‘Love Island USA’ Amaya and Bryan break up one month after finale
Amaya Espinal is no longer the book Bryan Arenales is reading.
The “Love Island USA” fan favorite announced that she and her fellow islander have broken up one month after the season seven finale, where they split the $100,000 grand prize.
“My papayas — Bryan and I are no longer together,” Espinal wrote in an Instagram Stories post Aug. 27. “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.”
Or as the 25-year-old summarized in her signature idiomatic style: “You don’t have to drink the whole sea to know it’s salty.”
Despite the split, Espinal emphasized that she bore no ill will towards her now-ex.
“All love here,” she concluded, “and I truly wish him the best.”
Espinal and Arenales, 28, established their connection in the final stages of the Peacock dating series after her unsuccessful attempts at finding love with Ace Green, Austin Shepard and Zak Srakaew.
“Boy, was this a ride,” Espinal said moments after she and Arenales earned America’s vote in the July 13 finale. “But, man, I would do this ride all over again if it just led me to him.”
But fans began to wonder if the spark between the two had fizzled after noticing that they unfollowed each other on Instagram just hours before the reunion episode premiered on Aug. 25.
In fact, during the pre-taped reunion, Arenales addressed cheating allegations stemming from a video where he appeared to be partying with other women.
“They’re trying to just throw any hate my way,” he said. “And within the cheating video, the hosting — I got paid to be there. I used to bartend back in the day. I had a lapse of judgment, and we’ve talked about it.”
And at the time, Espinal stood 10 toes down — not one toe missing — for her man.
“I’m not a woman that will be with someone who doesn’t respect me,” she explained. “So if I’m with him and still with him, it’s clearly because the relationship dynamic is healthy and great.”
