Ace doesn’t owe anyone intimacy on Love Island USA.
Like every good reality TV, there have been conversations about intimacy in Season 7 of the Peacock series. Because like it or not, everyone has different standards when it comes to when, how, or if emotional intimacy turns into physical intimacy aka hugging, kissing, or having sex with someone. But there has been a disturbing amount of double standards when it comes to Ace and his boundaries when it comes to intimacy, especially the physical kind.
As of Episode 8, Ace has been coupled up with Amaya. And whether you like how Ace is moving with Amaya and the whole Chelley of it all, Ace doesn’t owe anyone intimacy. If he says he doesn’t want to cuddle someone only hours after knowing someone, that’s fine. If he doesn’t want to kiss someone, hug someone, or have intimate relations with someone, that’s fine. And if he wants to hug Chelley before going to bed, that’s fine too. Because those are his boundaries.
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Amaya is moving on Love Island USA like she is owed intimacy from Ace. Hours into getting to know him she wanted to cuddle up and call him “babe.” And it didn’t matter that he set his boundaries and said he wasn’t comfortable with nicknames or physical intimacy. What mattered was what Amaya wanted. And I understand that she slipped up every once in a while with the “babe.” Slip ups happen. But there was no concerted effort to respect those boundaries. Instead, we saw questioning and possessiveness from Amaya that we would 100% call out if the roles were reversed.
And it’s not like we haven’t seen contestants on Love Island USA have boundaries when it comes to intimacy, especially physical intimacy. We just had Belle-A, who sadly left the show in episode 7. She came onto the show giving people kisses on the cheek. She was this “good Christian woman” who made it clear she wasn’t going to make out with anyone and everyone and that she had only had sex with one person. And no one questioned it or made her feel like she owed them a cuddle, a hug, or a kiss just because they were coupled up or interested in each other.
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The moment Belle-A finally decided to let loose and make out with the guys during the home run challenge, she was celebrated. She had chosen to take the next steps when it comes to physical intimacy. And it was solely her choice with no outside pressures. So I find it really disturbing that Belle-A was respected for being clear about her lines when it comes to intimacy and when she crossed them, but Ace isn’t being respected when it comes to his boundaries and who he wants to be intimate with.
It’s giving double standards.
When it comes to equality, it’s about respecting women’s boundaries, but also men’s boundaries. It’s about making sure she, he, they, have the right and space to define the boundaries of what they are okay with, especially when it comes to intimacy, be it emotional or physical. I’m not seeing that when it comes to Ace. And this comes from someone who thinks Ace is being a bit slick with his interactions with Amaya and Chelley. But that doesn’t matter. Because he can be slick and still have boundaries that deserve to be respected.
Right now, Ace is being treated by other islanders like “Of course you want to cuddle, kiss, and be physically intimate. You’re a guy.” No. Just because he’s a guy doesn’t mean he owes anyone anyone a hug, cuddle, kiss or a continued explanation of his boundaries when it comes to said intimacy. Point, blank, period.
New episodes of Love Island air every day besides Wednesday. And Saturdays are dedicated to Love Island Aftersun.
