90 Day Fiance couple Armando Rubio and Kenny Niedermeier just got denied a marriage license in Mexico on Season 2 of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way, so did the couple call it quits on their relationship and break up -- or are Kenny and Armando still still together now?
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[90 Day Fiance Spoiler Warning: This report contains spoilers that reveal if Kenny and Armando split up or the 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way couple is still together.]
Kenneth, a 57-year-old from St. Petersburg, FL who goes by Kenny, and Armando, a 31-year-old from San Felipe, Mexico, are trying to make their love official on 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way's second season.RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? (PHOTOS)
Kenny, 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 exactly welcoming or accepting of the LGBTQ community.
Armando even married a woman to save face in society, and his then-wife gave birth to Armando's daughter, Hannah, who was six years old at the time the season filmed. However, Armando's wife tragically passed away in a tragic car accident.
Armando and Kenny met by chance on a social media page that served as a support group for gay fathers.
Kenny 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.
Kenny and Armando claim they were just friends for about a year before Armando made the first move and turned their relationship into a romantic one.
90 Day Fiance: The Other Way's second season premiered with Kenny preparing to leave his children in the United States and move to Mexico to start a life with Armando.
Meanwhile, Armando told his parents that a documentary was being filmed about life in Mexico, not about his blossoming relationship with Kenny.
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."
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 Sr. apparently felt uncomfortable about the idea of Armando living with a male partner in Mexico.
After a long drive to Mexico with his 15-year-old dog Truffles, Kenny 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."
Kenny quickly had to adjust to life in a different country considering he didn't speak the language or know how to use the currency.
Kenny also complained his apartment had no central heat or air conditioners, and the nearest bank was also apparently 40 minutes away.
Armando also wasn't used to public displays of affection with a man, and he refused to hold Kenny's hand or kiss him while the pair walked around their neighborhood.
Armando thought Kenny's expectations of him were a little high and unrealistic since he hadn't been "out" for very long.
"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.
Armando felt bad for allowing Kenny to feel "rejected" and hurt, and he asked Kenny to be patient with him.
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The men hugged after Kenny popped the question and put a ring on Armando's finger on the rocks by a beach. Armando told Kenny that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with him, and Kenny said in reply, "You are perfect."
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Armando and Kenny were on Cloud 9 until the pair went out for tacos with Kenny's daughters.
While at the table, Armando touched and tickled Kenny, which seemingly marked Armando's first attempt at PDA since Kenny's move to Mexico.
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.
Kenny 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."
Kenny said the sad part was Armando was just starting to feel more free with himself and open and flirtatious with Kenny. One word seemed to tear all of that down.
Armando later plammed to introduce Kenny to his parents when the couple drove to pick up Hannah and bring her back to their new apartment.
"I am scared. I am nervous. I am worried. I don't know what to expect," Armando vented to the cameras, before telling Kenny that he needed his fiance to be on his side.
Armando introduced Kenny to his mother Virginia and her sisters, but Armando Sr. didn't show up. Virginia admitted it was "strange" to see her son with a man, but she was happy to see Armando and give him a hug.
Armando didn't know what to say and admitted he was lost in his own head. Armando didn't know how to act with Kenny sitting next to him and assumed his father -- who was allegedly "tired" -- was avoiding meeting Kenny.
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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)
Armando wished his father had more of an interaction with Kenny, who was also "very disappointed" Armando Sr. didn't want to get to know him better.
The group was shocked to discover Kenny was engaged, as Armando's news was met with silence. Kenny told Armando's friends and family, however, the engagement wasn't a quick and spontaneous decision -- but he knew it was "a lot" for them to take in.
"I can tell that she's embarrassed and that she's hurt by this announcement. And I'm sad. I'm sad for Armando that his mother took it as something horrible and not as something beautiful," Kenny said in a confessional.
Virginia expected her husband would also be surprised by the engagement news, and so she actually planned to hide the news from Armando Sr.
"It wasn't the reaction I had hoped for, but it was definitely the reaction I had expected, especially from my dad," Armando told the cameras.
The tense and emotional evening, however, ended with Kenny and Armando embracing and expressing their love for one another.
Kenny and Armando had happy tears to cry, however, when they realized Hannah was very accepting of their relationship and couldn't wait to have two fathers.
Hannah, in fact, told her father that she never wanted the three of them to separate and she loved Kenny a lot.
Armando said his daughter's reaction was exactly what he needed and left him with "the best feeling in the world." Armando just wished his parents felt the same way.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? (PHOTOS)
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And Armando said of his mother, "I can tell my mom's still not thrilled about Kenny and I being engaged, and her telling me that she would have preferred I tell her in private shows me that she's still struggling with it, and maybe in some ways she feels embarrassed that I'm gay. But she needs to learn how to accept me without worrying about what anybody says or who is around."
Armando told his mother that he wanted a real wedding instead of just signing marriage papers at a registry and he hoped for her love and support. Armando wanted his wedding day to be a joyful celebration, and his mother agreed to attend the party.
Armando then had a tearful goodbye when he officially moved out of his parents' house and took Hannah with him. Armando Sr. even made an appearance to bid Armando farewell, and he also shook Kenny's hand.
Both men were ready to start a life together -- open and proud -- and Kenny just hoped Hannah would look at him as a parent and know that he only wanted the best for her.
Armando and Kenny's first family outing was to a local market where toys and treats were being sold. Armando said it felt surreal to be with Kenny in this moment and it was something he had always pictured.
Armando, however, asked Kenny to take a Spanish class because Armando felt like he was taking care of two people since Kenny spoke English in a Spanish-speaking country.
And Kenny quickly came to realize he and Armando had very different parenting styles. Kenny said Armando let Hannah do whatever she wanted and buy whatever she wanted while he was the opposite.
Kenny called Armando "a pushover," and although Armando wasn't thrilled with the comment, he acknowledged he should let Kenny in.
"I know it's not good to spoil a child, but it's been hard to know that Hannah doesn't have her mother. And that's the route I've taken; I've given her everything because she's had a loss in her life, and I just want Kenny to understand that," Armando shared.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Kenny and Armando later headed to a marriage office to apply for a marriage license.
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Armando and Kenny already had to write a letter requesting to get married considering they're a same-sex couple. Armando felt roadblocks had already been put in place for them.
Kenny felt he and Armando had to essentially ask for permission to wed in Mexico, and Kenny was upset they had to go through such hoops just to be together.
"Same-sex marriage in Mexico have been legal since 2015, but I have read articles that same-sex couples have had troubles getting their licenses approved," Armando explained to the cameras.
"Gay marriage in Mexico is still looked down upon because of the culture... In some ways, it's like we're back in time."
Kenny hoped he and Armando would look "too cute" to get denied, but Armando anticipated a difficult process much to their dismay.
When Kenny and Armando met with a civil registry clerk, Armando presented the petition letter for a same-sex marriage. Armando said same-sex marriage in Mexico is legal, but the registry clerk said the pair wouldn't be able to receive their marriage license due to "a law that states, 'No you can't."
"And we have a constitution that says, 'Yes you can,'" the registry clerk explained. "Sadly, we don't have legislation that supports us to reform our code -- the one that says we still can't allow same-sex marriage to go through."
Armando didn't understand what was happening because the woman had provided contradictory information to him.
"I don't even think seven words were spoken, and [the license] was denied," Kenny told the cameras. "It wasn't even a discussion. That's their protocol, to deny you right away."
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Armando, however, learned "alternative measures" could be taken, such as going to the Human Rights Commission and submitting a complaint that declares being denied the right to marry violates a basic human right.
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Kenny still found the turn of events discouraging because he didn't want to have to fight a war to marry someone he loves. The couple had to wait a week to hear back from the Human Rights Commission, and they decided to hope for the best, knowing nothing is ever guaranteed.
"We're gonna get married, babe," Armando told his partner with hope.
Kenny wondered whether more problems awaited them in the future, such as finding a wedding venue and caterer willing to participate in their nuptials. He and Armando wondered how many fights they'd have to fight in order to get married.
Did Kenny and Armando end their relationship or is the 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way couple still together?
As recently as late October, Kenny and Armando appear to still be together and in love.Not only did Kenny post a photo with Hannah, but on October 26, he also uploaded a picture of Hannah holding their dog Truffles, which suggests Kenny is still living in Mexico and his beloved senior dog has become Hannah's pet.
"A girl and her dog #hannah #truffles #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway," Kenny captioned the picture with a red heart.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? (PHOTOS)
On October 21, Armando uploaded a photo with Kenny in which they were posing in front of a sunset and Kenny was cracking up at something.
"Live. Love. Laugh #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway #90daytheotherway #love #tlc," Armando wrote.
And just a couple of days earlier, Kenny posted a photo with Armando and Hannah and captioned it, "Mi Familia... Amor es Amor #familypride #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway."
Kenny previously posted a photo of the couple with their arms around each other on October 6 and wrote, "Be open for love," along with a red-heart emoji.
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"The sky's the limit... #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway," Kenny captioned the picture.
Ten days earlier, Kenny 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 Kenny.
On September 2, Kenny 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," Kenny captioned the photo.
Going back to late August, Kenny wrote on Instagram, "We choose to live life as we sit fit. #gaycouple."
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Kenny made the post after the 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way episode aired in which a man in Mexico used a homophobic slur to describe Kenny and Armando's relationship while the two men were out at a restaurant eating tacos with two of Kenny's daughters.
Kenny 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, Kenny 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."
Kenny 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.
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Kenny later posted a photo of Armando showing off his engagement ring.
"You just know when it's right. #loveislove #lovewins #90dayfiance #90dayfiancetheotherway," Kenny captioned the image.
As for Armando, he posted a photo with Kenny 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.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
In late July, Kenny gushed about making a relationship work on his Instagram account.
"What real relationships are about," Kenny captioned a photo with Armando in which they were both sitting in front of an iconic Jesus statue in Mexico.
"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 Kenny 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."
Kenny also gushed this past summer about how he grew to love Mexico, hinting he "is" still living there.
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In mid-June, Armando and Cassidy, Kenny'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."
Armando sweetly responded, "@cultivation.and.inspiration love youuuu!! Here we go!"
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? (PHOTOS)
Armando has also commented on other photos posted on Cassidy's Instagram page.
Around that same time, Kenny 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, Kenny 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."
Kenny 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 Kenny's daughter Cass Niedermeier in late April, Kenny 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.
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RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Kenny 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," Kenny 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."
Kenny's house in Florida sold in July 2019 for close to $350,000, and then he left for Mexico four months later on November 30 with his dog Truffles on a four-day road trip, Starcasm reported.
"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!," Kenny reportedly wrote in part on Instagram at the time.
"Tomorrow I am running again, not away, but towards something, to love, #lovewins #loveislove"
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski