Love Island USA stars Chelley Bissainthe and Olandria Carthen visited Keke Palmer’s podcast to open up about life in and outside of the villa, including the racial backlash they’ve received since the show wrapped.
On the Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast, Palmer asked them about some of the racial slurs and comments she’s seen online from viewers. Fans of Huda labeled them as “mean girls” after a controversial challenge involving Chelley’s partner, Ace Greene.
Buzzfeed shocked fans after they proposed a “knuckle sandwich,” as a breakfast for Chelley after clashing with Huda.
“On the inside, we have a whole different life than what is out there, so it’s, like, I really don’t understand what made y’all think that we were these mean girls,” Chelley told Palmer. “My family, they obviously were very devastated to see [that]. I just was happy to see so many people support [me].”
She continued, “To see my favorites defending us and stuff just means the world…’ Cause it’s, like — you guys are Black women as well, too. Speaking and using your voice means a lot not only to me but a lot of people who were supporting us and rocking with us.”
Olandria revealed that inside the villa, she and Chelley were the “go to” girls for the cast but admitted to Palmer that they both felt forced to tone themselves down.
“It’s very exhausting to say the least,” she shared. “I truly feel like me and Chelley have to tone down a lot to not cross over that boundary.” She continued, “Because a person that looks the opposite of us, as soon as they get emotional, it’s like, ‘Oh, we’re going to cater to this person.’ Like, bro, what about us?”
“To know how your fellow Islanders feel versus coming to the internet and seeing ‘mean girl,’ ‘disrespectful,’ ‘angry,’ this and that, I’m like, ‘Wow, y’all really don’t know us,'” Chelley added.
Fans have criticized Love Island producers for the heavy editing, which allegedly distorts the reality of the villa’s dynamics.
Now that Love Island USA s7 has ended and my Amaya Papaya and Bryan Papaya have won, this message is for the producers DONT EVER PRODUCE AGAIN CS U GUYS FUCKED THE SEASON ALONG WITH THE CRAZY PPL ON SOCIAL MEDIA. pic.twitter.com/j57gFM77NO
— theyadorejane (@hottetsboy) July 14, 2025
It is so clear that the love island USA producers and these brands actually cannot handle the show being this big. They are catering to the audience trying so hard to fit in that they are actually forgetting that these islanders are human who have to leave and come out to this.
— yas (@adoomies3) July 10, 2025
They’re giving the villain edit to all the black and brown couples to give Tj Vance and Iris trump the win….STAY WOKE #loveislandsusa pic.twitter.com/EdhCmgQhic
— Nicolas is a cowboy (@niggaolas) July 2, 2025
Love Island producers were very intentional with how they portrayed the black islanders(Chelley, Ace, Olandria and Taylor).
— Keabetswe (@LoveSaidNotSo) July 17, 2025
There was a certain perception and narrative they wanted to put out there. And after that picture of the producers was posted()and it all makes sense! pic.twitter.com/63tNxN01m2
It’s clear that yall have been searching for a reason to turn on Chelley and Olandria all season. Anti blackness at its finest #LoveIslandUSA
— niia (@XOTNIIAOD) July 2, 2025
The reunion airs August 25 on Peacock.