Dear Gossips,  

I wrote on Friday at our Substack, The Squawk, about the explosive success of Love Island USA which just wrapped up its sixth season. It’s extraordinary for a show to generate this much heat at this point in its run – even the New York Times published a piece about it this weekend, specifically pointing to the magic formula that turned Love Island USA into the most streamed reality series in North America, a summer smash hit. They have produced the sh-t out of this season and I’m linking here to a piece at Rolling Stone that I already linked to at The Squawk that details some of the Show Your Work involved in making it happen. 

 

All that has resulted in the most dramatic and chaotic season in Love Island USA (and maybe all the Love Islands) history, led by a cast that is just finding out now that they are stars. Huge stars. Odell Beckham Jr joked last week during his cameo on that show that his brother, Kordell, was the main topic of conversation when he was at Michael Rubin’s Fourth of July party. Kordell and Serena last night were crowned as the winning couple and he most certainly will get his Cheez-Its sponsorship. 

@youdidnthearitfrommimi

Kordell should ask his brother to get him into acting. Doesn’t Odell Beckham Jr. have strings he could pull🤔. Season 3 Episode 2 of Love Island USA: #loveisland #cheezit #longtermgoals #theick #career #viral #peacock #usa #tvclips #clips #clip #dating #goals #spark #odellbeckhamjr #nepobaby #acting #model #friendzone #advertisements #commercials #season3

♬ original sound - You Didn’t Hear It From Mimi

For the uninitiated, that happened very early on in the season, when they were just coupled up and getting to know each other. This scene now? Iconic!

 

While Kordell and Serena won the title though, it was Leah and Miguel who came in second – and this is noteworthy because Leah’s crazy popularity is what powered them to the silver medal. Leah is now Love Island USA cast member with the most Instagram followers from all seasons. People are obsessed with her, she is perfect for reality: messy, unpredictable, hilarious, loyal to her friends, quick to anger but will take accountability later…she’s really, really good television, and it’s why she stayed on the island until the very end, unaware of how viral she’s become. 

 

That’s also why I don’t really believe that Rob was truly sincere in his final chat with her when they told each other how much they care about each other as friends. Because he was paying attention to all the votes throughout the season and how America continued to support Leah, he must have had an idea that people out here were all in on Leah and therefore strategically is maintaining good vibes with her. In case it wasn’t clear, I don’t f-ck with Rob – think he’s manipulative and gaslighty, but I do appreciate his value in terms of entertainment. You need a sinister prick like Rob on the show to make it work, even when you can see his true intentions: which is to make a career in reality television. 

 

And it’s already starting. He got off the plane in those f-cking overalls and went straight to Call Her Daddy. 

But this is what’s going to be so interesting going forward. Again, these people are coming out of the villa and just realising what a phenomenon the show was. They already have to navigate love on the outside, now they’ll have to navigate it while being famous. 

 

Which is why it’s another genius move by the producers to set the reunion on August 19. By then all the islanders will have experienced their newfound notoriety…and opportunity. They will have also obsessively watched every minute of themselves, and what was shown to the audience, from their time on the island. 

In other words, more mess ahead! Will Kaylor and Aaron even make it as a couple to the reunion?! Will Rob even remember Andrea’s name? Will Leah be starring in the next SKIMS campaign?!

But also, how much bigger can Ariana Madix get?! 

 

They’re already casting for next season. And people out there, having just seen this one, should now understand the assignment!

 

Yours in gossip, 

Lainey 

Photo credits: Peacock

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