Having your family member go on Love Island USA has its downsides — just ask Elan Bibas‘ brother.
Tal Bibas took to Instagram on Sunday, June 29, to show what life is like amid his brother’s stint on season 7 of Love Island USA.
“POV: Your brother goes on Love Island and you accidentally become his manager, assistant, and crisis hotline,” read the caption for a post showing Tal answering a multitude of direct messages on social media while helping grow Elan’s brand.
Tal elaborated in the caption about the hard work that goes into helping sustain Elan’s image.
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“Didn’t ask to be the social media manager for a Love Island cast member. But here we are. Managing the DMs. Running the brand,” he added. “All for zero pay and endless screen time. They say your life doesn’t change when your brother goes on national TV. They lied.”
Love Island USA follows contestants — who are referred to as Islanders — as they live in isolation and are under constant video surveillance while searching for The One in a luxury villa in Fiji. They must be coupled up to remain on the show and to stand a chance to receive the prize of $100,000.
As the Peacock show has grown in popularity, viewers have questioned who is running the social media accounts for each Islander. (Love Island USA rules state that no one in the villa has access to the outside world. Islanders can’t bring their phones, they don’t have clocks and they receive those famous texts on an entirely different device.)
Season 7 escalated the situation with the Islanders’ loved ones not just being in charge of keeping their social media active — but also addressing fan theories, reacting to fan backlash and more.
Huda Mustafa‘s ex, Noah Sheline, who shares 4-year-old daughter Arleigh with the reality star, was the first to speak out after she received backlash for her onscreen romance with Jeremiah Brown.
“She’s maybe not doing a great job idk I don’t watch the show but I don’t like that I’m seeing so much negative s*** on my page or even clips of it about her,” Noah wrote via TikTok in June about the “unhealthy” hate. “It’s not my job to police her or the people in my comments, but I will say what you guys do will affect her mental health and my daughter’s maybe in the future.”
There was also Iris Kendall’s team responding to questions about her love triangle with Huda and Jeremiah.
“Everyone on this show is human, and they all deserve compassion. What we do want to say is how incredibly proud we are of Iris,” a June statement read via Instagram. “She’s handled everything with so much empathy, grace, and strength. She’s a true girls’ girl, loyal, kind, and grounded and she deserves real love and lasting friendships.”
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The caption for the post noted that Iris “would’ve wanted this” out there.
“We’re doing our best to foster a platform filled with love and positivity for her to come home to, because that’s the kind of community she would want,” the post continued. “A space rooted in kindness, empathy, and understanding, not judgment or spite. Let’s all try to lead with a little more softness.”
Meanwhile, Chelley Bissainthe’s friends recently slammed the popular fan theory that she was close to Ace Green before they coupled up in the villa.
“We want to be transparent and clear the air as some of the rumors have gotten far from the truth,” a statement shared via Chelley’s Instagram read. “Chelley and Ace briefly crossed paths in New York and later connected on social media.”
The statement added: “They were never in a relationship, never lived together and there are no children or hidden past. What’s unfolding now is real, unscripted and could change at any moment. We’re fully supporting Chelley, wherever her heart leads and with whomever she chooses to couple [up] with.”
New episodes of Love Island USA are released six days a week — except for Wednesdays — on Peacock.
