‘Love Island USA' Host Ariana Madix & Narrator Iain Stirling Unpack Jaw-Dropping Moments From Season 7 So Far And Dispel Production Myths
For as many mixed emotions as this season of Love Island USA is eliciting in fans, imagine how Ariana Madix and Iain Stirling feel.
More from Deadline
'Grosse Pointe Garden Society' Cast Reacts To Cancellation: "This One Stings"
'The 'Burbs' Rounds Out Cast With 4 Joining Keke Palmer & Jack Whitehall
'Grosse Pointe Garden Society' Canceled By NBC After One Season, Won't Move To Peacock
The host and narrator of the series have had to pick their own jaws up off the floor a few times as the Season 7 drama has unfolded. Madix, who is a self-proclaimed super fan of the franchise and began hosting duties in Season 6, tells Deadline she was most affected by the dumping of Charlie Georgiou just as he was beginning to form a strong connection to Hannah Fields.
'Even in the moment, being there during it was jaw dropping. I even said to my producer in my earpiece, I asked them could they see my heart through my outfit, because I really felt like it was beating out of my chest,' she remembered. 'I was like, 'I'm shocked that you can't hear it, let alone see it moving the fabric.' It was an intense night for sure.'
Stirling had a tough time choosing just one moment, citing a few including Jeremiah White's unceremonious departure, but concluded that Nic Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen's rendezvous in Soul Ties was at the top of his list so far. In case you missed it, the pair were individually dumped during Casa Amor but were given the chance to couple up together and return to the villa, where they could explore their own connection.
This led to a steamy make out session in the secluded daybed, which is notorious for intimate moments on the series.
'I genuinely can't tell you the last time I watched Love Island and reacted to it like I wasn't working on it,' he gushed about the kiss, calling it an 'ultimate Love Island moment' that will go down in franchise history books.
While Madix joined the franchise in Season 6 of the U.S. spinoff, Stirling has been around the Love Island block for a minute. He began narrating the UK edition when it launched in 2015 and added USA to his plate in Season 4.
Love Island UK quickly became a cultural touchstone for younger audiences, but it took a few seasons for Love Island USA to begin attracting attention. Last season, the show took off, which Stirling attributes at least in part to the 'five or six legendary Love Island contestants' who graced audiences' small screens.
'You just don't get that many on one series,' he said, speaking from his experience. For as good as Season 6 was, Stirling says he thinks that Season 7 is 'as good, if not better,' because rather than a few individuals attracting eyeballs, 'it's like a real team effort.'
'The show's really come into its own, and it's really amazing to see,' he added. 'I don't know if it's because it's America…but it's the first time in a long time I felt like a like I'm watching the show as well as working on it.'
While Stirling's job is to provide his own commentary on the happenings in the villa, Madix often has to remain tight-lipped about her thoughts — at least in front of the islanders, so as not to sway their decision making.
Contrary to the increasingly popular belief that all the twists and turns are pre-planned or 'scripted,' Madix says production is very careful to let events unfold as naturally as possible in that environment.
'There's constantly conspiracy theories about how the show was made or how decisions are made within the villa or with the islanders. There's always accusations of things being rigged, or that production decided this, that or the other. That's not true,' she explained. 'The audience is so smart about so many things, but they never get it right on what is maybe influenced or not. Islander decisions are never influenced by production. Voting is never rigged. Things are not decided on because the season is going a certain way. The way that we did Casa this year — which I loved, by the way, because it gave people agency, and it prevented people from being singled out as villains — things like that are planned ahead of time.'
Take Nic and Olandria's recoupling, for example. Madix tells Deadline that it was always the plan to give the eliminated islanders the opportunity to be a couple and re-enter the villa. The fact that it was Nic and Olandria, who had subtly expressed interest in each other earlier in the season, was just a serendipitous twist of fate.
'I never would have predicted that. [I thought] Olandria felt like she wanted to be loyal to Taylor, so she maybe won't open herself up as much to the guys in Casa as other women. But Nic, I thought, oh for sure. He's so flirty. He's so friendly. He's going to get chosen,' Madix said, admitting she thought that TJ Palma was going to get the boot instead.
She continued: 'I was actually so shocked when it ended up being the two of them. It was also my birthday, and I was like, 'Ah, happy birthday to me.' I just felt like if they never explored it, will they ever know?'
Still, Madix approaches her host duties with as much humanity as she can. This season alone we've seen her on multiple occasions give contestants the space to express their emotions, however messy they might be.
'I want them to know that I feel for all of them, regardless of what's going on in any moment. I know it's a very difficult position to be in. Whether that is somebody who is liked by the audience or not, they're all in there just kind of doing their best. So it's hard sometimes to stop myself from just wanting to encourage them or or tell them it's fine,' she said.
Last week, Peacock issued a reminder to fans to remain polite online as discourse about the season grew, with a barrage negative comments directed at the contestants themselves.
As a fan herself, Madix acknowledged how frustrating it can be to watch things unfold in the villa differently than the way she might want them to. But, she also points out 'sometimes we see so much more, I think, than they do.'
'Even if it's a moment that they were present for, they're not watching it from here. They're living the moment. So it's a lot different to be able to watch a moment and pick up on a micro expression or pick up on a vibe. Sometimes it's like we've seen so much more that we can make assumptions or judgments on, but I can't tell them that,' she said. 'Sometimes, you see someone want to couple up with someone [else], and I just feel like, 'Oh, I wish they would look elsewhere,' but I just have to smile.'
The Love Island USA Season 7 finale is right around the corner on July 13. With Casa Amor in the rearview mirror, this is the time when emotions are running highest, so don't expect the producers to let up on the gas pedal now.
'The relationships are getting stronger, they're getting more intense, people are getting closer. So, of course, when people get closer, feelings start to happen. It's much less difficult to be nonchalant about somebody that you're dating a month and a half,' Madix teased. 'People are becoming less and less open, and so actions are really starting to have some serious consequences.'
Love Island USA airs every day except Wednesdays on Peacock.
Best of Deadline
'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Katie Holmes To Simon Hellberg
Everything We Know About 'The Devil Wears Prada 2'
2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
21 minutes ago
- CNN
Stunning images from the 2025 International Aerial Photographer of the Year contest
A humpback whale diving under the ocean's surface, cownose rays approaching menhaden bait fish, and a spinner shark on the hunt are all images taken by the inaugural winner of the International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition. Joanna Steidle, a professional drone pilot from New York, captured the stunning photos, taking home the top prize for her portfolio. The competition is a new global award celebrating the most striking photography captured from above. 'Aerial photography offers so many possibilities not yet explored,' Steidle, who is based in the Hamptons on Long Island, said in a press statement from the competition organizers. 'Every day is exciting.' Drawn to the 'unique subjects and moments' revealed by a bird's eye view, Steidle added that she tries 'to stay away from the ordinary.' 'I live in a very flat landscape,' she said. 'So top-down imagery has become quite a theme in my photos which happens to work well with my love for marine life.' The competition received more than 1,500 entries from around the world, organizers said. The only requirement was that all photos must be captured by a human, with no AI-generated content permitted. Spain's Daniel Viñé Garcia was awarded second place while third went to David Swindler from the US. Several other photographers were recognized with special prizes, with categories including best black and white photo, best drone photo, best abstract photo and the Chairman's Choice award. The awards were founded by Peter Eastway and David Evans — the duo behind the International Landscape Photographer of the Year contest. According to the organizers, the new competition was created in response to a growing number of aerial submissions and a desire to highlight the unique power of this perspective. 'Photographers today are capturing some simply breathtaking views from above,' Eastway, the chairman of judges, said in the statement. 'Many are using modern drones equipped with high-resolution sensors, others are using more traditional (and more expensive) modes of transport, flying high above in planes, helicopters and even balloons.' A selection of the competition's winning and highly commended images can be seen in the gallery above.
CBS News
22 minutes ago
- CBS News
Taste of Picklesburgh returns to Downtown Pittsburgh ahead of 10th anniversary of festival
The 10th anniversary of Picklesburgh is happening this week and ahead of the big festival, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership has announced the return of Taste of Picklesburgh. Taste of Picklesburgh allows Downtown Pittsburgh restaurants and shops to get in on the pickle-themed fun a little early and also help highlight the business that Picklesburgh brings to the city. 23 different retailers and restaurants are participating in Taste of Picklesburgh this year, which begins today. The Downtown Partnership says that places like Emerson's, the Space Bar, the Original Oyster House, and PAIR Charcuterie and offering pickle-themed specials and giving away free Heinz pickle pins with a purchase. Picklesburgh will begin on Friday and this year, for the 10th anniversary, the festival is going to have an expanded layout on the Roberto Clemente and Andy Warhol bridges, in Allegheny Landing on the North Shore, along Fort Duquesne Boulevard and a stretch of 6th Street, in the Heinz Hall courtyard, in Market Square, and in PPG Plaza. As Picklesburgh has grown in popularity, the event has evolved from a simple street festival to one that takes over Downtown. Since starting a decade ago, the Downtown Pittsburgh Partnership said that there has been a nearly 1000% increase in attendance, a 114% increase in vendors, 95,000 pickle beers served, 14,000 pickle balloons sold, and 800 quarts of pickle juice consumed. A new attraction is being introduced this year with "pickle riding" putting festivalgoers atop a mechanical bull-style gherkin stationed near PPG Plaza.
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
He cheated, we broke up. Now, his life looks different. Should we try again?
Have a relationship question for Amy and T.J.? Email askamyandtj@ and hear more from them on their podcast. Amy and T.J., My ex and I dated for five years before we broke up. He cheated on me with my colleague. I was rightfully upset. We had even started to talk about a future and marriage. So I didn't want to give him a second chance. But now, it's been two years, and I'm considering going back to him. He seems to have made real improvements in his life. He finally has a job, he bought an apartment and he even has a pet now. I'm not sure how he managed to get his life in order so quickly, but I'm happy for him. I do think I miss him, and I've noticed he's been looking at my social media pages a lot. He's liked almost every single post I've made. Maybe that means something? Should I go back to him or is it a waste of time?T.J. Holmes: All he did was like your posts? You're reading tea leaves. Calm down. Amy Robach: Is he wanting to get back together with you? Are you taking a stab at it? AR: Should you go back to him? My answer is no. You broke up for a reason, and I don't believe that someone cheats out of the blue. It obviously spoke to the quality of your relationship. I don't know what changed so dramatically about him, or what you think changed so dramatically about him. You were dating for five years and just starting to talk about marriage, and he didn't have a job? Now he might be able to pay his bills, but he's still the same person you broke up with. The same person it wasn't working out with. How are things going to change? TH: I think you might be making excuses for wanting him back. I don't think you know who he is now. Who have you been dating since you and he broke up? Who is he dating? Have you been sitting around waiting for him for two years? And now you think he's improved because he's got a f***ing pet, and now he's cool? I don't think anything that you know of has actually changed about this man. AR: That said, if you really still have feelings for him and have been pining away for him for the past two years, then you should be direct and ask him to meet up. See how it feels. But I wouldn't have any expectations that things would be any different now than they were then. Maybe you're feeling lonely, or you're thinking about your biological clock ticking. You might be wondering if he was your last, best option. I think a lot of people love the idea of having a partner, a teammate to go through life with, and it's almost less important who the person is, as long as it's a person you can picture in that idea of a relationship with. But you have to be willing to accept all the bad that comes with the good. And sometimes, that's a matter of experience and maturity. If I were trying to figure this out, I would make a list of pros and cons: all the things that I didn't like about our relationship, and all the things I did like. Really take a good, long look at that list and know what you would be getting into. I would never tell someone not to give love another chance, but go into it with open eyes. Don't wear rose-colored glasses or view the situation through an Instagram filter. TH: I think you're looking for positives when you look at his social media. Job, apartment, pet — OK, welcome to adulthood, big deal! AR: I think you have very low expectations of what is good enough for you. TH: You should raise your own standards. And force somebody to meet them. You can do better than that. You sound like a young person. You're going to be OK. But do not settle for a guy who just does the basics. It sounds like now, he's the guy that you wanted in the beginning. But he might not be the guy who wants you at this point. You might not be attracted to each other at this point. It's been two years — you might not be the same people you were at all. But you can handle this today. If you're into him, there's no harm in reaching out and saying, 'Hello, I've noticed that you liked all my posts. I wonder how things have been going for you? Would you like to have a conversation or go grab a coffee at some point? I'd love to do so.' If he says 'yes,' let's see what happens. If he says 'no, we are done,' move on. TH: Stop following him on social media. That's step one. I know it sounds extreme, but think of it like this: Would you try to quit drinking while you've got a full bar in your house? You get that stuff out of there. AR: Just remember that there was a reason you broke up in the first place. Really try to remember that. Either ask him to coffee and see what happens, or delete everything. This middle ground? That's the worst. Inaction or limbo — that is suffering right there. Make a decision either way and then accept it.
