With just days left until the Love Island USA Season 7 finale, six couples remain … but not for long. In tonight’s dramatic elimination, Clarke and Taylor were dumped from the island, ending their journey just after becoming officially “closed off.” Meanwhile, frontrunners Amaya and Bryan and Chelley and Ace continue to heat up emotionally and physically, cementing their status as the ones to beat. A new vote is now underway, and only four couples will make it to the finale on Sunday, where one will walk away with $100,000 and the title of America’s favorite couple.
Cracks Form Beneath the Surface on ‘Love Island USA’: Romance, PDA Issues & Emotional Walls
Couples grew closer last night when Amaya and Bryan chose one another and returned to the villa in the morning more bonded than ever. They got hot and heavy all over the hideaway and stayed up through the night talking. Upon their return, they split off to gossip with the other islanders, with Bryan telling the boys, “It felt like I lost my virginity. ” The girls are thrilled to see Amaya Papaya finally coupled up with the man she deserves. But they aren’t the only ones feeling the love. During a rare break from the villa, the boys play basketball. Chelley bets on Ace despite his height, and Ace can’t stop talking about missing her. Love!
One couple who has grown even closer is Taylor and Clarke, who, after discussing their wedding plans earlier in the episode, are ready to take their relationship to the next level. The boys plan a cheer routine, complete with shower loofahs as pom poms. Taylor grabs Clarke’s hands, makes a speech, and asks her to be closed off, and of course, Clarke accepts. An evil editor frames the shot with Olandria in the background, a focal point between Taylor and the woman he left her for. She’s happy for them and realizes that, ultimately, her relationship with Taylor would never have worked in the real world. Her connection with Nic continues to blossom, and she believes her Love Island journey has unfolded exactly as she had hoped.
Chris and Huda Reach a ‘Love Island’ Crossroads
Chris is frustrated and pulls his partner Huda for a chat. He’s uncomfortable that she seems unwilling to kiss him in front of the other islanders. His confusion is reasonable since Huda has been willing to have sex with Chris in the shared bedroom, but is wary of showing him affection in the light of day if anyone is around. Huda is defensive and passive-aggressive throughout the conversation, interrupting Chris so frequently that has to beg to finish a sentence. She explains that her hesitation with PDA stems from the emotional fallout of her earlier relationship this season, and she wants to take things slower with Chris than she did with Jeremiah. That much is fair, but it doesn’t clarify why she’s willing to have sex with him but won’t give him a peck in public.
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Amaya steps in to mediate and discovers that Chris feels Huda is embarrassed by him, while she notes that Huda is too defensive to see how she’s fueling the tension between them. For all the criticism Amaya has received from her fellow cast members, here, she proves that she’s one of the most emotionally intelligent islanders this season. Still, even a skilled mediator can’t help Huda and Chris iron out this issue, and by the end of the episode, the light has left Chris’s eyes completely.
Taylor and Clarke Make a Shocking ‘Love Island USA’ Season 7 Departure
Finally, the islanders are called to the fire pit to receive the results of last night’s vote. Chelley and Ace, Amaya and Bryan, and Iris and Pepe are safe, and each couple gives each other a celebratory kiss. Huda and Chris are the next couple announced as safe, but neither offers a kiss, and Chris can barely look at Huda. Their fight will certainly continue in the next episode, and things aren’t looking great for them. The elimination comes down to fan favorites Nic and Olandria and newly closed-off couple Clarke and Taylor.
Ultimately, Clarke and Taylor are dumped from the island. It was time for them to go because fans have not forgotten the way that Taylor treated Olandria during their slow-motion breakup. Plus, this couple has fulfilled the purpose of Love Island—they found love with each other. Following the episode, viewers vote again, and on Thursday night’s broadcast, the cast will be whittled down to our final four couples. On Sunday night, we’ll find out which of those couples will win Season 7.
Watch Love Island USA on Peacock every day except Wednesdays. New episodes drop at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET.