We’re back! Or, at least we were this summer when the hit show “Love Island” on Peacock came out with a new season. However, this season is not like the others because this time the drama is wild, fake and very political. You’d think that people were at a place called “Love Island” for love, but that’s what makes this season so memorable — because most of them walked out with nothing!
Beginning with the racist controversy of “Love Island”, two contestants were kicked out due to past behaviors on — you guessed it — the internet. Yulissa Escobar, part of the original cast of “Love Island”, was kicked out of the show at the beginning of the second episode, giving her only one episode of screen time, due to past videos resurfacing about her using a slur that is offensive to Black people. After getting kicked off, she went online and apologized for using the slur and stated that she didn’t understand the weight and history of that word. However, on various TikTok Live broadcasts, she also argues that the reason she felt comfortable saying it was because of people in the Black community continuing “preaching the word so much.”
The other contestant kicked off the show due to past actions was a “bombshell”, meaning they were introduced to tempt the other contestants into recoupling with them. Cierra Ortega had some posts where she used a slur to offend those in the Asian community. Ortega was kicked out a month after Escobar was kicked out and similarly issued an apology that she posted to her Instagram, stating that she is deeply and truly sorry to the entire Asian community. Ortega also claimed that she did not know that she didn’t understand the meaning of the word and did not intend to use it in a harmful way.
One of the other contestants everyone might know is the audacious Huda Mustafa. She had a big, if not the biggest part of this season of “Love Island”, whether positive or negative, when she — along with the other contestants — would incessantly argue. Some threats were even made to Mustafa, and one actually came true, as multiple fans called Child Protective Services (CPS) on her, accusing her of neglect for going on the show and leaving her daughter at home. Some people even went as far as to downplay the racism she was receiving and saying that Palestinian racism isn’t as important as Black racism.
“Racism is racism — there are no different types of racism,” Mariah Barber (12) said. ¨Just because a word is used less doesn’t give anyone the right to use it, and it stings that some hate is generalized, and that’s just something that shouldn’t be generalized.”
The season seven girls were not as connected as the season six girls either. Chelly Bissainthe and Olandria Carthen were deemed the “mean girls” of “Love Island” this year by countless fans online. On Episode 27, during the “Hate to Burst Your Bubble” challenge (when we get to view the islanders’ opinions versus America’s opinions), Bissianthe was ranked low for her responses. Carthen also preached about being a “girls’ girl.” However, the viewers felt as if she didn’t preach the same thing back when Ortega was coupled up with Nic Vasteenberhe. Carthen and Ortega are close and still follow each other on other platforms, but Carthen expressed interest in Vasteenberghe without telling Ortega.
“My definition of a ‘girls’ girl’ is just someone who’s there for the girls,” Newte Roberts (12) said. “Like if I’m a ‘girls’ girl,’ I would never betray a girl or do anything to hurt a girl, ever.”
After every “Love Island” season, there’s an additional episode known as the reunion. This is a fan-favorite because the cast comes together to reminisce about the whole season as they’re shown unseen or uncut clips. During this season’s reunion, Carthen confronted Mustafa about things in and out of the villa. Bissainthe butted in and stood by Carthen’s side in defense at every chance. Some people think Bissianthe is justified in how she feels about Mustafa. However, others also say Carthen never had Mustafa’s best interest in the villa either, so many questioned why Carthen would want “sisterhood” from Mustafa if Carthen never expressed it back.
Since the June premiere, the islanders’ lives have become real, and it’s clear to see which islanders have become big versus who’s been shunned into the dark. Overall, this season of “Love Island” is one to remember, from making history at the finale to having the least amount of compatible couples. Our top four couples have an interesting ending this season. Iris Kendall and Pepe Garcia placed fourth in the finale. Since then, they have broken up and left on good terms. Mustafa and Chris Seeley made “Love Island” history, being the first couple to break up at the finale. Since then, Mustafa has had a brand deal with the NFL and is now dating model and influencer Louis Russell. Carthen and Vasteenburghe came in second place and are the only couple in the final four to still be going strong. Winners Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales are unfortunately no longer together at the time being. With every couple but two not working out, it begs the question: Would you go on “Love Island” for love? Clout? Money? Or not at all?
