The "Love Island USA" Season 7 cast has cleared the air on the disagreements, the fizzled relationships and even rumors of infidelity that happened in the villa (and beyond).
The Class of 2025 returned to Peacock to spill on the cheating rumors between Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales, Huda Mustafa's possible new "Perfect Match" relationship and the rift between her, Olandria Carthen and Chelley Bissainthe.
Huda said she's working "toward being a better person" than the person fans saw on their screens, Pepe Garcia-Gonzalez and Iris Kendall defined their relationship (while Nicolandia avoided doing so), and Jeremiah Brown came armed with the definition of "love bombing."
Seasoned interviewer Andy Cohen was tasked with getting the islanders to spill as he shared moderating duties with host Ariana Madix for the reunion, which marks the first – and likely last – time the Season 7 cast was all in a room together.
Read on for all of the jaw-dropping declarations and biggest revelations from the "Love Island USA" Season 7 reunion.
Chelley reacts to extended clip of infamous 'Heats on Fire' Challenge
While in the villa, Chelley openly expressed her distaste for Huda's sexy performance toward her connection, Ace, during the "Hearts on Fire" event, better known as the heartrate challenge.
The incident became a hot topic online and in islander interviews on whether Huda overstepped boundaries. Production showed an extended clip of the challenge during the reunion, and in the video, Huda is seen shaking her butt close to Ace's face.
Cohen asked Huda about her reaction after rewatching the interaction. "I took it a step too far for certain people, and I do apologize if I made anybody feel uncomfortable," she said.
"Everything was consensual. There was no limitations and we all made that very clear in the beginning of the challenge," Huda added.
Chelley said that she feels justified in the way that she reacted to the situation.
"We've always mentioned this whole consensual thing, and everyone's like 'Yeah, we're all open to everything.' So with that being said, it comes to a thing of this friendship and sisterhood," Chelley responded.
"I think when you do certain challenges, it's with intention because you're interested in a person. You like the person. To my knowledge, you didn't have any interest for Ace."
— Taylor Ardrey
Chelley, Olandria address online outrage and react to Huda's lack of response
Olandria and Chelley called out Huda's lack of action to the racism and bullying allegations against them online after the show. Huda expressed that she was hurt by Chelley after seeing some clips online, to which Chelley later apologized to her.
Olandria stated she did not feel supported when Huda did not make a post addressing her fans and played into specific narratives post-villa. "It pained me. Even when she went on there and said she was bullied, she didn't put a name to it. (The fans) thought I was one of the bullies," she added.
"I'm glad she kind of put a name to it now and cleared that up. That (expletive) added more hate," Olandria said, adding it impacted her mental health and caused damage to their friendship.
Madix pressed Huda about why she didn't make a post when asked by Olandria. She responded: "I was dealing with so much outside of that. I didn't know what to say in that moment because I was dealing with so much. I wanted to address more than just that."
Olandria got emotional after mentioning certain memes that were circulating online. "I truly wish you would have prioritized that moment to address the racism and the bullying toward me and Chelley since that was spewed out the most," Olandria said. "That hurt, Huda."
"I was getting hated on as well, racially," Huda said.
"I get that, but your face was not plastered on (expletive) George Floyd's body," Olandria responded. "Mine was. I told you that."
— Ardrey
Huda is working 'toward being a better person'
Regarding calling his relationship with Huda "very toxic" after it burned bright and fast at the beginning of the season, Jeremiah explained he felt it was "strange" that Huda was so vocal about asking Taylor to fix his under-cooked pancake.
That incident is when Jeremiah started taking notice of their communication style.
Huda was conciliatory. She said, "There's definitely things that I should've worked on and that's those things that I'm addressing in my life now. The thing is that you learn from those mistakes and you work toward being a better person."
— KiMi Robinson
Jeremiah addresses allegations of love bombing Huda
Jeremiah entered the stage and immediately addressed his relationship with Huda and the long-running love bombing allegations against him.
During the season, the other male islanders accused him of love bombing Huda early on in their relationship, which ultimately led to his elimination. "You feel like I love bombed you, by definition of love bombing?" Jeremiah asked Huda.
"To some capacity, yes, I do," she responded.
"You know the definition of love bombing has to involve intent and manipulation?" he added. "People don't have to do it intentionally. You can love bomb unintentionally," Huda said.
"If you're saying 'I love you' twice in three days and then me saying, 'Yo sometimes I do too much,' I don't want to be overbearing. Let me know if I'm tripping.' And you say 'No, you're doing fine,'" Jeremiah said. "How am I love bombing you if I'm coming to you and asking you?"
— Ardrey
Hannah and Charlie on whether they'd get back together
"I don’t hold any negativity towards (Hannah) about moving on with Pepe. At the end of the day, you obviously were attracted to Pepe and also felt a connection," Charlie said.
Earlier, Hannah gave Pepe and Iris – whom he pursued after Hannah was eliminated – her blessing, saying, "I think that nobody is as deserving of a strong connection as them. … There's no animosity from me at all." She and Iris exchanged "I love yous."
As for whether there's a chance of rekindling their summer romance, Charlie and Hannah didn't seem optimistic.
"We haven't really, uh, spoken to each other in that way since the villa," he told Madix. Hannah, meanwhile, replied that "I do not" see a chance at a second shot.
— Robinson
Zak apologizes to Amaya for standing on business
Zak wanted people to know, once and for all, that he did not cozy up to Amaya because she'd won a fan vote. And he also issued an apology for going after her so hard during the "Stand on Business" challenge.
"First of all, I want to apologize, Amaya – during that challenge, I shouldn't have stood up on business and did what I did," he said via video chat.
"Thank you for apologizing," Amaya replied. "I do think that there was a big shift of energy after finding out I was America's favorite, I guess. He did try to put in more of an effort to have a conversation with me."
Zak doubled down on having pure intentions about reconnecting with Amaya despite having several tiffs; "there was a genuine connection between us two," as they sat on a swing after the challenge, he said.
"It could be very performative at times because once you knew the cameras were on, that's when it was time to have this whole Grammy Award-winning actor scene, let’s be for real," Amaya said to close the conversation.
— Robinson
Coco addresses calling Olandria 'standoffish'
Cohen and Madix asked Casa Amor bombshell, Coco, about calling Olandria "standoffish" in a recent interview.
"In the beginning, Olandria was a little standoffish, especially when Olandria kind of made her return. I can tell she was upset that her girls were not there … which is understandable," Coco said.
"I was standoffish," Olandria responded. "I'm not (going) to come in being fake and trying to purposely be besties with these girls that I don't know. I'm going to be nice and I'm going to be cordial, but I don't know you guys. And I just got fake dumped. Coming back and seeing Taylor with someone else, I had so many … emotions. I had no time to process nothing."
— Ardrey
Nic and Olandria haven't put a label on their relationship
Nic said he's feeling the pressure from "Nicolandria" fans. But the two will do things on their own time.
"We've always been believers in taking our time with things and not letting outside pressure dictate our relationship," Nic said.
As the couple discussed the skydiving and "crazy things" they want to do, Nic added: "Whatever she wants, I want to make sure happens."
The other cast members let out a collective "aw."
— Robinson
Taylor apologizes to Olandria: 'We grew so close so fast'
Taylor offered Olandria an apology for how he treated her in the villa. The two Love Islanders were in a couple for weeks before his head turned when Clarke entered the picture during the Casa Amor twist.
"I'm sorry for everything. We grew so close so fast," Taylor told Olandria.
"You're still my dog," he added. There was an awkward silence in the studio before a light applause. Olandria did not respond to his apology.
— Ardrey
Pepe and Iris confirm they're 'exclusive'
Cohen congratulated Iris and Pepe on becoming exclusive since leaving the villa. "We've had conversations about what dating looks like to one another," Pepe explained.
But he admitted that Iris had a different understanding of what the "exclusive" label meant. "I think you have to ask someone to be your girlfriend," Iris said. When asked by Madix whether she wanted to be Pepe's girlfriend, she replied, "Yeah."
"I feel like we're going in a good direction," she added.
— Robinson
Chelley and Ace respond to their elimination from 'Love Island USA'
"I think they missed the plot on what Love Island is supposed to be about, "Chelley said. Ace agreed, adding that he thinks the viewers focused on the favorites rather than the actual premise of the show.
— Ardrey
Huda avoids talking about relationship with Louis, says Netflix won't let her
When asked by Cohen about her new relationship − Huda has been spotted cozying up with Too Hot to Handle" star Louis Russell − the former Love Islander said she can't speak on it. "I can't speak about my relationships outside the villa," she said.
When pressed by Madix, Huda replied: "Legal reasons."
"I'm not allowed to speak. It's Netflix. I'm not allowed to talk about it." Russell also appeared on the latest season of Netflix's "Perfect Match."
As Cohen made one more effort at getting Huda to talk about Louis by mentioning their "Weapons" red carpet outing, she replied, "I'm not allowed to speak on it, I'm so sorry."
"Tell Netflix this was the No. 1 streaming show of the summer," Cohen sassed.
— Ardrey and Robinson
Iris confirms post-villa meet-up with TJ
Iris confirms a face-to-face conversation with TJ captured by TMZ after the show concluded. "I wanted to tell him what I felt wasn't fake," Iris said during the reunion.
Although they had a strong connection on the show, Iris said she told TJ that she was moving forward with Pepe.
— Ardrey
Bryan addresses so-called 'cheating video'
Amaya cackled as Cohen mentioned "a video that sparked a lot of rumors about you cheating, partying with other girls."
"They're trying to just throw any hate my way," Bryan said in response. "And within the cheating video, the hosting – I was paid to be there. I used to bartend back in the day. I had a lapse of judgement and we've talked about it. And yeah."
He clarified that this "lapse" referred to "pouring shots around, giving the crowd shots and stuff like that."
"I'm not a woman that would be with someone that doesn't respect me, so if I'm with him and still with him, it's clearly because the relationship dynamic is healthy and great."
— Robinson
Are Amaya and Bryan still together?
Cardiac nurse Amaya and accountant-slash-real estate agent Bryan’s relationship was called into question hours before the reunion was set to drop on Peacock.
Christina Cocca and Zachary Reality are among the close watchers who noticed the two seemingly followed each other on Instagram. USA TODAY has reached out to both Amaya's and Bryan's teams for comment.
— Robinson
What happened between Pepe and Iris?
Instagram activity spotted by journalist Christina Cocca on Aug. 24 showed there might be trouble in paradise; Iris first stopped following Pepe, and Pepe returned the gesture afterward, per Cocca.
Cocca also noted that Iris posted an Instagram story that used Fleetwood Mac’s "Silver Springs" and suggested it could be alluding to a breakup.
USA TODAY has reached out to Iris' and Pepe's reps for comment.
— Robinson
Jeremiah and Andreina are on friendly terms
As most fans know, some of the biggest clues about what's actually happening among the cast members can be found on Snapchat. The platform offered a seemingly positive update on the onetime villa couple Jeremiah and Andreina, who recently hit the gym together, per Jeremiah's Snapchat.
— Robinson
Vanity Fair interview offered a preview of Ace vs. Huda
Ace, Chelley, Bryan, Amaya, Huda, Nic and Olandria were subjected to "cringe-inducing questions" in a video that quickly racked up more than 600,000 views for Vanity Fair's YouTube channel hours after it posted on Aug. 25.
Huda and Amaya appeared to remain on good terms, as Huda grabbed her hand at one point. But she didn't have much interaction with the other cast members.
When asked about the most attractive family member, Bryan answered: "Huda, your sister's fire." Amaya coughed out a laugh while seated between Bryan and Huda. Nic, meanwhile, called out Pepe's mom.
Ace and Huda appeared to have a passive aggressive back-and-forth following a question about being "nervous" to see anyone. Ace said, "I just hate the fact that nobody was standing on business while we was all there, and now that people are outside the villa, now they feel they have the confidence to talk."
— Robinson
Will Cierra Ortega be at the 'Love Island USA' reunion?
In a lengthy TikTok video last month, Cierra Ortega confirmed she will not be attending the "Love Island USA" Season 7 reunion. Her announcement came after she was removed from the show just days before the finale following allegations that she used a racist slur against people of Asian descent.
On the show, her exit was attributed to a "personal" situation. The former islander, who had a romantic connection with Vansteenberghe, apologized and explained in the social media video that her exit stemmed from posts "where I was very naively using an incredibly offensive and derogatory term."
— Ardrey
What time is the 'Love Island USA' reunion?
The reunion episode will drop on Peacock at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT and 8 p.m. CT) on Monday, Aug. 25.
And let's hope there aren't any glitches like the premiere snafu that led to the first episode dropping 40 minutes behind schedule.
When was the 'Love Island USA' reunion filmed?
The reunion was filmed in New York City around two weeks before the episode's drop. The cast was photographed at the studio on Aug. 12.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Love Island USA' reunion: Bryan and Amaya talk cheating, Huda skirts Louis relationship
Reporting by KiMi Robinson and Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect