Season 7 came with big expectations. Off the back of a strong Season 6, the fanbase had grown and everyone was locked in. However, from early on, it was clear this season wasn’t delivering. The producers seemed to be winging it, the couples didn’t feel genuine and social media interference turned the season into a mess. It turned into a season full of awkward moments, pointless tension and storylines that didn’t go anywhere. A lot of fans were left disappointed and honestly, they had every right to be. So what went wrong?

We’ve got the list... 

Here’s top 10 reasons why Season 7 fumbled the bag.

All image credits: Peacock / Google

1. Casting

It’s known that production puts a lot of effort into background checks and checking social media history. However, this season had more removals and online exposés than any before it. On top of that, the same energy they used to investigate each Islander didn’t go into making sure the cast was actually compatible. A few pairings made sense, but most felt forced. Some people stayed in couples simply because they had no better options, not because there was real chemistry or connection.

Basic things like age, personality and location should matter more during casting. To be honest, some of the bombshells had way more potential than the originals and should’ve been part of the OG lineup.

2. Too Much Pressure to Couple the 'Right' Way

Some people coupled up and locked in way too fast. It is a part of the show’s format, but it also led to people becoming territorial and hesitant to explore other options. That fear of stepping on toes or being judged kept some connections from even having a chance.

The Islanders who did want to explore and follow their feelings, often faced backlash. Not only from inside the villa, but from the viewers too. If someone stayed in a couple that America didn’t approve of, they faced the social chopping block. People treated those choices like personal betrayals, when in reality, it was just someone trying to figure out their own path.

This is the Islanders experience. They should be able to explore, make mistakes, and find what works for them without being attacked for not doing what the internet wants.

3. This Ain’t Friendship Island

Are we sick of hearing “girls' girl” yet? LOL. Some Islanders acted like anyone who talked to a guy they were barely involved with was breaking girl code. Let’s be real… these people just met. None of these friendships had deep history, and no romantic connections were solid that early on.

That pressure made people hesitant to explore genuine connections, which is what the show is supposed to be about. You can build friendships and respect others without putting your own experience on pause. Islanders shouldn’t have to ask permission to pull someone for a chat or apologize for liking the same person. Dating in the real world is definitely different, and yes, some of those same ethics should still apply. But this is Love Island... exploring is not just allowed, it’s expected.

4. Eliminations

Unlike Love Island UK, which gives Islanders time to build real relationships, the US version moves differently. People who were in a strong couple or just starting promising connections were still getting dumped, which defeats the whole purpose of the show.

Most eliminations seemed driven by public pressure and production trying to keep viewers satisfied. That set up a cycle where America would vote, but the Islanders would have the final say, putting them in a lose-lose situation. If the islanders didn’t go with what the public wanted, viewers turned on them fast. Fans expected cast members to have the same insight we do watching from home, but that’s unrealistic. The Islanders are making choices with limited info and the backlash they received for that was completely unfair and unnecessary.

5. Production 

Production Meddled Too Much This season. It was obvious production was trying to build off of Season 6 momentum and trying to recreate some of iconic crash outs. Also things were being altered, reacting to what they saw online instead of letting things play out naturally. Edits felt choppy, context was missing, storylines were heavily manipulated and scenes were clearly arranged to push certain narratives. It took away from the authenticity and made it hard to trust what we were seeing. 

6. The Games Were Weak

This season lacked the kind of games that actually reveal something. Where were the tweet challenges, the movie night clips, or any activity that showed Islanders how they were being perceived? Instead, we got a bunch of surface-level games focused on kissing and flirting.

The issue is, Islanders don’t have access to the outside world. They don’t know what’s being said, what’s being seen, or how they come across. That’s why those truth-based games matter. They help shake things up, force honest conversations and give everyone more clarity before things get too deep.

Fans think producers cut those games, to protect certain Islanders and based on how the season felt, they might be right.

7. The Host and Dumped Islanders

Ariana Madix as the host, didn’t keep it neutral. She gave public opinions about Islanders while the season was still airing, which added unnecessary fuel to the fire. It blurred the line between host and fan and gave viewers even more reason to go after certain cast members.

Dumped Islanders didn’t help either. Some switched up their opinions once they saw who was trending online, which only made things messier. Their post-exit interviews felt more like PR moves than honest reflections. It all added to the reality that public opinion was running the show.

8. Social Media Turned Into A War Zone

Once production allowed viewers to make one major change early in the season, it was like a switch flipped. The internet realized it had influence and people started trying to control everything.

Instead of just watching and enjoying the show, some fans turned into full-time trolls, spreading rumors, organizing takedowns and pushing narratives that didn’t even align with what was actually happening. The show dropped its basic anti-bullying post, however the damage had already been done. For regular fans who just wanted to watch the show and move on, it became overwhelming and unenjoyable.

9. Racism

Racism isn’t new to the Love Island franchise, but this season took it to another level. Chelley and Olandria, two Black women, were picked apart for behavior that others got praised for. They showed any emotion or spoke up and instantly got labeled "aggressive" or “mean girls.” Meanwhile, non-Black Islanders doing the same or usually worse, were seen as “emotional” or “misunderstood.”

Chelley got targeted in a BuzzFeed post that joked about serving her a "knuckle sandwich," and a Twitter user went viral after photoshopping Olandria as George Floyd and Huda as the cop. That wasn’t just tasteless, it was dangerous. The fact that stuff like that could circulate with little pushback says a lot.

Then there was Cierra. When an old slur resurfaced, she was removed from the show. Instead of calling for accountability, some fans took it way too far. People started calling ICE on her family. That’s not fighting racism, that’s responding to it with more racism… which makes the situation worse. Through all of this, production said nothing, and their silence was loud.

10. It Didn’t Have to Go This Far

So much of this season’s chaos could’ve been avoided if some Islander’s behavior had been handled early on. The first few episodes were sometimes hard to watch. A person’s actions shifted the entire vibe in the villa; calling people out of their name, creating tension and making the space feel uncomfortable for everyone else.

Production clearly wanted another viral blowup like in Season 6, but the difference is that moment came and went. This situation dragged on for episodes and set the tone for everything that followed. It’s one thing to let people express themselves and be emotional; it’s another to let someone completely disrupt the environment.

Letting it play out in hopes of recreating past drama backfired. Instead of getting TV gold, we got unnecessary stress, and the whole season suffered for it.

Can Love Island USA Be Redeemed?

Sure, it can.... Season 7 might’ve been a mess, but Love Island can get back on track. The formula still has potential, it just needs better execution. Casting should focus on real compatibility, not just potential drama. Production has to stop over-editing, let connections build naturally and stop reacting to social media in real time.

The show also needs to bring back games that actually reveal something and stop trying to recreate viral moments from past seasons. What worked before can’t be copied and pasted.

None of this is complicated. With a few tweaks, accountability and staff that care, Love Island USA could easily make a strong comeback in Season 8.