassidy wrote to him, "@armando_90day I love love love you! So excited."
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Armando has also commented on other photos posted on Cassidy's Instagram page recently.
Around that same time, Kenneth hinted he and Armando are still in "love" during an interview with E! News.
When asked why they signed up for 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way, Kenneth explained, "We both went into this wanting to tell our story. We want to show our love and we want people to see that. I said in one of the teasers, love is a powerful thing. Love can stop wars. We're hoping that love can melt hearts and love can open minds."
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Kenneth added that he hopes viewers "might tune in and watch out story and they might change their minds and open their hearts even wider."
According to hints made by Kenneth's daughter Cass Niedermeier in late April, Kenneth and Armando were still living together in Mexico at the time.
"Seriously missin my daddy.... can't believe you moved to Mexico almost 5 months ago, life is not the same around here w/ out you, I miss seeing your face and hearing your voice all the time," Cass wrote April 28 on Instagram in a since-deleted post.
"Literally in tears right now writing this, my daddy is my best friend and although I am so happy he's livin his best life in Mexico with the love of his life, my heart isn't the same without him around."
Kenneth revealed October 27, 2019 on Instagram he was moving to Mexico to be with Armando soon.
"#Countdown, little over a month and our #forever starts. #love him #gaycouple #movingforlove #mexico #maydecember #proudofhim #instagay #lucky," Kenneth captioned a selfie of the couple.
Armando replied, "Can't come soon enough my love! Been waiting for this moment so long, will be the best."
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RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
"When I left my hometown of Toledo Ohio when I was 19, I was running away from something, running from who I couldn't be... in Florida I found myself and who I was meant to be! Tomorrow I am running again, not away, but towards something, to love, #lovewins #loveislove," Kenneth reportedly wrote in part on Instagram at the time.
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski