Are Iris and TJ from Love Island USA Back Together?
Yup. All signs point to Iris and TJ rekindling what they started in Fiji. On September 15, they dropped a very not-ambiguous set of photos on Instagram—there’s holding hands, cuddling, the kind of body language that could turn even a Love Island skeptic into an “okay-maybe-they’re-really-cute” person. The caption from Iris? Just a little letter sealed with a heart emoji. Sometimes that's all you need.
Their fellow Islanders couldn’t even hold back: “My kids future god parents,” wrote Season 7 winner Amaya “Papaya” Espinal. Hannah Fields, another Season 7 bombshell, pretty much spoke for everyone with, “BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE.” Even those not usually prone to gushing got swept up in it. If you’re ever in doubt about the status of a couple post-reality-show, check the comments sections—they don’t mess around.
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A Quick Timeline: From Villa to Real Life
They got together, broke up (on TV, of all places), dated other people, and then circled back. A quick (but juicy) recap:
- Iris entered the Love Island USA villa on Day 9, TJ joined just after Day 14.
- Post-Casa Amor, Iris and TJ became an official couple by Episode 22.
- Less than a week later, the reality TV axes fell—TJ was eliminated, with Iris giving a teary goodbye.
- Iris later tried to move on with Pepe, who ended up making it to the top four with her. Did it last? Not quite.
- Fast-forward: signs of a rekindled romance start popping up in public. There they are, showing up together at Luar’s New York Fashion Week event, looking like they had just stepped off a Vogue shoot, not a tear-filled reality TV reunion.
It kind of reads like a Netflix movie. Except, you know, it actually happened.
After the Villa: Are They Just Doing It for the Gram?
People always wonder, right? Are these reunions real, or is it just for the followers? Thing is, from all the lived-in moments that have surfaced—like Iris and TJ joking around backstage during Fashion Week, or the way their fellow Islanders seem genuinely delighted for them—it feels more authentic than the usual “soft-launch” relationships we see in influencer land.
Of course, there’s a little performance art to any public Love Island reconnection. Maybe that’s the fun of it. It’s not like they’re inviting us into their therapist’s office. But the affection (and, honestly, the goofiness) in their interactions lately feels believable. Sometimes reality TV couples flame out in a hail of PR-drenched DMs, but these two are leaning in.
Why did Iris and Pepe Garcia Split?
Iris Kendall and Pepe Garcia split because their relationship simply ran its course outside the Love Island USA villa, with both confirming the breakup was not due to cheating or dramatic fallout, but rather a mutual decision as their connection “concluded” and they wanted different things. Iris described the transition as difficult, saying, “It’s not how I would have imagined, but I will always value the unique experience that we shared,” and that she’s moving forward with hope and gratitude for what comes next.
Pepe stated the breakup was not related to infidelity rumors, asserting, “That’s just the way it goes… honesty is most important to me,” and noted that life in the spotlight after the show added stress, suggesting he now wants to focus on new opportunities rather than rush into another relationship.
Fans noticed the pair unfollowed each other and deleted posts together before their public statements, adding to speculation, but both Iris and Pepe confirmed the split was amicable and respectful.
