Damona Hoffman on Access Daily: Why the Dating Crisis Just Got Worse (And What to Do About It)

Remember when we called it a “romance recession”? Well, things have officially escalated.

Damona recently joined Kit Hoover and Karamo Brown on Access Daily to talk about why dating in 2025 has become a full-blown crisis. The numbers don’t lie: top dating apps are down 7% year over year, which translates to hundreds of thousands of people saying “I’m out” and opting out of dating entirely.

So what’s driving people away from love?

Ghosting. Time-wasting. Lazy effort. And a growing frustration that no matter how much you show up, the other person just… doesn’t.

In the segment, Damona broke down why men have “set it and forget it” dating profiles (75% aren’t even updating them), why women are refusing to negotiate their standards anymore, and what the rise of expensive matchmaking communities like Bethany Frankel’s new dating club says about where we’re headed.

But here’s the good news: Damona also shared three New Year’s dating rituals that can help you set real intentions for love in 2026, including the 12 grapes tradition, red underwear under your mattress (yes, really), and the “first footing” rule that determines who crosses your threshold first.

The bottom line? People are tired of the nonsense. And 2026 might just be the year we all stop accepting breadcrumbs and start demanding what we actually deserve.

Watch the full Access Daily segment here to see Damona, Kit, and Karamo talk dating crisis solutions, intentional love, and why showing up with effort shouldn’t be this hard.

Damona Talks The Romance Recession with Mario and Kit on Access Daily

Damona joined Kit Hoover and Mario Lopez on Access Daily to tackle why Halloween has become the loneliest holiday for singles, even beating out Valentine’s Day. The culprit? Couples costumes, FOMO, and Instagram feeds filled with picture-perfect families.

But the real shocker? A new study found that most singles went on less than two dates in the past year. Just 1.74 dates, to be exact. Damona calls it the “romance recession,” and it’s not just swipe fatigue. It’s a full-blown communication crisis.

She also decoded the hottest new dating terms taking over in 2025: “monkey barring” (refusing to let go of one relationship until you’ve secured the next), “chat fishing” (using ChatGPT to write your dating app messages), and “love loring” (dating for the plot and the story you’ll tell your friends later).

Watch the full segment HERE!

Damona Brings Dating Realness to Access Daily

When Damona joined Kit Hoover and Scott Evans on Access Daily, things got real—fast. From the moment she dropped the price tag on matchmaking, jaws hit the floor. But the real takeaway? You don’t need to drop $10K to find love. “You are your own best matchmaker,” Damona said, and suddenly the game changed.

She walked through how outdated dating lists, wishful thinking (aka “hopium”), and ghosting culture are keeping people stuck—and how small shifts in clarity and intention can unlock totally new results. Whether it’s how to introduce your kids to someone new or why Gen Z is avoiding one-on-one dates, Damona gave every viewer something to think about—and something to laugh at. As always, she brought the honesty, strategy, and heart that’s made her a trusted voice in modern dating.