Spoilers ahead for the Love Island USA reunion.
Despite closing the villa, more bombshells continue to enter the Love Island USA story. Finalists Kendall Washington and Nicole Jacky are in a drama vortex that is playing out whether there are cameras around them or not. Below, find the full chronicle of their post-villa shenanigans, from the reunion through the (gasp) breakup.
The reunion
August 20, 2024: Finalists Nicole Jacky and Kendall Washington are still together after leaving the reality bubble, but their relationship may burst sometime soon. During the reunion, which aired August 19, host Ariana Madix asked them about the status of their relationship, and while the couple admitted they were still together, it turned into a full-on argument between them. Nicole explained, “I haven’t ended things; we’re still together.†Kendall added, “It’s been a bit tough coming on the outside. Just trying to communicate and work through things.†However, communication must’ve been a sore subject because the word is really what got things going. Nicole shot back, “Communicate? You have not been communicating. You never have been.†Then, when Kendall alluded to the couple trying to have some “space†from each other, Nicole cut him off to exclaim, “After you lied to my face?â€
It seems like the underlying problems in their relationship might’ve been caused by the revenge-porn video of Kendall that leaked on the day of the finale. “I just want to say something. Obviously, the video is not okay. Nobody deserves that. Everybody in this room can agree it’s fucked up,†Nicole shared. “However, I think if you say you love somebody in the moment, when you’re telling me about something, you need to be honest. Instead of saying it’s from years ago to someone you trusted — an ex-girlfriend — and then I find out two days later from JaNa that it was in the hotel room before you go on the show to someone on a dating app is crazy.†Kendall regretted not telling her the “full truth†on the matter. He responded, “I 100 percent should’ve been honest with Nicole in that moment, but I honestly wasn’t ready. My life was turned upside down and all I wanted to do was to have you there.â€
Nicole then got emotional, claiming she took “a lot of heat†for not speaking out about the videos to protect him. The other islanders began defending Kendall, trying to explain to her that he was going through a lot with the video leaks and to give him some grace. After the reunion aired, the couple have not clarified their relationship status further.
The breakup
August 21, 2024: Shortly after the reunion, in which the couple was together but falling apart at the seams, the relationship was officially called off. The two posted dueling Instagram stories about the breakup that told the same sad tale. “I have decided to end things with Nicole,†Kendall wrote. “It reached a point where it was not healthy for us to continue the relationship. 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. She does not deserve any hate. Please stop with the negative comments/DMs. We’re taking this time to focus on our mental health. Thank you guys.â€
When Nicole made her post, she gave more details about the end of the relationship, saying: “On August 18, Kendall and I agreed our relationship was worth working on, and we were making plans for me to visit him in Dallas soon. However, today, on August 20, he called and ended things.†Just like when they were in the villa, the audience knows perhaps too much about this process. “While I understand and respect his decision, it’s hard to process this one,†Nicole continued. “I opened up to him in the villa, and still love and care for him now. I’m struggling mentally and all I ask for is privacy during this time.†It is now time for us to know less about Nicole.