Culture Clash And Tiny Spaces: ’90 Day Fiancé’ Star Shekinah Garner Shocks Sarper Guven With Her Minuscule L.A. Apartment And Strict House Rules
When Turkish personal trainer Sarper Guven landed in Los Angeles to start a new life with his fiancée, "90 Day Fiancé" star Shekinah Garner, he certainly did not expect to walk into what he describes as something smaller than a hotel room, littered with skin-care machinery, and ruled by a series of strict, even suffocating, house rules. Their explosive introduction to cohabitation has become one of the most talked-about moments of the new TLC season—and it underscores how cultural expectations, sacrifices, and cramped reality collide in cross-continental romances.
Guven, 45, left Istanbul behind after a year-long whirlwind romance sparked on Bumble, leaving his life to join Garner in L.A., where her apartment also doubles as her beauty salon. Immediately upon entry, what shocks him isn’t the size alone but how the space is dominated by towering skincare equipment, shelves of lotions, and a reclining spa chair shoved where a dining table usually stands.
Guven tries to hide his disbelief but finally blurts out, "On the photos, I mean, when I see it, I imagined a little bigger." The apartment does have its highlights—a modern gray kitchen with stainless-steel appliances—
—but the cramped, equipment-filled living space dwarfs those perks. A small sink without counter space hidden behind a door, along with mismatched furniture framing a skyline of skincare devices, makes it more workroom than love nest.
As if space issues weren’t challenging enough, Garner’s house rules nearly push Guven over the edge. There is a total ban on cooking: "We can’t really cook food here because I’m seeing clients and I don’t want the place smelling like food," she firmly states. When Guven protests about even cooking eggs for breakfast, Garner insists he can just buy pre-made meals outside. He explodes internally, questioning, "Not cooking in a house? What the f---? Are we living in a hotel room?"
Perhaps the biggest blow comes when Garner reveals he will need to leave every time she has female clients: "I don’t want them to feel uncomfortable...you’ll hear everything," she explains. Guven is left bewildered, questioning if marriage means being evicted from his own home multiple times a day. "If it’s a visit, you deal with it. But if it’s your life, it’s too much," he admits solemnly.
Their predicament spotlights how practical realities and personal boundaries can clash dramatically in international relationships. Guven gave up everything he knew, yet finds himself stifled in a tiny space filled with reminders that he’s secondary—in both square footage and priorities—to her career. For viewers, this raises questions about the compromises love demands in the real world—beyond whirlwind romances and glossy social media snapshots.
As "90 Day Fiancé" continues to serve jaw-dropping moments, the couple’s struggle to merge lives under one very small roof may be the truest test of commitment yet. How far would you be willing to compromise for love—and where would you draw the line? Join the conversation and share your thoughts.
