How Ariana Madix Almost Spoiled 'Love Island USA' Season 7 for the Villa

Love Island USA’s Ariana Madix revealed how she nearly spoiled season 7 for the Islanders while filming Casa Amor.

In a recent interview, Ariana was asked about the balance of watching footage from the show while interacting with viewers on social media. The host proceeded to describe a recent slip-up where she referred to a viral moment while filming an episode.

“It’s funny. The other day, when I came in for the introduction of Casa [Amor], and Nic [Vansteenberghe] and TJ [Palma] were the two guys stood there with no girls [on their hearts] on that first day,” Ariana told People on Tuesday, July 1. “And Nic’s [heart] was empty and I was like, ‘Oh no, not Mommy’s little meatball.'”

For those who might not remember, Nic won over the internet when he wore a shirt to bed that read “Mommy’s Little Meatball.” Nic has since been referred to as that on social media, which isn’t something the Islanders would know as they continue to be sequestered from the outside world.

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“I had to remember, like, ‘Wait, he doesn’t know that we’ve seen his Mommy’s little meatball shirt,’” she added. “He was like, ‘What?'”

Peacock’s hit dating show revolves around a group of single people who live in isolation and are under constant video surveillance. They must be coupled up to remain on the show and to stand a chance at receiving the prize of $100,000. In order to keep the Islanders focused on finding a match, they have no contact with the outside world until they officially leave Fiji. That is when they finally receive their phones and get caught up on how the public has reacted to their time on the show.

Ben Symons/Peacock

Season 7 has been one for the history books as a record number of fans have tuned in to watch the Islanders find love. It has also resulted in some problematic behavior as viewers become more passionate about the outcome of the season.

“I do want to say something to some of those people who are online,” Ariana said during an episode of Aftersun in June. “Don’t be contacting people’s families. Don’t be doxxing people.”

Ariana reminded fans to take a step back.

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“Don’t be going on Islanders’ pages and saying rude things. You still have time to delete all of that because the Islanders don’t have their phones,” she noted. “So we are giving you a chance because this is a fun, amazing and beautiful show. We should be thanking each one of these islanders every single day for giving us themselves.”

Love Island USA‘s narrator, Iain Stirling, has since made a rare comment about the controversy.

“Lots of you are saying lots of nice things about Love Island this year. I do really appreciate it. But there’s just one little thing I would like to clear up,” he said in a June TikTok while clarifying he has “absolutely no control” over what happens in the villa. “If they asked me to say it, I will say it. So please stop messaging me and asking me. I can’t. I wish I could help you out, but I can’t.”

New episodes of Love Island USA are released six days a week — except for Wednesdays — on Peacock.