What Happened in 'Love Island USA' Last Night? Kisses and Cast Controversy

Newsweek

2 days ago

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The summer heat arrived early on Peacock's Love Island USA Season 7 premiere, which aired on Tuesday with a 40-minute delay, high-stakes drama, and an off-screen scandal that has fans calling for a contestant's removal.
The reality dating show kicked off its newest season with a familiar formula—a tropical villa, 10 attractive singles, and immediate chemistry. Host Ariana Madix returned to guide the contestants through a new twist: Islanders were encouraged to "let their lips do the talking" by kissing potential partners before coupling up.
Delays and a Steamy Start
The cast includes Huda Mustafa, Belle-A Walker, Yulissa Escobar, Chelley Bissainthe and Olandria Carthen for the women, and Nicolas Vansteenberghe, Taylor Williams, Austin Shepard, Ace Greene and Jeremiah Brown for the men. The season kicked off with immediate intimacy, with kisses exchanged before official pairings. This summed up the vibe on the first night of the show's Fiji villa debut.
"Love Island USA" Season 7 got off to a steamy start as Islanders coupled up under the Fiji sun in the first episode.
"Love Island USA" Season 7 got off to a steamy start as Islanders coupled up under the Fiji sun in the first episode.
Ben Symons/Peacock
The show's first episode, however, did not start as planned. Peacock announced a "slight delay" via X just one minute after the scheduled 9 p.m. ET airing. Viewers waited nearly 40 minutes, fueling anticipation—and frustration.
"40 minute delay is CRAZYYYY," one viewer posted, while another wrote, "I survived the great love island delay of 2025."
Love Island USA stars Yulissa Escobar (L) and Ace Greene.
Love Island USA stars Yulissa Escobar (L) and Ace Greene.
Ben Symons/Peacock
What Happened on 'Love Island USA' Episode 1?
Despite the bumpy launch, the episode took bold stylistic steps, including an opening musical number and a twist on the usual format. Instead of the traditional coupling, the women kissed two men before choosing their partners, setting off a chain reaction of shifting loyalties and flaring tensions. Newcomers Charlie Georgiou and Cierra Ortega arrived later as bombshells, kissing multiple contestants in secret, further intensifying the dynamics inside the villa.
'Love Island USA' promises unpredictability, with bold twists and high-stakes drama unfolding from day 1.
'Love Island USA' promises unpredictability, with bold twists and high-stakes drama unfolding from day 1.
Ben Symons/Peacock
Couples quickly formed, including Chelley and Austin, Huda and Jeremiah, and Belle-A with Nic. Early conversations revealed layers of the Islanders' lives, including Huda sharing that she has a young daughter—a moment that brought depth to her connection with Jeremiah and introduced more real-world context into their budding relationship. Meanwhile, Yulissa paired with Ace.
The show's evolving format, emotional volatility and sharp production choices suggest a strong season ahead. "Love Island USA is so back," Screen Rant's Cher Thompson wrote. "With interesting matches, intense emotions, and inventive twists... it feels like things can only go up from here."
Racial Slur
Yulissa Escobar, a contestant who revealed she had just exited a nine-year relationship, became the target of backlash after past podcast clips surfaced where she used a racial slur. In the clips, which Newsweek has not independently verified, she was heard using the N-word while discussing past relationships.
Fan outrage erupted online, TMZ reported, with many vowing to vote her off the moment it becomes possible. The uproar also spurred activity on Escobar's social media accounts, with comments being limited and a friend jumping into the fray to defend her, commenting: "lol... y'all act like you never said the N word before, stop being so f****** sensitive."
While Escobar has yet to respond to the backlash publicly, the moment cast a shadow over what otherwise began as a flirtatious and energetic season premiere.
What Happens Next?
In the teaser for Episode 2, Ariana Madix hints at further shakeups, encouraging Islanders to explore connections with contestants they haven't kissed yet. As the game intensifies, viewers are bracing for shifting alliances and inevitable confrontations.
"I am not trying to be delusional," contestant Olandria Carthen said in the first episode, "but I am liking what I'm seeing so far."