Photo: Jocelyn Prescod/Peacock
Spoilers ahead for the Love Island USA Reunion.
Despite the closure of the villa, more and more bombs are penetrating the Love Island USA History. Finalists Kendall Washington and Nicole Jacky find themselves in a drama whirlwind that plays out whether cameras are around them or not. Below is the full timeline of their post-villa escapades, from reunion to (pant) finish.
20 August 2024: Finalists Nicole Jacky and Kendall Washington are still together after leaving the reality bubble, but their relationship could soon burst. During the reunion which aired on August 19, host Ariana Madix asked them about the status of their relationship, and although the couple admitted they were still together, it turned into a full-on argument between them. Nicole explained, “I didn’t break up, we’re still together.” Kendall added, “It’s been a little hard being on the outside looking in. I’m just trying to communicate and process things.” However, communication must have been a touchy subject, because the word was what got things started. Nicole countered, “Communicate? You haven’t communicated. You never have.” When Kendall then suggested that the couple were trying to get some “space” from each other, Nicole cut him off, shouting, “After you lied to my face?”
It seems like the underlying issues in their relationship were 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 OK. Nobody deserves this. Everyone in this room agrees it sucks,” Nicole shared. “I think though, when you tell someone you love them in the moment, when you tell me about something, you have to be honest. Instead of saying it was from years ago and 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 with someone on a dating app is crazy.” Kendall regretted not telling her the “full truth” on the matter. He replied, “I should have been 100 percent honest with Nicole in that moment, but I honestly wasn’t ready. My life was turned upside down and all I wanted was to have you there.”
Nicole then became emotional, claiming that she had taken “a lot of heat” for not speaking out about the videos to protect him. The other islanders began to defend Kendall, trying to explain to her that he had been through a lot with the video leaks and they should cut him some slack. After the reunion aired, the couple did not further clarify their relationship status.
21 August 2024: Shortly after the reunion, which saw the couple date but fall apart, the relationship was officially over. The two posted competing Instagram stories about the split that told the same sad story. “I have decided to break up with Nicole,” Kendall wrote. “It got to a point where it was no longer healthy for us to continue the relationship. I still love and care for Nicole. I have never developed such strong feelings for a woman in my life. I do not regret the connection I built with her in the villa and it was genuine. She does not deserve hate. Please stop with the negative comments/DMs. We are taking this time to focus on our mental health. Thank you guys.”
In her post, Nicole gave more details about the relationship ending, saying, “On August 18th, Kendall and I agreed that our relationship was worth working on and we planned for me to visit him in Dallas soon. However, today, August 20th, he called and broke up.” Just like back in the villa, audiences may know too much about this process. “While I understand and respect his decision, it’s hard to process,” Nicole continued. “I opened up to him in the villa and I still love and care about him. I have mental health issues and all I ask for during this time is privacy.” Now it’s time for us to learn less about Nicole.
