Love Island USA Was Ruined by the USA

In the Slate critique of Love Island USA Season 7, the author argues that the show’s evolution this year reflected more about American internet culture and fan power than the original Love Island spirit, with viewers and producers alike shaping outcomes in real time. This dynamic played out sharply around Olandria Carthen’s journey — from a breakout personality with deep emotional authenticity to a figure enmeshed in the season’s most talked‑about moments, including fan fights over her edit and whether her romance with Nic Vansteenberghe was produced or genuine. Olandria became a central symbol of both the season’s highs and its controversial engagement with toxic fandom and social media pressure, illustrating how Love Island USA has become as much about off‑screen debate as on‑villa romance.