The drama from Love Island USA Season 7 continues to unfold, and Pepe Garcia is not holding back. During a candid appearance on the Sorry We’re Cyrus podcast on September 25, the reality star opened up about the whirlwind of emotions, rumors, and heartbreak following his split from ex-girlfriend Iris Kendall—and her surprising reunion with TJ Palma.
Pepe and Iris entered the Love Island USA villa as bombshells, shaking up the dynamics of Season 7, which premiered in July. While Iris initially paired up with Jeremiah Brown, her connection with TJ Palma sparked interest. However, TJ’s elimination left Iris in the villa, where she grew closer to Pepe. The two made it to the finale as a couple, giving fans hope for a lasting romance. But the real drama began once the cameras stopped rolling.
After filming wrapped, Iris publicly rekindled her connection with TJ while still in a relationship with Pepe, leading to a messy breakup and a flurry of cheating allegations. Pepe, who had initially defended Iris against online backlash, found himself at the center of the controversy when rumors surfaced about his own alleged infidelity—claims he has firmly denied.
On the podcast, Pepe didn’t shy away from addressing the challenges of life post-Love Island. “The hardest part has been having all these eyes and spectators on you 24/7 who can call out some bulls*** but aren’t always correct in what they see,” he shared. He expressed frustration with fans who weave false narratives, noting, “Especially with Love Island, the fans do want to continue to play this season along. They don’t want it to end.”
Pepe explained how the abrupt end of the show fuels speculation, with viewers piecing together stories from social media snippets. “You get to a point where everything is good, and you get off [the island], and all eyes are on you,” he said. The constant scrutiny took a toll, especially as rumors swirled about his breakup with Iris.
The drama escalated when Iris faced accusations of cheating on Pepe with TJ, her former villa flame. Pepe recalled standing by her during the initial backlash. “I just said, ‘It’s the first day. I don’t think anyone deserves hate,’” he shared, reflecting on messages urging him to “leave” Iris. “No one knows the truth or what happened. I had her back on that one.”
But the tables turned when Iris reunited with TJ just weeks after their split, leaving Pepe feeling blindsided. “To have it in a few weeks flip and have it happen to me and through everything not have the same support… I will just stay quiet because I know the truth,” he said. The sting of seeing Iris move on with TJ was palpable as Pepe questioned, “How do you jump from one person to the next? And the next person is apparently someone she did something with, and it isn’t clocking to people?”
Pepe confirmed to TMZ in August that he and Iris were no longer together, citing the pressures of fame as a factor. “It’s a tough thing when there’s a lot of eyes on you 24/7. It’s stressful,” he admitted. “Being in the limelight isn’t always the best thing in the world.”
Despite the heartbreak, Pepe remains grounded, thanks to his support system. “My friends and family and the people that support me, they know who I am as a person,” he said. “And that’s honestly the biggest and most important thing for me.”
As Iris and TJ’s rekindled romance continues to make waves, Pepe is focused on moving forward. His candid podcast appearance shows he’s ready to set the record straight while keeping his cool in the face of drama. For Love Island fans, this saga is far from over—but Pepe’s resilience and authenticity are stealing the spotlight.