Once Iris Kendall returned to the U.S. from the Love Island USA villa in Fiji, she was met with a familiar face. According to footage captured by TMZ, she ran into fellow islander—and her last connection before Pepe Garcia—TJ Palma.
The pair was all smiles as they hugged, and according to the outlet, “They went on a walk and talk for about two hours before going into his place.” Fellow Islander Austin Shepard was reportedly waiting for them at TJ’s spot too.
Allow us to give you a quick refresher: Hannah Fields was eliminated when she was exploring her relationship with Pepe when America’s votes and her fellow Islanders gave her the chop.
TJ was dumped from the Villa a few weeks later when he was making gains in his connection with Iris. And although Iris made it to the Love Island USA season 7 finale with Pepe, fans theorized that the couple would rekindle their respective relationships with TJ and Hannah.
“It was obvious that Iris will go back to TJ and Pepe to Hannah. I didn’t just understand why she was being intimate with Pepe in the Villa??” one fan wrote.
Another chimed in, referring to other pairings on Peacock’s hit reality series, “Y’all voted Iris and Pepe over Chelley and Ace cause they are more genuine than Nicolandria right? Right?”
Others came to Iris and Pepe’s defense. “From the body language, that hug was very platonic? Lol I don’t think there’s any rekindling going on....They’re gonna see each other so it’s better to be cordial like that’s what it’s giving but okay,” someone said of the footage.
Important to note that the Love Island USA season 7 reunion is set to take place in NYC on August 25. Hosted by Ariana Madix and Bravo’s very own Andy Cohen, this season’s winners, fan-favorite couples, and bombshells will come together to reflect on their time in Fiji.
So, where do TJ and Iris really stand? Only time—and, hopefully, the Love Island USA reunion—will tell.
