‘Love Island USA’ couple split after tense exchange on reunion episode

“Love Island USA” stars Kendall Washington and Nicole Jacky are calling it quits.
The couple, who met and partnered up on the hit reality dating show that aired during the summer, announced their split just one day after the Season 6reunion episode dropped Monday night on Peacock.
Kendall and Nicole appeared to develop a strong connection for one another during their time in the “Love Island” villa, making it all the way to the final four in the season finale. But their relationship became reportedly strained once filming concluded.
In separate Instagram stories posted Tuesday night, each confirmed that Kendall made the decision to end things.
“It reached a point where it was not healthy for us to continue the relationship,” Kendall said in his post.
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Here’s what to know about Kendall and Nicole, and their time on “Love Island.”
Kendall and Nicole’s breakup came on the heels of filming the “Love Island USA” Season 6 reunion special in New York City.
In her own Instagram story, Nicole said that the pair had agreed as recently as Sunday to continue working on their relationship, with Nicole planning to visit Kendall in his hometown of Dallas, Texas.
But on Tuesday, Nicole said Kendall called her to end things.
“While I understand and respect his decision, it’s hard to process this one. I opened up to him in the villa, and still love and care for him now,” Nicole said on Instagram. “I’m struggling mentally and all I ask for is privacy during this time.”
In his own Instagram statement, Kendall confirmed that he did indeed make the decision to call it quits.
“I have decided to end things with Nicole,” Kendall said. “I still love and care for Nicole. I’ve never developed such strong feelings for a woman in my life. I have no regrets for the connection I made with her in the villa and it was real.”
Kendall concluded his statement by asking that his followers to not send any negative comments to Nicole.
Kendall and Nicole hit it off when Nicole entered the villa as a new cast member – referred to on the show as a “bombshell.”
Though Kendall was partnered up with Hannah Smith, it wasn’t long until he left her for Nicole, dumping Hannah from the island. Kendall and Nicole then remained partnered up throughout the rest of the season, despite Nicole’s fleeting interest in Miguel Harichi, who entered the villa as another bombshell.
The couple were the first to be chosen to spend a private night in the show’s so-called “hideaway,” and by the season finale, Kendall professed his love for Nicole.
Kendall and Nicole were among the four finalists on the season, which eventually crowned Kordell Beckham and Serena Page as the winners in a fan vote. After filming wrapped in July, the pair told Us Weekly that they planned to pursue a long-distance relationship outside of the show.
For weeks after the show came to an end, social media had been rife with speculation about the status of Kendall and Nicole’s relationship.
When they appeared for the Season 6 reunion special hosted by “Vanderpump Rules” star Ariana Madix, Nicole and Kendall were visibly tense when Madix turned her attention to them.
“It’s been a bit tough coming on the outside,” Kendall began. “Just trying to communicate and work (through) things.”
“Communicate?” Nicole interjected. “You have not been communicating, and you never have been.”
For the source of the tension, the pair alluded to an an explicit video of Kendall that leaked on social media right before the July 21 finale.
While Nicole conceded at the reunion that “nobody deserves” what happened to Kendall, she admonished him for not being truthful about how recent the video was taken or checking in on her as rumors and speculation went rampant on social media.
“I 100% should’ve been honest with Nicole in that moment, but I honestly wasn’t ready,” Kendall said at the reunion. “My life was turned upside down and all I wanted to do was to have you there.”
Contributing: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]