Huda Mustafa couldn’t have stayed on Love Island USA without Ace Greene‘s help — but Us can’t help but dive into what motivated his vote to keep her safe after throwing so much hate at her and Jeremiah Brown‘s relationship.
During the Tuesday, June 17, episode of the hit Peacock series, Huda was left single and vulnerable when Jeremiah chose Iris Kendall over her in a recoupling challenge. The shocking decision appeared to put an end to their tumultuous (and what their fellow islanders often called toxic) romance and also made Huda face off against Jalen Brown in an elimination.
Huda received support from most of the islanders, with all the women — Amaya Espinal, Chelley Bissainthe, Cierra Ortega, Hannah Fields, Iris and Olandria Carthen — on her side. Jalen, meanwhile, got support from Austin Shepard, Jeremiah, Pepe Garcia and Nic Vansteenberghe.
It was Ace’s vote for Huda that threw Us off. Since the first week in the villa, Ace has been questioning Huda and Jeremiah’s relationship. He subsequently became the biggest advocate for their split and even called Jeremiah a scammer and fraud for not breaking it off sooner.
Viewers were divided on what caused Ace to flip, especially since Huda tried to thank him for his support — only to have him swerve her on live TV. The top theories on what motivated Ace came down to him possibly trying to side with Chelley.
Ace and Chelley have been interested in each other since Day 1 — even sparking other theories about whether or not they formed a plan off screen before joining the villa — but have been coupled up with other people. Tuesday’s recoupling allowed them to finally explore their connection and perhaps Ace wants to start off on the right foot by supporting what Chelley wanted.
It is also important to note that Jalen was vying for Olandria’s heart. Ace is close with Taylor, who was Olandria’s first match. By voting to keep Huda safe, Ace was helping remove Jalen from the villa so Taylor wouldn’t have any competition.
The messiest — and Us‘ favorite — theory though is that this was another attempt for Ace to play producer. He has shown many signs that he knows how the Love Island USA game is played so could this be Ace keeping Huda around for the drama? Nothing is off the table when it comes to Ace stirring the pot.
Love Island USA follows a group of singles who have to pair off in order to stay in the show’s luxury villa in Fiji. The contestants — who are referred to as Islanders — live in isolation in a villa and are under constant video surveillance. They must be coupled up to remain on the show and to stand a chance to receive the prize of $100,000.
Season 7, which premiered earlier this month, has become appointment TV with people tuning in every night (except Wednesday) to see the latest cracks in Huda and Jeremiah’s relationship. Huda’s ex Noah Sheline, with whom she shares 4-year-old daughter Arleigh, even stepped in to ask viewers not to root for her downfall.
“She’s maybe not doing a great job idk I don’t watch the show but I don’t like that I’m seeing so much negative s*** on my page or even clips of it about her,” he wrote via Instagram on Monday, June 16, about the “unhealthy” hate. “It’s not my job to police her or the people in my comments, but I will say what you guys do will affect her mental health and my daughter’s maybe in the future.”
He added: “Not sure what else to say or if I’m talking to a wall of social media. I just ask people be nice. It’s a tv show. Y’all are watching people date I don’t think it’s that serious to put someone down a hole of bullying. Regardless of how ridiculous she might be or seem.”
New episodes of Love Island USA will be released six days a week — except for Wednesdays — on Peacock.
