Winning Love Island USA doesn’t always spell relationship success in the real world, and for Season 7 champions Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales, their fairytale romance in the villa didn’t stand the test of time. Despite coming into the Aug. 25 reunion as a united force and putting breakup rumors to rest, the duo confirmed two days later that they’ve split up.
Espinal shared the news in an Instagram story on Aug. 27, writing, “My papayas – Bryan and I are no longer together. After leaving the villa, it became very clear that we were on two different journeys. Our visions didn’t align and relationships are suppose to be a team sport [sic]. You don’t have to drink the whole sea to know it’s salty. All love here and I truly wish him the best.” She signed the note “Amaya Papaya.”
This note painted a very different picture than the one viewers saw in the Peacock special. At the reunion, Amaya and Bryan detailed the steps they had taken in their connection since being named America’s favorite couple. They confirmed they were still together, shutting down rumors that Bryan cheated during a club night. Bryan said he was paid to be at the event, and admitted that pouring shots and being flirty with some of the women was a “lapse in judgment.” Amaya confirmed they worked through the tense moment: “I’m not a woman who would be with someone who doesn’t respect me.”
Before the reunion, some onlookers had assumed the winners were having a rocky time. Shortly after the season, a rumor bubbled up that Amaya and Bryan had broken up, but they seemed to shut down the speculation. That is, until more evidence of a split popped up on the day the reunion aired.
In the final moments of Season 7, the couple agreed to becoming closed off, and confirmed that they were heading toward the next step in their relationship right after coming back into the real world. “[Amaya and I] are exclusive and taking steps to [be boyfriend and girlfriend],” Bryan told Us Weekly on July 22. “We care deeply about each other and we don’t want to rush things. Her happiness is very important. My happiness is very important. We got the love that we got [from fans] because we’re letting things happen naturally instead of doing stuff for the public eye, and we’re gonna continue doing that.”
Amaya added that she was confident fans would see their relationship grow even more outside of the show. “This is all the start of it,” she said. “You’ll definitely be seeing me and Bry Bry.”
But once again, the winners faced breakup speculation after the reunion was filmed. On the day the reunion aired, fans noticed that Bryan and Amaya no longer followed one another on Instagram. Now, this official confirmation proves the couple’s once-sweet relationship did ultimately turn sour.
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