It looks like another reality TV love story has hit a snag, and quickly at that. Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales, the winning couple from Season 7 of Love Island USA, have officially split up. Their romance, which blossomed on screen, lasted less than a month after they left the villa.
Amaya, who is 25, broke the news herself on Wednesday, August 27, through her Instagram stories. She didn’t hold back on why things ended so soon. “Bryan and I are no longer together,” she plainly stated. “After leaving the villa, it became super clear that we were headed in two totally different directions.” She explained further, saying, “Our visions just didn’t line up. And let’s be real, relationships are supposed to be a team sport.”
She even used a memorable saying to drive her point home: “You don’t have to drink the whole sea to know it’s salty.” Despite the breakup, Amaya wished Bryan, 28, “all the best” for the future. She wrapped up her message on a positive note, adding, “All love here.”
The Road to Goodbye
The news comes after some drama at the show’s reunion earlier in the week. Bryan had faced accusations of cheating. He was reportedly seen at a nightclub with two women. However, he strongly denied being unfaithful. He told hosts Ariana Madix and Andy Cohen it was just a “slip of judgment.” Bryan explained that he was a bartender before the show and was simply “serving shots” to people in the crowd.
At the time, Amaya stood by her man. She backed up Bryan’s story without hesitation. “We definitely talked about it,” she said during the reunion. “I’m not a woman who would stay with someone who disrespects me. So if I’m still with him, it’s because our relationship dynamic is healthy and great.” The couple even discussed their plans for a long-distance relationship, with Amaya in New York and Bryan in Boston. “We just prioritize our relationship,” Amaya mentioned, adding, “I’m very confident in us, and I feel you are too.” Bryan agreed, noting they were still “growing” together.
But eagle-eyed fans noticed trouble brewing shortly after the reunion was filmed. Amaya and Bryan quietly unfollowed each other on social media. Amaya then dropped more hints about their relationship status. She reposted several memes hinting at heartbreak. One caption read, “When I finally get back up and never let my walls down like that again.” It seemed their exclusive relationship, which they announced when they left the Love Island villa, was truly over.
It’s a stark contrast to Bryan’s hopeful words just last month. He had shared his thoughts with a well-known entertainment publication, Us Weekly. “We care about each other a lot and we don’t want to rush things,” he had said. “Her happiness is very important. My happiness is very important. We get the love we get [from fans] because we let things happen naturally instead of doing things for public gaze, and we will continue that way.” It appears “naturally” led them in different directions this time.