Love Island USASeason 7 can be considered one of the most dramatic editions of the show, filled with controversies and scandals. The popular Peacock show returned to TV on August 04, 2025, with abrand-new cast trying to find love in a picturesque villa in Fiji. True to its reputation,Love Island USAseason 7was packed with suspenseful episodes.
Season 7 culminated in a heartwarming finale whereAmaya “Papaya” Espinal and Bryan Arenales were crowned the winners. While the Islanders experienced many unforgettable moments inside the villa, certain controversies emerged outside the villa, resulting in theunexpected exits of contestants Yulissa Escobarand Cierra Ortega due to past racist remarks.
While many viewers enjoyed watchingLove Island USAseason 7, there were others who criticized the franchise and its producers, accusing them of manipulating the voting process. These allegations tainted the viewing experience for many, despite hostAriana Madix stating that voting was never rigged.
Despite the controversies, this season emerged as one of the most-watched by new viewers,driving its popularity to new heights with clips going viralon TikTok and Instagram. However, this success has raised questions about the show’s ability to sustain its chaotic appeal in the long run.
Whilechaos may attract viewers in the short term, it could potentially lead to viewers becoming fatigued from scandals in the long run.
7Yulissa’s Exit From Love Island USA Amid Racism Discovery
Yulissa’s Video Of Using A Slur Surfaced Online
Love Island USAseason 7 kicked off with excitement as a group of young and attractive Islanders came together in Fiji. Among the cast was Yulissa, a 27-year-old entrepreneur from Miami, Florida. She initially coupled up with Ace Greene on the first day, but her time on the show was cut short whenshe unexpectedly left the villa on day 3.
It was revealed that pastclips of Yulissa using a racial slur had surfacedon social media, leading the producers to remove her from the villa. Initially, the cast was informed that she had left for personal reasons. The scandal surrounding Yulissa sparked controversy among viewers, many of whom were pleased that she was removed from the show due to her past behavior.
6Vote Rigging Allegations
Ariana Madix Denied Rumors That Love Island USA Is Scripted
Love Island USAseason 7 also received significant backlash due to rumors of the producers manipulating votes.
The speculation arose following the eliminations offan favorites Hannah Fieldsand Jeremiah Brown. Viewers questioned the authenticity of the votes and raised concerns that theproducers may have rigged them for dramatic effector to provoke viewers.
Technical problems with theLove Island USAapp, causing crashes, exacerbated the situation. Many fans pointed out these valid issues,raising suspicions that the show may have been scripted. However,Deadlinereported hostAriana denying any rigging in the voting process, stating,“The audience is so smart about so many things, but they never get it right on what is maybe influenced or not.”
5TJ Palma’s Andrew Tate Follow & Other Accusations
TJ Follows Alex Jones & Elon Musk
TJ Palma’s actions on social media also caused controversy, leadingLove Island USAviewers to discuss it openly. The 27-year-old from Tampa initially gained a massive following bydisplaying confidence and assertiveness on the show.
However, many fans became concerned when they discovered that TJ follows controversial influencers, such as Andrew Tate, on social media, leading them toquestion whether TJ shares Andrew’s misogynistic beliefs.
Soon after, viewers noticed that TJ also followed other right-wing personalities, including Alex Jones and Elon Musk. While somefans hoped TJ wouldn’t follow those individuals for personal reasons, others rejected this explanation and criticized TJ on social media.
4Cierra Ortega’s Use Of Racial Slur
Cierra Was Removed From The Villa On Day 26
Cierra Ortega, a 25-year-old from Arizona, coupled up with Nic Vansteenberghe when she entered the villa as a bombshell. The couple declared that they were"closed off,“meaning they were no longer interested in pursuing other connections in the villa. Theyappeared to be strong contenders to winLove Island USAseason 7.
However, Cierra faced backlash for making derogatory comments in the past. Fans uncovered comments that Cierra had made a few years ago, in which sheused the racial slur in reference to the Chinese community. Like Yulissa, the producers decided to remove Cierra from the show.
AlthoughCierralater issued an apology on social media, some fans remained unconvinced by her explanation. The controversy led toCierra losing hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram.
3Huda’s Crashout & Past Racially Insensitive Remarks
Huda Was Probably Given Special Treatment
Huda Mustafa, despite her fan-favorite status onLove Island USA, caused controversy on social media. The 24-year-old North Carolina native faced backlash after a video surfaced of her lip-syncing a song with the n-word. Huda appeared to utter the word multiple times in the video, which angered several fans on social media.
Some defended Huda by stating that she covered her mouth, while others believed that she had still crossed a line. Although Huda was at risk of being removed from the show, she remained on the show until the finale. This situation, including heremotional outburst towards Jeremiah, sparked criticism from fansregarding favoritism and inconsistency in rule enforcement.
2The Changes To Casa Amor’s Structure
Casa Amor Forced Islanders To Be Single
The Casa Amor twist ofLove Island USAseason 7 was somewhat controversial, as it was designed to create tension among cast members and create more drama. The newCasa Amor required the Islanders to choose new partners, testing their loyalty as they are forced to be single and make a decision.
After Casa Amor, all participants, including new bombshells, returned to the main villa, increasing the drama among the existing couples. This twist received backlash from many fans, asmany didn’t enjoy watching forced couplings.
1Huda & Chris Broke Up In The Finale Episode
Huda & Chris Ranked Among The Top Four Couples
Chris Seeley and Huda’s breakup was also an unexpected moment that made the show even more dramatic. Chris, a 27-year-old basketball player, and Huda wereamong the top four couples inLove Island USAseason 7. They appeared to be a strong couple as they approached the finale, but things took a turn when Chris snapped at Huda.
The tensions continued in the following episode, eventually leading to their breakup.Chris and Huda’s split was one of the most shocking twists in the historyofLove Island USA. It was a major shakeup from past finales, which have typically focused on couples becoming exclusive rather than breaking up.
TheLove Island USAseason 7 reunion will be released on August 25 at 9 p.m. EDT on Peacock.
