Just two days after America’s shocking recoupling vote for Love Island USA Season 7, Ariana Madix returned to the villa to shake things up once more with another recoupling. In episode 14, they had the women stand behind a door. From there they decided who they would want to pair up with on their mobiles. The men were then instructed to go to the door of the person they wanted to couple up with. And if the door opened, a new couple would be locked in.
When it came down to the wire, all the Islanders were shocked that Jeremiah picked Iris to couple up with instead of his long-time pairing of Huda. As if it couldn’t get any worse, the two remaining people that weren’t chosen, Huda and Jalen, were now up for elimination. And who was going to pick who stayed and who went? The other Islanders. This is where yet another twist happens as Huda got eight votes while Jalen got four.
Many online were shocked by eight of the Islanders on Love Island USA Season 7 choosing to save Huda. They had spent the entirety of the episode talking about Huda behind her back. And not just light conversation about the situation between her and Jeremiah. Huda and Jeremiah’s relationship was likened to being “crazy” and “toxic.” And they were calling Huda “Hurricane Huda” while laughing and giving each other the side eye as Huda vented to them about the argument she just had with Jeremiah.
So why did the Islanders on Love Island USA Season 7 save Huda over Jalen in episode 14? The answer is more complicated than people probably expect.
Firstly, despite Huda claiming to be a girl’s girl and then trashing every new girl that comes into the villa that even looks at Jeremiah, the rest of the girls are actually girls girls. They like Jalen. But if they’re going to choose to save anyone, they’re going to save the person that they have known either from the beginning of the show or that they have come to spend a lot of time with getting ready and navigating this experience with.
The one exception to this girl’s girl rule that I don’t understand is Iris. She’s one of the newly minted bombshells and usually bombshells stick together. So it was shocking to see Iris choose Huda especially after she called Huda’s relationship with Jeremiah “crazy” while being coupled up with Jeremiah. Oh and there’s also how Huda came in all hot when asking about Iris’ date with Jeremiah. If Iris wanted to make sure her connection with Jeremiah was safe, she should have voted off Huda. It’s not giving loyalty and it’s not giving girls girl. Instead it’s giving Jeremiah is a temporary measure and Iris is just lucky to have scraped by. But the tears are a nice touch to hide that.
The second reason I think the Islanders chose to save Huda, in particular Ace and Taylor, is because Jalen was a threat. Taylor just locked his relationship in again with Olandria. And it was clear to anyone watching that Jalen was interested in Olandria. So if you want to make sure that your couple is not at risk at all, you’re going to get rid of the competition, even if Olandria chose Taylor that night. And you’re going to do that even if it means keeping Hurricane Huda.
MORE: Need to know how to vote on Love Island USA? Read our guide.
Even Ace, who has openly spoken about how “crazy” it was that Jeremiah and Huda were locked in so hard after only one episode, chose Huda. And it wasn’t because he liked her. He made that clear when he told her “hell no” when Huda reached out to Ace to say thank you. Ace chose to save Huda because Taylor is his friend. He’s being a boy’s boy and backing one of his best friends at the villa. There’s nothing deeper to it than that. And if he has the chance to get rid of Huda in some future vote, he’ll probably go for it.
Then there’s the sneakiest reason as to why Huda was saved on Love Island USA Season 7 Episode 14: production interference.
At the end of the day Love Island USA is a performance. Every piece is expertly moved to create an experience for the viewer at home. And before the Islanders face the camera, they face the production team. And that production team trains them on what will happen, what can happen, and what should happen. For example, sometimes the Islanders ask really introspective questions that are perfect for little snippets and quotes from the Islanders. That screams production interference where they’re told to ask that. And I can spot it a mile away.
That’s not to say that I’m discounting what the Islanders themselves are probably drumming up their own drama on purpose. They are there to get their face and name out. Reality TV is the new production line for giving content creators a platform to virality and loads of money. And Huda, she’s going to keep things interesting for the viewer at home, especially because of how messy she is and that of her relationship with Jeremiah. So the Islanders themselves have a vested interest in keeping Huda.
But back to production.
Every single time you see a game pop up, this has been thought about months in advance. There’s a formula to the madness. And especially after the popularity of Love Island USA Season 6, the production team behind this show is doing the most to guarantee that they get better numbers than what they did in Season 6. That’s why I even doubt the vote from the previous recoupling where America voted actually was “America voting.”
I’ve watched shows where they’ve admitted that they don’t even know where those votes go or what were the results. Production could have easily reshuffled the couples themselves based on what they’re seeing on social media. But they let fans think they did it because there’s power in letting the general public think they have control.
Love Island USA is watching what fans are posting on social media. That’s why Yulissa got bumped off so soon in Episode 2 of Season 7. And as the season progresses, I don’t think Huda is going anywhere. In fact, I think they’re going to introduce a bombshell that zeroes in on Huda, creating even more drama as you know Huda and Jeremiah are going to keep eyeing each other because of the history that they have built across 14 episodes. And imagine if they got back together later on? The ratings would blow season 6 out of the water.
New episodes of Love Island air every day besides Wednesday. And Saturdays are dedicated to Love Island Aftersun.
