Intro for May 28, 2026
– 3 min read
Dear Gossips,
A summer tradition is about to begin… for some of us, but more and more of us. I have watched every season of Love Island USA, one of only two dating reality series on my roster (the other is Singles Inferno), and during the early series of the American version, it was nowhere near as popular as some of the others in the genre.
Until, of course, season six. Still the best season, in my opinion. Season six, featuring PPG, aka Serena, JaNa, and Leah was a gamechanger, setting records for Peacock and setting up the toxic chaos of season seven in 2025, when Love Island USA confirmed its status as Peacock’s most-watched original series, with “18.4 billion minutes of watch time over its six-week run”.
So to go back to the tradition, at least here in North America, the tradition is Love Island USA and its virality, it’s pop culture takeover. We’re almost at that time. This year’s new Islanders will be revealed tomorrow. Ahead of the announcement, Peacock has issued a PSA.
Anybody who was watching last season knows why this was necessary – though maybe not sufficient – after the mess of season seven. It’s one thing to ask the audience to remember their manners, but there is also responsibility on the side of production to protect cast members from bullying and online harassment, and also consider, or reconsider, production decisions that are deliberately provocative that will negatively affect some people more than others which, most often, becomes the Black women on the island. Plus the other production calls that crowded the villa and didn’t allow enough time for certain connections to breathe. There is no way that the Love Island USA producers weren’t aware of the missteps that were made on their end from last year. Sure, more people were watching but almost everyone agrees that the quality of the show took a sharp decline in comparison to the greatness of the season that came before.
One of the best takeaways, however, from season seven is the rise of Olandria. Despite all that bullying, she emerged as the most popular and successful cast member – more booked than anyone else, and busier than ever. Olandria did the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
She just dropped a capsule collection with Brandon Blackwood.
And somehow she and Nic are still together? Some people think this is fake. I’m more impressed that if it is fake, they’ve kept it going FOR A YEAR. When, really, being Nic’s girlfriend isn’t what’s landing her in Sports Illustrated or getting her modelling deals. Usually in these situations with reality show couples who are accused of fakery because they’re trying to capitalise on the aftermath, it’s six months… max. And here we are, just days away from the start of season eight and Nicolandria is still a thing.
Back to season eight, though, so the cast announcement is coming tomorrow and then the first episode is next Tuesday 2 June. On Peacock and Crave in Canada, new episodes every day for the first week and then off on Wednesdays for the rest of the ride. This is a commitment – which is another sign of the show’s popularity, because that kind of schedule demands commitment. Almost every single day for six weeks! I’m already watching baseball almost every night, and I’m behind on all my shows, including Hacks…
The series finale is tonight and I’m still on a three episode delay. Help, no spoilers.
Yours in gossip,
Lainey
Olandria Carthen at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Launch Party held at the Hard Rock Times Square on May 14, 2026 in New York, New York/Olandria Carthen at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Social Club at Spring Studios in NYC, May 16, 2026
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