What started out as a lovely late-season romance on Love Island USA is now over in heartbreak. Iris Kendall and Pepe Garcia-Gonzalez, who appeared to be developing something special in Season 7, have officially broken up. Couples who supported the pair are left in shock, as the former showbiz couple appeared to have what it took to make it happen once, they left the villa.
Signs of Strain on Social Media
On August 24, followers saw an abrupt change both had unfollowed one another on Instagram. Iris deleted almost all photos of Pepe from her page, leaving followers with an overwhelming feeling that something was amiss. She then uploaded a cryptic sunset alongside Fleetwood Mac’s “Silver Springs,” fueling relationship fallout buzz. In the meantime, Pepe’s posts were still active, inciting rumors.
Pepe Speaks Out
Following the reunion show, Pepe didn’t beat around the bush: “Iris and I are not together anymore,” he confirmed. While he acknowledged the stress of constant public scrutiny, he firmly denied any cheating rumors, saying, I don’t care what people think. His message was clear, this was a respectful, albeit painful, end to their story.
Iris Breaks Her Silence
Not long after, Iris offered her own perspective. She shared that although she had hoped to keep things private, the outpouring of fan support inspired her to speak. “The connection that I formed has ended,” she admitted, adding that it was difficult to navigate this new chapter. Despite the hurt, she expressed genuine gratitude: “I’m moving forward with hope, gratitude, and positivity.” Her response felt personal, raw, and deeply human.
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Season 7’s Broken Bonds
Iris and Pepe are not the sole Season 7 couple to split after villa. Season 7 winners Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales also announced their breakup, stating they had followed different paths in life. Their departure highlighted a broader phenomenon that many real-life relationships just can’t handle the transition back to reality after reality TV.
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What This Means for Fans
The response from fellow Islanders and viewers has been a balance between curiosity and sympathy. While some fans believe Iris might rekindle with first connection TJ Palpa, others appreciate that Iris and Pepe parted ways with grace and honesty outside of the drama that comes with being in the spotlight.
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A Graceful Farewell
Their exit from the romance plotline feels especially poignant because of how seriously both went about it without blow-up drama or angry accusations. It was a breakup that, though heartbreaking, was also respectful. In reality TV land, that strikes as amazingly real.
