LOVE ISLAND: BEYOND THE VILLA — “You’re So Last Summer” Episode 101 — Pictured: (l-r) JaNa Craig, … More
Love Island USA stars JaNa Craig and Kenny Rodriguez are finally speaking out — and things are getting ugly. The exes broke their silence on Instagram following breakup rumors over the weekend. After Rodriguez posted his statement shortly after hers, Craig called him a “manipulative liar.”
Craig shared a statement first on her Instagram Story on Tuesday, July 29, confirming the breakup. “Hi my loves Thank you for all your love & support. It means the world to me. As you know, Kenny and I are no longer together,” she began.
The 28-year-old then addressed the theories that have circulated on social media over the past few days — some of which have allegedly accused Kenny of cheating. She said that none of those theories “have matched up to how terrible, disgusting and disappointing it truly is.”
She continued, “Discovering that someone you love isn’t who you thought they were and that the relationship you thought you were building hasn’t been genuine since day one has been truly devastating.”
LOVE ISLAND USA — Episode 636 — Pictured: (l-r) Kenny Rodriguez, JaNa Craig — (Photo by: Ben … More
“Thank you for respecting my privacy and please know as a child of God, I will always be okay,” she concluded. Rodriguez has yet to address the breakup publicly.
Shortly after Craig released her statement, Kenny posted his own statement online addressing the breakup.
“The past few days have been incredibly difficult. I’ve been quietly sitting with a lot of emotions and doing my best to process everything privately,” he wrote. “Breakups are never easy, especially in the public eye. Sometimes, despite how deeply you care for someone, you come to the hard truth that the relationship was not something that could last long-term.”
“I’ll always be grateful for the time we shared and the memories we created. I release this chapter with no ill will, only a hope that JaNa’s parth forward brings her nothing but happiness,” he added.
JaNa then posted a follow-up message on her Instagram stories calling Kenny a “manipulative liar.” She continued, “You not taking accountability and telling people the type of person you really are is insane to me!! My first statement was being nice. Do not piss me off.”
Their Love Island USA co-star Leah Kateb then re-posted JaNa’s story and claimed Kenny is a “racist, clout/money hungry and a scammer since Day 1.”
Breakup rumors between the pair began swirling on July 27, after fans noticed that JaNa had unfollowed Kenny on social media, deleted her photos and videos with him, and that both had removed each other from their Instagram bios. TMZ confirmed that the couple called it quits on Sunday morning.
JaNa’s close friends and fellow Season 6 stars Serena Page and Kateb — also known by their friend group nickname, PPG (aka the Powerpuff Girls) — unfollowed Kenny, along with their significant others, Kordell Beckham and Miguel Harichi. Their castmates Kaylor Martin, Olivia Walker, Kendall Washington and Connor Newsum also unfollowed Kenny on IG.
The night before their breakup, Kenny shared videos on his Instagram Stories from David Dobrik’s birthday party, which he and JaNa attended together on Saturday, July 26. In one video, Kenny was seen in a tuxedo, while JaNa wore a pink dress and blew a kiss to the camera.
A source told People that there was “no big, public blowout,” addressing the latest online speculation that the couple got into a fight at Dobrik’s birthday party. “That did not happen,” the insider said, adding, “They will not be getting back together.”
Meanwhile, TMZ reported that it was Craig who ultimately made the decision to split. The site said that “JaNa’s been leaning on her close girlfriends all day to help her get through her heartbreak.”
LOVE ISLAND: BEYOND THE VILLA — “You’re So Last Summer” Episode 101 — Pictured: (l-r) Kenny … More
JaNa and Kenny met during Love Island USA Season 6 and quickly formed a connection when he entered the villa on Day 13. Although they briefly split after Casa Amor when he recoupled with a bombshell, they got back together and finished in third place.
Following the success of Season 6, Peacock launched a spinoff series following the Islanders as they navigate life in Los Angeles. In Love Island: Beyond the Villa, the couple were still doing long distance, and Kenny rented an apartment in the same apartment complex as JaNa during the duration of filming.
Kenny opened up about his decision not to live with JaNa — something that she opposed — during Beyond the Villa in a mid-July interview with Variety.
“Since leaving the villa, it’s a big jump moving in together with someone, and I didn’t want it to be televised, especially the first time,” Kenny explained. “So we rented rooms next to each other. Another aspect for me is privacy. When JaNa gets ready for events, she has a huge glam team.”
He continued, Usually, there’s somebody in there for wardrobe, and sometimes I don’t have the space to change and things like that. Granted, we were always together on the show. It was great to experience L.A. and to be with her in the same city.”
For Kenny’s birthday in February, JaNa wrote how blessed she was to have him by her side. “You’re not just my best friend, you’re my safe place,” she penned on Instagram. “I love doing life with you. Your love gives me the courage to be myself around you and for that, I’m forever thankful. I hope this day brings you as much happiness as you bring me.”
Stay tuned for more details.
