Trouble in Paradise: Former 'Love Island USA' Employees Filed a Lawsuit Against Production

The Gist:

• Two former producers from Love Island USA filed a lawsuit against the series, citing the mistreatment of former contestants.
• The suit alleges that the show's other producers created a "deeply uncomfortable work environment for women on set."
• The former producers say they were fired after they brought up concerns.

Usually, when it comes to reality television, the drama is about what happens on screen. For Peacock's Love Island USA, however, the drama has spilled into real life and behind the scenes. Two former producers from the Love Island UK spinoff filed a lawsuit against the series, citing the mistreatment of former contestants.

It isn't unheard of for cast or crew to come forward about reality TV shows to reveal some untoward information from filming. Just look at the former Love Is Blind cast members who came forward in 2023 to claim they dealt with stressful and uncomfortable filming conditions during Season 2. Though in this case, it's the crew from Love Island USA.

Former Love Island USA producers Jasmine Crestwell and Alex Rinks filed a lawsuit against NBCUniversal and UK broadcasting company ITV, citing mistreatment of contestants. The former Love Island USA crew members also allege in the suit that during Season 4, California labor laws were not followed properly.

According to the lawsuit, Crestwell and Rinks claim that producers from the UK version of the reality series were hired for the spinoff even though they were said to be known for "racism and abusive practices" as crew members.

The filing also states, according to People, that producers allegedly created a "deeply uncomfortable work environment for women on set," when they viewed and commented on video footage of female contestants showering and being intimate with other cast members.

Love Island USA is a dating reality show where contestants are filmed 24/7 and there is so much footage that the series airs six days per week. The filing also states that the famed villa where all this takes place was actually a "ramshackle, dilapidated ranch with inadequate plumbing and inoperable bathrooms" for the duration of filming. And that's just the tip of the iceberg, according to the claims which have not been proven at this time.

Not long after former producers Crestwell and Rinks brought up the issues in a meeting, they allege in the lawsuit, they were terminated. They saw the meeting as a way to coerce them into sharing their grievances for the sole purpose of being let go. Which, they also claim in the suit, is prohibited by California labor laws. Again, these claims have not been proven.

NBCUniversal has not yet released a statement in response to the allegations. However, ITV America shared with People that the accusations are "a frivolous attack at an opportunistic moment." The suit comes on the heels of the fifth season release on Peacock and USA Network.