Love Island Fans Say Olandria Carthen and Nic Vansteenberghe’s Split ‘Isn’t Surprising’
One year after finding love on Love Island USA, Olandria Carthen and Nic Vansteenberghe have allegedly ended their relationship. While the breakup marked the end of one of Season 7’s most popular couples, much of the internet quickly shifted its attention to a different conversation, with many fans claiming the news confirmed a theory they had held for months.
According to an exclusive report from People, the pair “decided to part ways” after distance and busy schedules made it difficult to maintain their relationship. A source told the outlet that Carthen and Vansteenberghe “still remain close friends” and “share a deep love and respect for each other,” adding that they will continue supporting one another.
Carthen and Vansteenberghe connected after both were eliminated during Casa Amor. Rather than leaving the show, the two received a surprise second chance and could either couple up together and return to the villa or head home. They chose to give their connection a shot, and Carthen later called the decision “the best decision I could have ever made,” despite initially hesitating because Vansteenberghe had previously been coupled up with Cierra Ortega before her removal.
The pair continued dating after leaving Fiji, but unlike many Love Island couples, they gradually chose to keep much of their relationship out of the public eye.
Carthen and Vansteenberghe Intentionally Kept Their Relationship Private
Over the past year, Carthen and Vansteenberghe repeatedly spoke about the pressure that came with dating in the spotlight.
During an interview with Glamour in December, Carthen explained that the couple felt “damned if you do, damned if you don’t.” Sharing too much invited criticism, while sharing too little led fans to question whether they were still together.
Vansteenberghe echoed those frustrations, explaining that although posting more about their relationship could be financially beneficial, the couple wanted to protect something that belonged to them rather than the internet.
Carthen shared similar thoughts in a June interview with Cosmopolitan, saying she found the intense interest in their relationship unsettling. She questioned why strangers felt they needed constant proof that she and Vansteenberghe were still together, adding that the two preferred enjoying time together without documenting every outing on social media.
Love Island Fans Think They Saw the Breakup Coming
Ironically, the couple’s decision to stay private has become one of the biggest talking points following news of their split.
Instead of expressing shock, many fans argued they had never believed the relationship was as serious as it appeared. Social media quickly filled with comments like, “Were they ever together?” “THEY WERE NEVER TOGETHER,” and “Contract was up.” Others joked that the breakup simply marked the end of what they believed had been a “PR relationship.”
Some commenters also pointed to the couple’s limited social media presence as evidence, with one writing, “Y’all ain’t seen them kiss ONCE outside that villa.”
Not everyone agreed with the speculation, however. Other fans defended the former couple, arguing that relationships sometimes simply run their course. “Or maybe, ya know, people just grow apart?” one commenter wrote, while others pointed out that Carthen and Vansteenberghe faced criticism whether they shared their relationship online or chose to keep it private.
Whether fans believed the romance would last or not, Carthen and Vansteenberghe spent much of the past year explaining why they wanted to keep their relationship largely offline. In the end, that same privacy appears to have fueled months of speculation, making news of their breakup feel less like a surprise and more like the latest chapter in an ongoing debate among Love Island USA fans.
(feature image: @nicolasvans Instagram)
This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.
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