Latest news with #LoveIsland:BeyondTheVilla
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
JaNa Craig confirms Kenny Rodriguez breakup, says truth is 'worse than fan theories'
Love Island USA star JaNa Craig has officially confirmed her breakup with Kenny Rodriguez, issuing a powerful statement on Instagram that directly addressed widespread fan speculation. On July 29, JaNa wrote, 'Please know that I have seen all the breakup theories and none have matched up to how terrible, disgusting and disappointing it truly is.' She went on to describe the emotional toll of realizing the man she loved was not who he seemed, writing, 'That is truly devastating. But as a child of God, I will always be okay.' Her statement came after several fan observations pointed to a split: JaNa unfollowed Kenny on Instagram, deleted all posts with him, and removed his name from her bio. Mutual friends from Love Island Season 6, including Serena Page and Leah Kateb, also unfollowed Kenny, further fueling rumors. Sources confirmed that JaNa ended the relationship on July 27 and immediately turned to close friends for support. While no public argument occurred, insiders say the breakup was final and not temporary. JaNa and Kenny met on Season 6 of Love Island USA and placed third. Their relationship continued beyond the show on the spinoff Love Island: Beyond The Villa, but distance—JaNa living in Las Vegas and Kenny in Dallas—may have strained the bond. The breakup adds another name to the list of Love Island USA couples who failed to make it long-term. Craig's emotional post sets the record straight: what happened behind the scenes was far worse than fans ever guessed.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Love Island's JaNa Craig sparks breakup rumors after unfollowing Kenny Rodriguez
Love Island USA's JaNa Craig has sparked major breakup rumors after unfollowing Kenny Rodriguez on Instagram and wiping their photos from her feed. The move has left fans questioning the future of one of the franchise's most popular couples. The couple, who met on Season 6 and currently star in the Peacock spinoff Love Island: Beyond The Villa, have yet to comment publicly. However, the social media clues are piling up. Pop Crave reported the initial unfollowing, and eagle-eyed fans noted that JaNa's closest friends, Leah Kateb and Serena Page, also unfollowed Kenny in a show of solidarity. Insiders suggest the couple may have grown apart after the show. JaNa is thriving as a content creator and influencer in Las Vegas, while Kenny has reportedly been considering a more traditional career in sales back in Dallas. The physical and lifestyle distance may have contributed to the rumored split. JaNa Craig and Kenny Rodriguez have taken each other out of their bios. — jai (@vyv4ns3) July 27, 2025 The situation is further complicated by the ongoing release of Beyond The Villa episodes, which were filmed before signs of a breakup emerged. Fans are now rewatching tense moments between JaNa and Kenny with fresh perspective, wondering if cracks were already forming. Neither JaNa, Kenny, nor Peacock have released a statement, but the social media silence is speaking volumes. For #JaNa fans, it may be the end of a Love Island fairy tale — and the start of a new chapter apart.
Time Magazine
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Magazine
‘Love Island USA' Marks a New Era of Toxic Fandom
Unlike the majority of dating reality shows, which are recorded months in advance, Love Island USA airs in real time, providing a live inside look into not just the nation's attitudes towards sexuality and dating, but who deserves to be on reality television. While last season produced a cast of household favorites, this season has not been the case. In an attempt to curb negative fan responses, an anti-cyberbullying message was released ahead of the June 24 episode. 'The keyword in Love Island is…Love. We love our fans. We love our Islanders. We don't love cyberbullying, harassment, or hate.' Despite the ongoing backlash, season 7 is the most watched season of Love Island USA thus far, notching record-breaking streaming audiences and a massive increase in social media engagements. Plus, programming such as Love Island: Beyond The Villa, the first Love Island USA spinoff, reflects significant investment in the brand by Peacock. Indeed, the streamer has invested heavily in ensuring that Americans watch the Islanders' every move. But what happens when this magnifying lens begins to reflect negatively on the Islanders? Around the world, numerous Love Island franchises have demonstrated a worrying trend: when Islanders leave the villa and their 15 minutes of fame are over, they often face online hatred and vitriol for life. Vanna Einerson, who briefly appeared on the current season during Casa Amor, broke down in tears after she read comments from fans about her physical appearance. Amy Hart, a contestant on season 5 of Love Island in the U.K. testified in front of Parliament after she received death threats from viewers. Kendall Washington, a finalist on season 6 of Love Island USA, was subjected to homophobic remarks online, after explicit videos of him were released without his consent. Despite ongoing efforts from the network to curb negative fan behavior, the harassment continues. Noah Sheline, who shares a daughter with Huda Mustafa, a Love Island USA season 7 contestant, was overwhelmed with online hate by fans. 'Her going on that show to find love, or whatever you think it was she's doing, remember she's still human, she has a daughter, and a life,' he wrote on social media. He asked fans to think about how their words will impact Mustafa's mental health, upon her return home from the reality series. Chelley Bissainthe's account on Instagram turned off comments after an influx of death threats and hateful comments towards Bissainthe and her fellow Islanders. Ariana Madix, the show's host and former Vanderpump Rules star, recently spoke to NBC News about the mental health support afforded to the Islanders. Similar to Love Island's duty of care program procedures, the contestants will have access to mental health support, after the season ends. While the network can provide solutions to reduce the harm inflicted on Islanders, it is also on the fans to stop their continuous patterns of online harassment and cyberbullying. And then, there are the instances of Yulissa Escobar, Austin Shepard, and Cierra Ortega, three season 7 Islanders who received backlash after fans surfaced hateful or insensitive comments they had made online. Each case has been unique. Shortly after the season 7 premiere, videos resurfaced of Escobar using the n-word on a podcast. After the clips gained traction online, she was removed from the villa by producers. Shepard, in contrast, was voted off after weeks on the dating reality show. Fans then quickly called out hurtful content he had reposted on TikTok, including a video making light of police violence. Ortega was sent home from the villa by producers towards the end of the season after an Instagram post of her using a racial slur against Asian people was made public. In an 'accountability video,' Ortega apologized for her use of the slur. 'What's been extremely, extremely difficult is the way people are approaching my family and my loved ones,' she said. 'They have had ICE called on them. My family does not feel safe in their own home. I have received death threats.' Racially-charged instances such as these have made it difficult to distinguish between accountability, cancel culture, and toxic fandom. To be sure, debates around contestants on competition shows is not a new phenomenon. Consider, for instance, the elimination of Jennifer Hudson on season 3 of American Idol or when MJ David was double-crossed by JT Tamburello and Trishelle Cannatella on season 2 of the Traitors. But, the latest season of Love Island USA has produced a series of startling new behaviors and patterns. Many have speculated on the sudden shift in fan behavior towards Islanders. 'Reality shows have been found to exacerbate body anxiety, increase physical aggression, and mess with our expectations for romantic relationships,' writes Judy Berman for TIME. If so, this is perhaps the worst time for Love Island USA to be on tv, since 78% of Americans are experiencing some level of anxiety. Housing costs, financial stability, inflation, and political division are contributing factors to this rise. Unlike last year, where Love Island USA existed as a safe space for people to unwind and decompress from an election year, contestants on this year's season of Love Island USA have become scapegoats for America's worries. Nevertheless, the economic, social, and political realities of the everyday American are not justification for the continued mistreatment and harassment of Islanders on social media from viewers and fans. With the season 7 finale of Love Island USA set to air on July 13., there is time for fans to stop this cycle of hate, before the Islanders regain access to their phones. The current Islanders are not aware of the online commentary about their physical appearance, criticism about their dating choices and behaviors in the villa, and campaigns for their elimination from the show. However, the moment they receive their phones, they will have to digest weeks upon weeks of hateful commentary and discord about themselves. Like Madix said on a June 21 episode of Aftersun, the weekly talk show that recaps the latest week in the villa 'We should be thanking each one of these islanders every single day for giving us themselves.' For all of reality television's pitfalls, there is joy in watching young 20-somethings fall in love. Serena Page and Kordell Beckham, Leah Kateb and Miguel Harichi, and JaNa Craig and Kenny Rodriguez of season 6 of Love Island USA are still dating. Hannah Wright and Marco Donatelli, the winners of season 5 of Love Island USA recently got engaged. With the removal of Ortega from the villa, many fans are rallying behind Nicolas Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen, affectionately known as 'Nicolandria,' to take home the prize. (Madix herself has admitted to being a Nicolandria stan.) And another sign of genuine fan support is the outpouring of love towards Amaya Espinal, a Dominican American Islander who was chastised by male Islanders for her emotional candor and passionate responses, until fellow Islander Bryan Arenales defended her. Since then, the two have coupled up in the villa. To be sure, love is alive and well on season 7 of Love Island USA—but only if the fans and viewers allow it.
Hindustan Times
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Love Island's new spin-off Beyond the Villa: Release date, time, where to watch and more
Love Island: Beyond the Villa will premiere on July 13.(X/Peacock) Were you worried that you won't get to see your favorite Islanders after the Love Island USA Season 7 finale? If yes, then get ready because the end is far off for now. After crowning the winning couple on the show, you will get to see your favorite Islanders from season 6 in a brand new spin-off show, Love Island: Beyond the Villa, on the same night. After the four couples compete to take home the whopping Love Island USA winning prize money of $100,000, you will continue to get your daily dose of drama as contestants from season 6 will take on life outside the Island. Also Read: Love Island USA Season 7 prize money revealed: Is it true that winners always split the amount? About Love Island: Beyond the Villa In Love Island: Beyond the Villa, you will get to see ten former contestants live their lives after one year of finding fame on the show in Los Angeles. Watch them deal with their success, love, and relationships, and continue their stride in their life. Leah Kateb, Kaylor Martin, and Miguel Harichi will be part of the show, as per USA Today. The show premieres right after the finale at 9 pm ET with new episodes coming out every Thursday. It will stream exclusively on Peacock. The wait for Love Island: Beyond the Villa and the opportunity to see the Season 6 participants back in action after the year has created high anticipation among the fans of the show. The spin-off series offers a chance to stay connected with the fans of the show, following the lives of former contestants outside the villa. Also Read: Love Island USA Season 7: Here are the top 4 couples who made it to the finale Love Island USA Season 7 finale Meanwhile, the finale for Love Island USA will air on July 13, 2025, Sunday 9 pm ET. It features: Nic Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen Iris Kendall and Pepe García Huda Mustafa and Chris Seeley Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales Voting lines to vote for your favorite couple were open from 10:30 pm ET to 2:30 am ET on July 11. Fans got to vote for their preferred pick for the winner through the official Love Island USA mobile app. For those unaware, similar to previous seasons, the winning couple will have an option to split or steal the $100,000 prize. FAQs What is the Love Island Spin-off series about? Love Island spin-off series is called Love Island: Beyond The Villa, which will follow the life of ten participants from season 6 living their life outside in LA. When will Love Island: Beyond The Villa premiere? Love Island: Beyond The Villa will premiere on July 13, 2025, right after the Love Island USA 7 finale. Where to watch the Love Island spin-off series? Love Island spin-off series Love Island: Beyond The Villa will stream exclusively on Peacock.
Forbes
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
How To Watch The ‘Love Island USA' Season 7 Finale: Everything To Know
"Love Island USA" season 7 contestants Huda Mustafa and Jeremiah Brown had a tumultuous romance. Love Island USA has become even more of a phenomenon in season 7. The popular show puts a group of single men and women in a house for about a month and challenges them to last through couplings and uncouplings to win $100,000. It is a social media darling and even draws people to bars to watch nightly episodes in real time. Season 7 winds down in July, as viewers tune in to see the impact of the latest bombshells (sexy new guests to the villa) and which couples may survive. Here is everything to know about how to watch the season 7 Love Island finale. When Is The Season 7 Love Island Finale? The Love Island USA season 7 finale will air on Sunday, July 13. The show has aired nightly during June, except for on Wednesdays, when no new episodes air. How To Watch Love Island USA Season 7 Finale The finale will air live on July 13 by streaming on Peacock. You can also catch all the previous episodes of Love Island USA season 7 available for streaming on the service. Peacock is available as a standalone subscription for $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year. You can also pay extra for premium service, free from ads—it costs $13.99 per month or $139.99 annually. What Will Happen In The Love Island Season 7 Finale? The Love Island USA season 7 finale will crown the winner. It has been a month of twists and turns so far, with a few dramatic surprises. Jeremiah Brown and Huda Mustafa paired up early, but they recently split after Jeremiah became interested in a new bombshell. The men on the island voted him off on June 22. The show introduced a twist on the June 24 episode, requiring single islanders to couple with one of the new Casa Amor competitors or get booted from the villa. The resulting reforming of couples led to surprising exits, a reminder that anything can happen in the waning days of the show. Contestants on season 7 of "Love Island USA" on Peacock. When Does Love Island Season 8 Premiere? No premiere date has been set yet for Love Island USA season 8. Peacock generally puts about a year between cycles of the show—this year, it premiered on June 3, and in 2024, it debuted on June 11. It's safe to guess Love Island USA season 8 will bow around June 2026. When Does Love Island: Beyond The Villa Premiere? Viewers don't have to wait long for another Love Island fix, though. Peacock will premiere Love Island: Beyond the Villa, a new spinoff focused on season 6 Love Island favorites and updating viewers on their love lives post-villa. The former contestants are now in Los Angeles and navigating real life.
