It took two episodes of Love Island USA Season 7 for us to get a mini controversy. If anything, it’s a controversy that has blown up on social media more than the actual show. But even after episode 3*, where Olandria apologized after Huda brought out the tears, we’re still of the mind that Olandria was right in shutting down Huda.
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Here’s what happened.
Towards the end of Season 7 Episode 2, the islanders were asked to stand up if they wished to be paired with another islander. The only couple that stayed together was Huda and Jeremiah. These two are basically already married and not looking for anything else.
When the men leave their pairings and stand up, Huda says, “Ya’ll just a bunch of bad little kids.” Huda then pat’s Jeremiah’s leg and says, “You know, I’m proud of you. Brownie points.” It starts getting awkward when Huda continues dragging out the moment and points to the other women sitting alone and says, “I don’t like this. Y’all deserve some real men.”
Olandria had enough and said, “Girl you don’t have to play that.” Huda was confused and asked what Olandria meant. And Olandria clarified that they weren’t upset that the men didn’t choose them. She added that she understood that Huda was being supportive but that it’s okay and that they’ll have a conversation afterwards.
The moment was undeniably awkward for the islanders in Love Island Season 7 Episode 2. But that moment paired with the preview of Episode 3, which saw Huda walking away crying, really got the internet up in arms. Some were calling Olandria a bully and others thought that Huda was being a girl’s girl and this was blown out of proportion. Personally, I think Olandria was right to clock Huda and stop her in her tracks.
Huda was being patronizing.
Huda might not have not meant to be patronizing, but the fact remains that she was portraying this sense of kindness wrapped in superiority. And Olandria clocked it. Huda was also making the moment about herself. Let’s not forget this is a TV show and screen time means everything. Huda continuing to talk made the moment about herself and Jeremiah more than Olandria. That’s not being a girl’s girl. That’s making sure you give good TV.
And let’s be clear, I love good TV. And everyone who watched Love Island USA Season 6 saw it as good TV that really blew up the show. This isn’t good TV that I’m seeing here with Olandria and Huda. It’s centering yourself in other people’s moment. And Olandria has absolutely every right to stop Huda in her tracks and make this awkward moment come to an end. She also has the right to make it clear that she’s okay because no one can say what she’s feeling besides herself.
At the end of the day…
Olandria and Huda have two very different ways of dealing with situations. And that makes sense because they just met. So I applaud Olandria for standing up for herself in a classy way and sidebarring the conversation for later. But still, Olandria really had nothing to apologize for. If anything, Huda should’ve apologized for centering herself in the selection and in the conversation after in Episode 3.
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*This post was updated June 5, 2025.
