Larsa Pippen is back at it again with unoriginal insults. But credit where credit is due, Larsa is arguably one of the most iconic Housewives.
She appeared on Real Housewives of Miami all the way back in 2011. After the show took a break, she was invited back for the Peacock reboot, and it doesn’t look like she’ll be going anywhere anytime soon.
Larsa has always been a sure-fire way to draw conflict to the show. Whereas, some feel the newer Housewives like Dr. Nicole Martin and Guerdy Abraira don’t have much to do in the way of a story.
Is Larsa getting petty (again)?
Well, just leave it to Larsa to give them some story. Larsa went on the Virtual Reali-Tea podcast to promote her own podcast, Separation Anxiety. While there, she said, “I don’t shed fake tears like some of us.” When pressed for names, she simply said, “The person that’s calling me fake.”
That presents two candidates, Nicole and Guerdy. Nicole gave Larsa a mirror on which was inscribed, “Mirror, mirror on the wall — who’s the fakest of them all?” Meanwhile, when Guerdy was on the same podcast, they asked her whom she thought the fakest Housewife was, and she had to agree that it was Larsa.
Larsa was quite surprised by Guerdy in particular. “I’ve always been cool with Guerdy,” she said. But things amped up when Larsa clapped back. Larsa attributed the comments to a divide between the new and former Housewives. “I feel like a lot of times the newbies are kind of frustrated because the OGs, we’ve had this long relationship.”
It’s understandable that the new Housewives would be frustrated. Many faced harsh criticism when they first appeared on the show but have since found stronger footing. As for Larsa and Guerdy, the two dropped any tension when Guerdy was diagnosed with breast cancer. “When something big like this happens, it really puts everything into perspective,” Larsa said.
Real Housewives of Miami is expected to return later this year.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK LARSA IS SHADING NICOLE? IS NICOLE FAKER THAN LARSA? WHO IS THE FAKEST HOUSEWIFE?
Admit it. We’ve all thought up dream casts for Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip. As humans, we love the concept of crossovers, even in a genre such as reality.
Bravo recently announced that RHUGT Season 5 would be a Legacy edition for the Real Housewives of New York. This caused mixed reactions. On the one hand, it was a good idea to give some of the NY Housewives a proper send off before the reboot. But many fans were hoping for other picks.
When asked who would be in her RHUGT cast, Shannon first said, “Fun vacation Shannon wants to go, let me make that clear!” meaning the trip would be purely for fun, not for drama or anything else. She got on with the decisions once that was out of the way.
Lastly, she said she “would love for [Sonja Morgan] to be part of it.” Sonja will get her shot on RHUGT Season 5/RHONY Legacy. Shannon didn’t give a rationale for all her picks, but it’s easy to see she probably went with those Housewives that she got along with the best.
Real Housewives of Orange County continues Wednesdays at 8/7c on Bravo and streams on Peacock the following day.
TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK OF SHANNON’S PICKS? WOULD THAT MAKE FOR A GOOD SEASON? WHO WOULD BE IN YOUR DREAM LINEUP?
Though Bachelor Nation has become known for its abysmal track record, there have still been some great relationships that have emerged from the franchise. On The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and Bachelor in Paradise, individuals (mostly Instagram influencers) search for love. However, reality TV isn’t the best way to build a lasting relationship, which makes it all the more surprising when there are Bachelor Nation success stories.
There have been some recent couples in the franchise that are still together. However, they’re not exactly what you’d consider success stories—at least not yet. Zach Shallcross got engaged to Kaity Biggar got engaged on the most recent season of The Bachelor. However, they’ve only been together for a few months, so the jury’s still out on whether their relationship will last.
Other couples, like Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell or Hannah Godwin and Dylan Barbour are still together, but haven’t tied the knot yet, and there’s still a chance they could break up. Still, there are a handful of couples who have proven they’ve got what it takes. Not only have they gotten married, but many are already growing their families. It’s proof that The Bachelor process (sometimes) works.
Sean Lowe has become the golden boy of The Bachelor franchise, and it’s not hard to see why. He’s currently the only Bachelor lead who is married to his final rose recipient. All the other Bachelors broke up with their final rose recipient or, in the case of Brad Womack, didn’t pick anyone at all.
On his season, Sean and Catherine Giudici Lowe’s romance was textbook Bachelor, and it makes sense that producers would point to them as an example of the franchise working. Sean and Catherine have been married since 2014, when they wed in a televised event. The couple have since welcomed three children and are a bona fide Bachelor Nation success story.
The Bachelorette has enjoyed a marginally higher success rate than The Bachelor, and JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers are a prime example. At the end of her journey, in 2016, JoJo accepted Jordan’s proposal and have been together ever since. However, it took the couple a long time to make it down the aisle.
Initially, the two revealed they were taking time to get to know each other more before getting married. Then JoJo and Jordan had to postpone their wedding multiple times due to the pandemic. They eventually married in 2022, and are another instance of a lead actually sticking with the person they gave their final rose to.
It seems that Bachelorettes have a better idea of what they want than their male counterparts. Rachel Lindsay is another lead who is still with the man she ended her season with. Despite the elements not cooperating as Bryan Abasolo got down on one knee, their relationship since then has been picture perfect.
The two got married in 2019, and seem to be very happy together. However, ABC may be hesitant to hold the couple up as a Bachelor Nation success story. Rachel has been very critical of the network. She is extremely outspoken about Bachelor Nation’s major diversity problems, and hasn’t been associated with the franchise as much lately.
Though The Bachelor and The Bachelorette have low success rates, things improve when looking at Bachelor in Paradise. It’s not hard to see why, as the summer spin-off allows cast members to spend more time together. Jade Roper and Tanner Tolbert were the first Paradise couple to get engaged and (legally) married.
The two became the first real Bachelor in Paradise success story, and have been trotted out on the show multiple times in subsequent seasons to prove the process really can work. Jade and Tanner got married in 2016 and have since welcomed three children, one of which was dramatically birthed in a closet.
On Bachelor in Paradise Season 4, there was another Bachelor Nation success story, with Raven Gates and Adam Gottschalk. Their journey was a little different, as they opted to leave the show together, but not engaged. It was a smart move, and they were wise not to rush things, as many Bachelor Nation couples often do.
The pair got engaged in 2019 and married in 2021, cementing their relationship as one of the better ones to come out of Bachelor in Paradise. Raven and Adam have already welcomed their first child and are expecting their second this year. The sped-up timeline of Bachelor Nation relationships is often what leads to their downfall. However, Raven and Adam managed to avoid that.
Kevin Wendt and Astrid Loch’s relationship had more ups and downs than the other Bachelor Nation success stories, but they’ve stood the test of time and seem to now be on solid footing. Their journey on Bachelor in Paradise was difficult, and they couple actually split up while still on the show, leaving the beach separately.
However, on the After the Final Rose for that season of Bachelor in Paradise, Kevin and Astrid revealed they were back together. Since then it’s been smooth sailing for the couple. After getting engaged in 2019, Astrid and Kevin welcomed their first child in 2021, and a little over a year later, they officially tied the knot.
Though it’s not often that a Bachelor Nation couple can make it work long term, there are still a few examples of the franchise occasionally working its magic and making true love happen.
TELL US – WHICH SUCCESSFUL BACHELOR NATION COUPLES ARE YOU ROOTING FOR THE MOST?
Fans have watched Lindsay and Carl’s relationship evolve over the last seven seasons of the popular Bravo show. Curious to see how these two went from friends to lovers? We have you covered. Here is a complete timeline of Lindsay Hubbard and Carl Radke’s relationship.
Seeing Other People
(Photo by Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)
Fans first met Lindsay and Carl in Season 1 of Summer House, which premiered in January 2017. At the time, Lindsay was getting serious with then-boyfriend Everett Weston, while Carl was struggling to commit to Lauren Wirkus.
Though Carl expressed that he thought Lindsay was attractive in the early seasons of Summer House, he never pursued anything with the PR maven. Instead, the two sought out other people and developed a friendship.
Getting Closer
(Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)
Lindsay and Carl started getting closer after Lindsay called it quits with Everett. Shortly after her split, Carl’s ex, Danielle Olivera, joined the Summer House cast, bringing Lindsay closer to Carl’s orbit. Lindsay, Carl, and Danielle formed a tight bond and even coined the nickname “Tres Amigos” to describe their friendship.
First Attempt at Romance
(Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images)
Season 4 kicked off with a bang when Kyle Cooke revealed to Amanda Batula that Carl and Lindsay had engaged in some…foreplay before filming began. After Kyle spilled the beans to Amanda, it didn’t take long before the whole house knew about the hookup.
Instead of brushing off the spontaneous event, Carl and Lindsay decided to explore their relationship and went on a date. Unfortunately, the date didn’t go so well and the two decided they were better off as friends.
“We have gotten closer throughout the years and especially after a couple of summers ago and then fall, winter, spring, we just kept getting closer and closer and then we both wound up single at the same time, which I don’t think has ever really happened,” Lindsay told People ahead of the Season 4 premiere in February 2020. “But our friendship chemistry is just like so apparent that I think a lot of people were sort of waiting for something to happen.”
Lindsay Comforts Carl
(Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images)
In Season 5 of Summer House, Carl received news that his brother, who suffered from addiction, had passed away. After Carl got off the phone with his mom, he went to Lindsay for support. Lindsay had her friend’s back and comforted him as he processed the loss.
“I love you so much,” Lindsay told Carl during the episode. “I love you too,” Carl replied.
Carl Comforts Lindsay
(Photo by: Monica Schipper/Bravo via Getty Images)
In the Season 6 premiere of Summer House, fans witnessed another emotional moment between Carl and Lindsay, when Lindsay revealed to Carl that she had a miscarriage before filming began. Carl was there for his friend and helped her through the difficult moment.
“You know, like, for real, I’m here for you,” Carl told Lindsay during the episode. “I’m really proud of you,” he added.
Wedding Romance
(Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)
Sparks flew between Lindsay and Carl at Kyle and Amanda’s wedding in the Season 6 finale of Summer House.
After the ceremony, Lindsay admitted she was developing feelings for her friend. “I’m kind of like, developing feelings for you that are stronger than friendship,” she told Carl.
Carl said he could see a relationship in the future but, presently, wanted to focus on his sobriety.
Lindsay Confirms Dating Rumors
(Photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for MTV)
In a January 2022 interview with Page Six, Lindsay confirmed that she and Carl were an item.
“We’re definitely dating!” she told the outlet. “We don’t really talk in labels, Carl and I … [But] we’re very much together. We’re very happy.”
Carl Calls Lindsay His Girlfriend
(Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
The Bachelorette Season 20 premiere is only two weeks away, and Charity Lawson is more than ready to find her forever love. Bachelor Nation fans first met Charity on The Bachelor Season 27, led by Zach Shallcross. Zach and Charity had a good connection, but she ultimately placed 4th. Charity made quite the impression on Zach’s season, and there are several important things fans should remember about her.
Charity Comes From A Big Family
On The Bachelor, Charity made it to hometown week, where she introduced Zach to a large group of her family and friends. Charity is one of four siblings, and has two brothers and one sister. The new Bachelorette also has two loving parents, who have a relationship that Charity and her siblings admire. Charity has a large friend group, and introduced Zach to four of her childhood best friends.
Family is important to Charity, and it appears to be very important to many of her suitors as well. Charity’s older brother, Nehemiah, has already made quite the splash in Bachelor Nation. It’s been revealed he will make an appearance early on in her season. A teaser trailer showed that Nehemiah will be going undercover on night one, to vet Charity’s suitors.
It is evident that Charity’s family, especially Nehemiah, are very protective over her. Charity’s family does not want to see her get hurt again, so they are hoping that Charity will find everlasting love this time around. The new lead’s hometowns provided important details about Charity, as well as context for her relationships
Charity Was Eliminated After Hometowns
While it is never easy to get sent home on The Bachelor, being eliminated after hometowns always hurts a little more. Charity’s hometown date went well, but Zach ultimately decided that she was not his person. Zach walked Charity out, as the leads often do once hometowns arrive and only one contestant is eliminated. Zach told Charity that “she deserved all the love and he could not give it to her,” which was clearly hard for her to hear.
Since Charity was eliminated after hometowns, this may be a difficult week for her to manage on her own season. Charity may have negative memories of the week, which could impact her hometown dates with her own suitors. She might also have a hard time during the final week, when her family will meet her remaining two suitors.
Hopefully, Charity will be able to put Zach’s season behind her, as she navigates her own journey with hometown dates and more.
Charity Has Been In Some Difficult Relationships In The Past
THE BACHELORETTE – ABC’s “The Bachelorette” stars Charity Lawson. (Sami Drasin/ABC via Getty Images)
Another important detail about Charity from Zach’s season is that some of her relationships in the past did not end well. In an early group date, a “mind reader” correctly predicted that Charity had been hurt badly from relationships in the past. Charity was visibly emotional during the date, and leaned on some of the other women for support.
Later, Charity opened up to Zach, and admitted that she had been cheated on in past relationships. As a result, Charity now deals with a lot of trust issues, even when it comes to new relationships. While Charity and Zach ended on amicable terms, it is nonetheless another heartbreak that won’t help Charity with her trust issues.
Charity will have to open her heart again to her suitors, if she hopes to find love. While putting yourself out there is scary, it will only be to Charity’s benefit if her soulmate is in her group of men.
Charity Is Not One For Drama
Charity proved herself to be very patient on The Bachelor, and showed fans that she is not one to partake in drama. She was involved in a slight controversy, when her one-on-one date with Zach was cancelled after he caught COVID-19. Charity was later given a make-up date. However, fellow contestant, Kat Izzo, stole Zach for a private conversation when he came to pick up Charity.
While Charity was annoyed, she did not try to confront Kat or start any drama over the issue. Though many of the other women on Zach’s season often found themselves intertwined in drama, Charity did not. This is a good trait for Charity to have as Bachelorette. The focus of the show should be on relationships, as opposed to the chaos in the house.
Charity is very patient and understanding, which are two characteristics that will help her to navigate her journey with ease. The new Bachelorette lead will not put up with any drama, so hopefully her men do not try to start any.
TELL US – WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT CHARITY?
Stassi Schroeder talks about the show a lot for someone who no longer wants to be on Vanderpump Rules. In her defense, Scandoval is a hot topic and she has admitted to having FOMO after the now-infamous Season 10.
Stassi fans know she’s always had a bit of a witchy situation happening. She enjoys the occasional spiritual cleanse and helped to cast a “spell” on Jax Taylor at one point. Now she believes her spawn foreshadows carnage in someone’s life connected to the show. Stassi discussed this hypothesis during a visit to Huntington, NY on Straight Up With Stassi Live: The Mommy Dearest Tour.
It’s all for you, Damien Vanderpump Rules!
Bless her heart. Stassi may or may not believe her pregnancies are connected to acts of misadventure for people associated with VPR. According to the Pump Rules alum, when she gets knocked up, something bad happens.
“I do have this theory that my babies are like bad omens for ‘Vanderpump Rules,’ which is kind of on-brand when you think about it,” she began. I probably wouldn’t label the fruit of my loins as oracles of unpleasantness, but I get it.
“My first pregnancy, I got canceled. Not ideal, not fun. My second pregnancy, Scandoval.” I wonder if this is more about human stupidity rather than a fetus’ ability to act as a “bad omen.”
Stassi joked that the next time she gets pregnant, she will provide a warning to those in imminent danger. This will provide ample time for people not to say ignorant things in public. It will also suffice as a disclaimer so the cast and crew will not go out of their way to cheat on their partners.
“I’m calling up my old producers. … ‘Um, hi, yeah, Jeremiah? Yeah, it’s Stassi. Who has life been going a little too well for recently? I’m pregnant. Warn them!’” she said. But for Stassi, having babies with an edge tracks for someone who got engaged in a cemetery. She has made peace with being the one who “would have babies that bring destruction.”
“I just wish the first time around it wasn’t my own destruction,” Stassi admits. Welp, I guess everyone has to start somewhere. Stassi and Beau Clark’s bouncing baby boy will arrive in September 2023, hopefully without bearing any signs of the apocalypse.
TELL US – DO STASSI’S BABIES PREDICT BAD TIMES ON VANDERPUMP RULES? WILL STASSI EVER RETURN TO THE SHOW?
Well, Ariana had to have a secret of her own, and that she did. But it probably wasn’t what many people were expecting. Probably not even in the ballpark.
Ariana gets extremely personal
During a girls’ night out, Ariana admitted she doesn’t “c*m from penetration unless it’s penetration in the…” at which point she then pointed to her rear. “I’ll c*m from that real fast.”
In a confessional later on, she used this metaphor to further explain her preference: “Oftentimes when you go to a really exclusive club, the front door is where, like, all of the regular people would be going in, and then the back door is, like, where the really chic celebrities go in.”
Well, that pretty much paints the picture. Look, when it comes to sex, two things matter more than anything else—consent and preference. If Ariana has someone who matches those two things, more power to her. If she wants to keep a t-shirt on, who are we to judge?
While Ariana said she’s enjoying taking things slow with her new man, Daniel Wai, as long as they’re having fun, that’s what counts. Moreover, even though Ariana’s job is to put her life on display for the public, it’s not exactly our place to speculate on her preferences with her new boyfriend.
That said, this whole statement might’ve been a bit TMI. But such is the life of a reality star. They can be as up-front as they want to be, for better or for worse.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK ARIANA WOULD’VE BEEN BETTER OFF KEEPING THESE COMMENTS TO HERSELF?
Jersey’s newest star, Danielle Cabral, had a pretty solid first season. However, she recently revealed that a small percentage of her is unsure if she’d like to return for a second.
Most of her feuds were between her and the season’s other rookie, Rachel Fuda. Instead of sticking side by side, they were at each other’s necks. Despite that, they came to a mutual understanding during the reunion and were seemingly able to put their beef behind them. On the other hand, according to Danielle, her drama with her co-star Margaret Josephs took a toll on her.
Danielle’s making no promises about her Real Housewives return
During the RHONJ After Show, Danielle shared her feelings about completing her first Real Housewives season.
“It was hard,” she said. “It was a lot to come out of it and now to watch it all again … it was a lot,” she said.
When Cabral’s co-star, Jennifer Aydin, asked her if she’d do it again, the Staten Island native wasn’t too sure. “I would have to really think about it,” she continued.
“Out of a hundred percent, there’s probably like a 15 [to] 20 percent chance.”
“I don’t know it was a lot … It was very difficult for me. I was never put in situations like that. I was a kid in high school, and I dealt with sh*t like this,” she stated. “It goes against everything I stand for as a person, as a human, as a woman.”
Aydin asked her to clarify what she meant, to which she said, “Trying to destroy another woman.”
After Jennifer reminded her she doesn’t exemplify that behavior, she finished by saying, “But I was the one getting destroyed.”
You can stream the Real Housewives of New Jersey on Peacock.
TELL US – DID YOU ENJOY DANIELLE’S FIRST SEASON ON THE SHOW? WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HER RETURN?
Well, Vanderpump Rules Season 10 is finally over with the conclusion of the reunion’s third part and all its bombshell moments. This is truly the end of an era. While there were certainly many things the fans hoped to see from the reunion, nothing was more pressing than Raquel Leviss.
Raquel was pretty much entirely put on blast at the reunion, all because of Scandoval. It was unclear at first if she’d even attend the reunion, considering there would be so much ammo used to attack her, and the attacks came without relenting.
Arguably, one of the most gruesome attackers was Lala Kent, who made her stance on Raquel quite clear. In fact, some would say Lala’s gone a little too far with her criticisms of Raquel. Previously, it had been reported that Lala felt bad for Raquel after what happened at the special. But Lala wanted to clarify exactly what she meant by that.
Does Lala feel for Raquel or not?
Lala explained on her podcast, Give Them Lala, that while she did slightly feel for Raquel, she didn’t feel bad for the things she’d said to Raquel. “Where I felt for Raquel was, when you’re filming a reality show, in my mind, every single person is mentally equipped to handle whatever is gonna come out of my mouth.”
She went on: “The second you throw someone in there that cannot handle it, you’re making it so I can’t go and do my job.” Lala did not regret “the things [she] said” when she watched the reunion back for herself. Interestingly, Andy Cohen said that Raquel handled the reunion like a champ all things considered. And when comparing Raquel to others in similar positions, he’s got a point.
While Lala did reiterate how she cares that her castmates are “mentally healthy,” the opportunity to “get to be unfiltered” is part of the job description, according to Lala. “You’re coming to the reunion to answer for what has happened. I’m not gonna censor myself. If this isn’t the place for you because your mind can’t handle it, you shouldn’t be here.”
Lala kind of has a point. Reality TV is predicated on the idea that its stars don’t hold back. But at the same time, it kind of sounds like Lala wants a free pass to be a jerk. Granted, many believe that Raquel deserved exactly what happened to her.
TELL US – DO YOU AGREE WITH LALA? DO YOU FEEL ANY SYMPATHY FOR RAQUEL? DOES SHE DESERVE SYMPATHY AT ALL?
Tamra had been away from RHOC for two whole seasons. And the show certainly needed her pot-stirring talents. When the Season 17 taglines were revealed, another former housewife got a nasty surprise. Tamra’s tagline was, “I might’ve been on pause, but now? I’m ready to play!”
Andy addressed the situation on his Radio Andy show. “Now, Tamra’s tagline is something like, ‘I was on pause and now I’m ready to press play,’ and after the taglines came out, Dorinda texted me and said something like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ or something. I go, ‘Yeah, it’s funny, whatever.’” He continued, “I thought Dorinda was commenting on the fact that Tamra was using the word, you know, the term being on pause in her tagline and that Dorinda really in the Housewives cannon, was the first person that I’ve used that term to.”
But Andy was wrong. “Someone sent me a clip yesterday of her on Nick Cannon saying, “I want my tagline to be…” and it was the exact timeline as Tamra.” Welp, Dorinda had picked out her tagline years earlier.
“That’s what she was referring to, so I texted her, and I said, ‘Dorinda, I am so sorry. I am now realizing what you were upset about.’” Andy sent the clip to Tamra, but Dorinda had beat him to the punch.
“So, I know Dorinda talked about it on her Radio Andy show, but just want to give Dorinda the props A., that she came up with it and B., the truth is there are no taglines on Ultimate Girls Trip, so she wouldn’t have necessarily been able to say that tagline,” he explained. “Maybe that’s a little bit, it’s a great tagline and I think it works for Tamra, and I just want to let people know Tamra did not steal it.”
Andy shared that Tamra was apparently given a list of choices to say for her tagline, along with another she thought up. Hopefully, that will make Dorinda feel a bit better.
The Real Housewives of Orange County airs on Wednesdays at 8/7c on Bravo and streams on Peacock the following day.
TELL US – SHOULD DORINDA BE UPSET THAT TAMRA USED THE SAME TAGLINE? DOES TAMRA OWE DORINDA AN APOLOGY?
Temptation Island is back for Season 5, with host Mark Walberg back in the driving seat. He’s welcoming four new couples into an experiment unlike any other. Can they survive being apart and surrounded by eight sexy singles of the opposite sex? Or are they all doomed to fail, and leave the show with somebody else on their arm? The Temptation Island Season 5 premiere was packed full of clues that it’s not all going to be smooth sailing. Here’s our Episode 1 recap. As Mark likes to say: let’s get into it.
Introducing the couples, and the season
TEMPTATION ISLAND — “Same “Island, New Twists” Episode 501 — Pictured in this screengrab: (l-r) Kaitlin Tufts, Hall Toledano — (Photo by: USA Network)
Mark immediately jumps into the chaos that this season of Temptation Island could bring. Season 5 will feature the “temptation light” for the first time. One will be placed in both the men’s villa, and the women’s villa. If any partner gives into temptation, the light will glow, leaving one-half of the couples scrambling for information. He promises “higher stakes, and more temptation than ever before.”
Meeting the four couples poised to take part, it’s clear they all have their problems. Can any couple on the planet say they’re perfect? Probably not, but the majority won’t step in front of a television camera to let the world judge.
Kaitlin Tufts and Hall Toledano have been together for eight years in total, but did take a break after the first three. It was his idea, as he admits he wanted to “date other women.” This takes Kaitlin by surprise; he’s never expressed that this was part of his reasoning for the initial split. “We’re both good at bottling up emotions,” he tells Mark. Oh, and did I mention these two are engaged?
Roberto Mal and Vanessa Valente get a little heated from jump. “Sometimes she views me as a little boy,” he says, while Vanessa admits she is worried about their 10-year age gap. She thinks that a man should have “everything aligned” by the time they are 30, and she’s not sure she sees that in his future. Host Mark poses the question, “Is [Roberto] a work in progress for you to mould, or is he an equal partner in your relationship?” Vanessa didn’t like that one bit, replying with an “Ouch!” Still, she sticks to her guns. “A man should be a provider and protector.”
Next on the hot seat are Christopher Wells and Marisela Figueroa. They tell Mark they haven’t been able to “get along” for the past two months. Christopher says they are both “very controlling,” while she admits to being “a wall” in comparison to his emotions. They still don’t know how to communicate effectively as a couple, and he has hurt her in his past. He describes himself as a “respectable whore” in his 20s. While he doesn’t come right out and say he has cheated on Marisela, the implication is there.
Finally, Paris Pedro and Great Ezihie introduce themselves. Paris feels “disrespected,” and says that Great “talks to me like I’m a little kid.” She reveals that Great has cheated on her on more than one occasion, and this seems to upset Great. He looks as though he doesn’t want to be on the show. Paris, meanwhile, bursts into tears, and says that Great’s cheating has left her feeling “not wanted.”
One last night together
TEMPTATION ISLAND — “Same “Island, New Twists” Episode 501 — Pictured in this screengrab: Leonila “Paris” Pedro — (Photo by: USA Network)
Mark shocks the couples when he tells them they can spend one last night together in the men’s villa. Everybody seems excited, but Vanessa just wants to get inside. It’s been raining, and she wasn’t happy when her demands for an umbrella seemed to fall on deaf ears. Roberto’s left feeling embarrassed by his other half’s behavior, and tells her that “it’s annoying to have your back when I know you’re in the wrong.” Her response? “Go f*ck yourself.” Charming.
Later, they make up, and things get a little heated in the bedroom. “I can foresee spending the rest of our lives together,” Roberto says in confessional. “[But] things do need to change.”
The sexy singles arrive
TEMPTATION ISLAND — “Same “Island, New Twists” Episode 501 — Pictured in this screengrab: (l-r) Christian Tesoriero, Brice Robinson, Michael Zappa, Kristian Barbarich, Sebastian Baraza, Griffin Grady, Julian Bradley, Tahjjic Smith — (Photo by: USA Network)
Eight single men, and eight single women, arrive the next morning for the test of a lifetime. The couples all seem pleased to meet some new faces, but there’s a huge twist when Mark announces they can all spend their first day getting to know one another during “one big party.” They’re not going to be split up into villas just yet, because why let such a potentially dramatic first day get away?
“It’s time to gauge my competition,” Vanessa says, while Paris is feeling “a little insecure.” It doesn’t take long for Vanessa’s behavior to rub some of the single women the wrong way, as she loudly mocks their laughter. Elsewhere, Hall is clearly enjoying himself, and his alcohol. “What in the hell did I get myself into?” he asks, promising “trouble” as he flirts just a few feet away from Kaitlin. Still, he says she “loves getting hit on by guys … hopefully she’ll get over the six packs and come back to her loving man.”
Great and Paris argue a little as the day continues. Neither one like their interactions with the singles in the villa, and they’re not afraid to say it. Marisela doesn’t get much of a chance to chat to any of the singles, as Christopher pulls her away. “No more drinking,” he tells her. As she begins to tell him that her current drink isn’t alcoholic, he shushes her. Yuck.
Christopher’s behavior goes from bad to worse, when he effectively outs Marisela in front of some of the single women – as well as the world. She wants “a girlfriend” to be part of the relationship, and while she shares that information herself, she isn’t happy when talking to production. “Sometimes he just overshares,” she says through tears. “My family doesn’t know … he used my story to communication with other females.”
Temptation Island Season 5 continues Wednesdays at 9/8c on USA, streaming next day on Peacock.
TELL US – WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE TEMPTATION ISLAND SEASON 5 PREMIERE? WILL ANY OF THESE COUPLES REMAIN TOGETHER AT THE END OF THE EXPERIMENT?
