Why is JoAnna Garcia Swisher hosting ‘The Ultimatum: Queer Love’ and not the Lacheys?

JoAnna Garcia Swisher is helping  The Ultimatum: Queer Love couples find their happily ever after in this beachside town. 

The first four episodes of the Netflix series, a spinoff to 2022's The Ultimatum, arrived on the streamer on Wednesday, May 24, and we're already completely absorbed in the messiness. For the unfamiliar, couples arrive at the experiment after one partner issues an ultimatum, and from there, everyone's left to pair up with a new S.O. for two weeks. At the end of the trial marriages, they'll either return to their original partners, find love with their new ones or leave the show single. 

We told you it was messy! But some suspect that the premise of the reality dating show isn't the only drama-worthy factor: look at the host. The cordial and easy-going JoAnna Garcia Swisher isn't who we were expecting to see... 

Joanna Garcia Swisher arrives on 'The Ultimatum: Queer Love'

Is JoAnna Garcia Swisher taking over? The Ultimatum is the brainchild of Chris Coelen's Kinetic Content, which includes the ever-popular Love Is Blind. For the past four seasons of that series, Nick and Vanessa Lachey assumed hosting duties, and when the LIB spinoff, The Ultimatum, arrived in 2022, they returned to the tumultuous roller coaster. 

But then we have the notorious Love Is Blind season 4 reunion. Not only was the first live event of its kind disastrously delayed, but viewers were quick to criticize Nick and Vanessa for siding with the wrong cast members and asking insensitive questions, particularly when it came to couples' pregnancy plans. 

Is it possible that Garcia Swisher's arrival means that the Lacheys are heading out? Considering rumors swirled that Lauren and Cameron Hamilton, a happily married couple from Love Is Blind season 1, were allegedly in talks to replace the Lacheys, fans are questioning if the same thing will happen on The Ultimatum: Queer Love.

Will Joanna Garcia Swisher replace the Lacheys on 'The Ultimatum'?

According to Coelen, the reason for bringing in a new host was to separate each iteration of The Ultimatum from one another.

“We, along with Netflix, sort of made a decision to create a new franchise where there’s Ultimatum: Marry or Move On and there’s Ultimatum: Queer Love, and felt like it made sense to differentiate the two,” Coelen told Variety in 2022. 

But, if they were going to pick someone new to assume hosting duties, they wanted to stay within familiar terrain. Considering Garcia Swisher was a fan-favorite in the streamer's Sweet Magnolias series, the choice was obvious.  

"She’s in the Netflix family, and I think she did a great job," Coelen added. "She really was passionate about doing it."

The actor has been particularly excited about this new endeavor and even gave her Instagram followers a sneak peek of the series. 

"I’m so proud to be a part of this show and I can not wait for you to get to know this incredible cast," JoAnna wrote.

Although the Lacheys did receive some scrutiny after that messy reunion, it doesn't appear as if we're doing away with them any time soon. But should that change, we'll be sure to alert everyone watching and those who are heading to the pods or issuing an ultimatum. 

The Ultimatum: Queer Love released its first four episodes on Wednesday, May 24 on Netflix. Subsequent episodes will hit the streamer on Wednesdays through June 7.