‘Love Island USA’ Confrontation-Filled Season 6 Reunion Sees Fans’ Questions Answered
Following a Love Island USA season filled with love, heartbreak, betrayal and surprises, Peacock dropped its highly anticipated season six reunion special on Monday.
The reunion, hosted by Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix, reunited many Islanders from the latest iteration of Peacock‘s beloved dating completion series, including finalists Serena Page, Kordell Beckham, Leah Kateb, Miguel Harichi, JaNa Craig, Kenny Rodriguez, Nicole Jacky and Kendall Washington. Other Islanders in attendance were Aaron Evans, Kaylor Martin, Rob Rausch, Olivia Walker, Andrea Carmona, Connor Newsum, Daniela Noelle Ortiz-Rivera and more.
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After the finale aired in July, fans were still left with several unanswered questions, namely involving which girls (Page, Kateb, Martin or Walker) specifically voted to send Carmona home earlier in the season. Drama later ensued when Kateb seemingly told Rausch that she took a “back seat” in the decision, while Martin and Walker claimed she didn’t.
The Islanders and fans finally got that question answered during the reunion. They got to see the raw, unedited video of the girl’s conversation surrounding their decision (something fans have been asking producers for since the dramatic dumping) to see exactly who said what.
“I didn’t say I took a back seat. I said I was trying to [take a back seat] — key fucking word,” Kateb clarified after watching the footage. “I never said I took a full-on back seat.”
Walker also apologized to Kateb for her role in the misunderstanding, and confronted Rausch about leaving the word “try” out when he asked her in the villa to clarify Kateb’s role in the dumping decision. “I’m not blaming you guys for it,” Rausch added. “From my perspective, the girls had their POV, they went with their logic, and it was just different from the guys. It was just a different decision.”
Earlier in the reunion, fans also got to learn which couples were still together weeks after the finale, and likely to their surprise, it was revealed that the fan-favorite duos have actually all taken their relationships to the next level. Page and Kordell (season six winners), Kateb and Harichi, and Craig and Rodriguez are all officially dating.
As for Washington and Jacky, who came in fourth place, they confirmed they’re still together amid fan speculation they had split. However, the pair have faced some rough patches since the finale, specifically over what Jacky claimed was a lack of communication from Washington regarding a private video of his that was leaked online after the season wrapped.
“It was not OK, like nobody deserves that,” Jacky said in a heated moment at the reunion. “However, I think if you say you love somebody, in the moment, when you’re telling me about something, you need to be honest instead of saying it’s [the leaked video] from years ago with someone you trusted, an ex-girlfriend. And then I found out two days later from JaNa that it was in the hotel room before you go on the show to someone on a dating app is crazy.”
Washington apologized and explained that he was trying to “give her some space” while he dealt with the situation privately. But Jacky claimed he “only checks on me when it’s like relevant for you.” But other Islanders quickly jumped in to back up Washington and reiterate the strong feelings he still has for her.
Another couple that faced plenty of turbulence not only in the villa but on the outside was Evans and Martin. While the pair coupled up on day one in the villa and appeared to be a strong couple during the first few weeks, their relationship took a turn when Evans didn’t stay loyal to Martin and got romantically involved with Noelle Ortiz-Rivera while in Casa Amor. They ultimately got sent home alongside Rausch and Kassy Castillo during the final dumping, days before the finale.
Though the pair initially seemed to be continuing their relationship outside the villa, even appearing on some podcasts together, Martin clarified at the reunion that they are no longer together. The split seemingly came after she rewatched some of the controversial episodes from this season and felt like Evans wasn’t being honest about his actions.
“I’m tired of the fucking excuses,” Martin yelled at the reunion. “Take accountability and be a fucking man. I just saw you the last three fucking days in New York and you haven’t said that to me once. Why would you do that? Why do you keep fucking lying to me? And quit love bombing me. I cannot believe I wasted my entire fucking summer on you, Aaron. I don’t want anything to do with you.”
Season six of Love Island USA, which ultimately saw Page and Beckham named the winners, was not only one of the most dramatic seasons but also the most successful. Fans flooded social media after each episode to weigh in on the shocking dumpings, surprising bombshells and heartbreaking moments, making it the summer’s must-watch reality show.
Find more interviews and coverage of Love Island USA season six here.
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