The Love Island reunion aired on Monday night, and after finally watching it, boy do I have thoughts. As someone who’s been tuned in from day one, keeping up with Reddit threads and wild social media theories, I have to give props to Ariana Maddix and especially Andy Cohen. He did not come to play.
Let’s start with the winners, Amaya and Brian.
Social media detectives wasted no time picking up on the fact that they had unfollowed each other after a video surfaced of Brian at a club with girls. Naturally, rumors of cheating started swirling, and fans were convinced the relationship had ended. But at the reunion, Amaya and Brian shut it all down. Brian explained that the video was from a work event, calling it a “lapse in judgment” that basically amounted to pouring drinks for women in the club. Amaya doubled down, making it clear she wouldn’t stay with someone who disrespects her — so for now, all seems well between them.
As for the rest of the final four couples (minus Huda and Chris), everyone appears to be on good terms. No official labels yet, but things seem to be heading in that direction, which is refreshing to see.
Now, the real drama came when the reunion gave islanders a chance to address the narratives that followed them out of the villa. And for me, the most telling moment involved Huda, Chelley, and Olandria.
By now, it’s no secret that Huda has the largest (and frankly, most unhinged) fanbase of the season. With that influence, you’d think she’d feel some responsibility to call out the racism and hate directed at her so-called friends. Olandria revealed that she and Chelley actually had a face-to-face with Huda once they got their phones back. They asked her directly to make a post condemning the abuse. Huda agreed… but then never did it.
When pressed about it at the reunion, Huda claimed she was also receiving racial abuse and was “too busy.” Yet, somehow, she still had time to attend red carpets and interviews — and wouldn’t you know, the very same day Chelley and Olandria unfollowed her, she finally dropped a vague statement on a red carpet, not on her page. Convenient, right?
What frustrated me most was Huda’s lack of accountability. It was clear in the villa that she caused issues, and her partners backed her at every turn. When her friends asked her to do the same outside the villa, she ghosted them. But she did have time to clap back at Andy Cohen for asking about her relationship. Interesting priorities.
The fact that Huda couldn’t make a post when her friends were literally being photoshopped onto George Floyd’s body says everything. Olandria and Chelley clearly see it now too, which explains why they’ve distanced themselves.
And to Huda’s fans — I have to ask: why? What is it about her that compels you to defend her no matter what she does? What would it take for you to finally see her for who she is? I honestly want to understand.
