Ariana Madix is defending the season 8 cast of Love Island USA after being sent hateful messages following the show’s divisive reunion.
“If you ever feel the need to leave negative comments toward Islanders, log tf [the f***] off and go outside,” Ariana, 41, who has hosted the Peacock show since 2024, wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, September 2.
She continued: “Especially if you think my comment section is a safe place to do so. Fyi it is NOT.”
Ariana’s social media statement came days after Peacock released the reunion special, which addressed the biggest drama from the most recent season of the show. Ariana and Andy Cohen cohosted the reunion, which reunited “this season’s winners, fan-favorite couples and this year’s bombshells for an up-close-and-personal look back at their experience in the Villa,” according to a press release.
Bryce Alakai, Trinity Tatum, Aniya Harvey, Carl Schmidt, Melanie Moreno, Sincere Rhea, Kayda Bosse and Zach Georgiou were front and center alongside Dylan Wrona, Kenzie Annis, KC Chandler, Tierra Davis, Corbin Mims and Parmida Keshani.
Elsewhere in the show, Caleb McDaniel, Jaiden Bacciocco, Amora Robinson, Sydney Eugene, Ronnie Gunter, Gal Tshnieder, Jen Terry, Chay Nehra, Gabriel Vasconcelos, Sol Dean, Beatriz Hatz and Sean Reifel discussed their time in Fiji as well.
Ahead of the special, Ariana spoke to Us about why she preferred the offscreen silence from the season 8 Islanders before sitting down for the reunion.
“I feel personally that it’s helpful for me,” she exclusively told Us in August about the benefits of having the Islanders stay in the weeks since filming wrapped on the show.
Ariana admitted it was “hard” to “keep up with” every development for each Islander once they leave the villa. The season 8 cast’s step back from press, however, left more excitement for the reunion special.
Ariana Madix, Andy Cohen Christine Bartolucci/Peacock
“It is hard for me to keep up when everything is out there,” she added. “I want to be able to keep up because, of course, I want to be able to ask the best questions.”
The reunion left some viewers divided, however, due to the arguments between the Islanders. Kayda Bosse, specifically, received backlash after she questioned Jaiden Bacciocco’s decision to sleep with Caleb McDaniel once cameras wrapped.
“I don’t think I was [a mean girl],” Kayda said on the Tuesday, September 1, episode of the “In Your Dreams” podcast. “I just stand on business, and people don’t like that.”
Love Island USA is currently streaming on Peacock.
