Love Island USA’s Olandria and Chelley React to Being Labeled “Mean Girls,” Call Out Double Standards

After Love Island USA Season 7 aired, Olandria Carthen pushed back against the “mean girl” label that many fans applied to her and castmate Chelley Bissainthe following the “Standing on Business” challenge, arguing that the narrative didn’t reflect how they actually behaved in the villa. Both women explained in an interview with Keke Palmer that they remained calm during conflicts yet were disproportionately criticized online, a reaction they believe stemmed from racial bias against Black women expressing themselves. Olandria shared that she often felt pressure to “tone down” her reactions to avoid being villainized simply for speaking her truth, while Chelley noted that their castmates actually saw them as supportive confidantes rather than bullies.