The season 8 finale of Love Island USA featured a major change when it came to the prize money.
Love Island USA viewers know that usually America votes for the final four couples, who then make it to the finale that took place on Sunday, July 12. Similar to past seasons, each pair got the chance to go on their own date.
They then decided if they wanted to remain together but this time around they didn’t write the standard “vows” for each other before finding out who gets crowned the winning couple.
Another major shakeup was the envelope ceremony, where the duo who received the highest number of votes from the public were given two envelopes: one for each partner. One envelope was meant to contain $100,000, while the other was empty. The partner with the $100,000 envelope would choose whether to share the money with their partner as a test of trust and commitment — or walk away with all of it as a way of choosing the prize over love.
Trinity Tatum and Bryce Alakai Dettloff were awarded the win but host Ariana Madix didn’t ask them their individual plans for their prize money. Instead, she said on multiple occasions that they both were sharing the $100,000.
The Love Island franchise began in the U.K. in 2002 before expanding worldwide with various spinoffs, including Love Island USA on Peacock. Each season, a different group of single Islanders are challenged to pair off in order to stay in the show’s luxury villa for a chance at the $100,000 prize.
Season 8 has had its fair share of drama — both while filming in Fiji and off screen. Earlier this season, Vasana Montgomery was cut from the show after resurfaced social media posts showed her using a slur.
Casa Amor bombshell Alannah Keyser also got pulled from the season after facing backlash for a resurfaced video that allegedly showed her using a racial slur.
Similar issues arose during season 7, with Yulissa Escobar leaving days into the experience last year after clips of her using racial slurs on a podcast circulated online.
Season 7’s Cierra Ortega also faced backlash for using a slur in her own resurfaced social media post. She was pulled from the villa and later issued an apology for her past behavior.
Love Island USA is currently streaming on Peacock.
