Is love truly dead in the Villa? Love Island USA fans are reeling as Pepe Garcia finally confirms his split from Iris Kendall. He’s also directly addressing those persistent cheating rumors. What really went down behind the scenes for this fan-favorite couple?
The highly publicized relationship between Love Island USA stars Pepe Garcia and Iris Kendall has officially concluded, with Garcia confirming their split amidst a swirl of intense speculation and persistent cheating rumors. This development has sent shockwaves through the reality TV fan base, who closely followed their journey from the Fiji villa to their life post-show.
In a candid interview on Thursday, August 28, Pepe Garcia openly addressed the breakup, stating, “We’re not together anymore and it’s just the way it goes.” He elaborated on the immense pressure faced by couples in the public eye, describing it as “a tough thing when there’s a lot of eyes on you 24/7” and “stressful,” highlighting that “being in the limelight isn’t always the best thing in the world.”
Speculation about the couple’s status initially ignited on Sunday, August 24, when eagle-eyed X users noticed that Iris Kendall, 25, had unfollowed Pepe Garcia, 27, on Instagram, a move reciprocated by Garcia. This social media activity quickly fueled concerns among fans that the fan-favorite Love Island USA duo had gone their separate ways, marking another significant reality TV breakup.
Addressing the swirling allegations of infidelity, Pepe Garcia vehemently denied the cheating rumors, emphasizing that his integrity is primarily judged by those closest to him. “I like to say, my friends and family and the people that support me, they know who I am as a person,” he asserted, adding, “And that’s honestly the biggest and most important thing for me.” This statement aims to quash the narrative of a messy celebrity split.
Looking ahead, Garcia shared that he is currently not focused on pursuing new romantic connections or sifting through messages in his DMs. His current priority is solely on personal growth and professional development. “Right now, it’s just focusing on the present,” he explained, “Focusing on the next steps, the next opportunities and the next things I wanna do.”
Iris Kendall and Pepe Garcia-Gonzalez first captivated audiences on Love Island USA earlier this year, ultimately securing fourth place in the competition. Despite not winning, their decision to continue their connection outside the villa generated considerable excitement, with Pepe expressing strong intentions in July 2025: “[Iris] is a beautiful and unbelievably amazing woman, so it would be dumb of me not to try to see this to the end.”
The couple appeared to be going strong when they filmed the season 7 reunion in early August, presenting a united front. However, just weeks later, and days before the reunion aired, the aforementioned social media activity sparked intense breakup speculation, leaving fans questioning the authenticity of their on-screen chemistry and the realities of post-show relationships.
Pepe and Iris are not the only pair from their season to experience a Love Island USA breakup. Earlier in the week, fellow contestants Amaya and Bryan also announced their separation. Amaya stated, “After leaving the villa, it became very clear that we were on two different journeys,” underscoring the common challenges faced by reality TV couples.
