Love Island fans are ditching the UK show for Love Island USA as they say the UK show pales in comparison and slam the show for its fake dumpings and being 'lazy'11:14, 09 Jun 2026Updated 11:14, 09 Jun 2026Love Island UK fans appear to be ditching the show for Love Island USA, as they tire of the British version. Both the USA and UK versions are airing at the same time this summer and UK fans are beginning to switch sides.‌Just based on the viewing figures alone, Love Island USA looks to be doing very well. USA's eighth season debuted with the most watched premiere for an original season of television on its network Peacock, a total of 824 million minutes watched according to NBCUniversal.‌Based on fans comments as the second week of Love Island UK began, viewers feel like the UK version has to "step it up" to match the level of television the USA one is putting out. One fan said: "UK has to step it up because the USA already had two challenges and a vote. All we had is a fake dumping and six bombshells that were bombless. Will it get any better?"‌Another also decried the lack of challenges in the UK version. They said: "Bro get in some f**cking challenges. You don’t have to have a big budget to get some games in that’ll stir the pot, like the pool game the USA did or the quotes challenge from S12 or even the ask anything challenge from AS3. Producers are so lazy."A third said on TikTok: "The Love Island USA first look has me completely wanting to pack it in with Love Island UK. First of all, the diversity! Crazy, absolutely insane, it just looks so good. Second of all, the budget. The budget was so high. You can barely compare them because the USA would be the biggest winner."‌Diversity has been a hot topic among Love Island UK fans. While the show currently features several diverse faces, it has come under fire across several seasons for the treatment women of colour can face whilst in the villa. In particular, Black women are often put on the show without men who find them attractive.Former winner Amber Gill said Black women not getting chosen on the show has become a "running joke". She added in a TikTok: “What’s the point in having three Black women in there if nobody likes Black women in there? My guy wants f**cking Becky from Scotland with blonde hair, like what is the point in having three gorgeous girls in there?”‌Similarly, after the low ratings were announced for the first episode, former editor Raf Thompson, who worked on series five to ten and has since moved to Love Island USA, blamed the ratings on a lack of diversity.He said on X: "Time and time again, Love Island UK has failed to truly reflect the diversity of modern Britain. Representation matters, and no group has been more consistently let down than Black women. Ironically, Black women have been some of the show’s most loyal supporters, driving conversations online, creating viral moments, and helping keep the show culturally relevant."Yet year after year, we continue to cast Black women alongside men who openly or implicitly don’t date Black women. The result is a cycle that viewers have watched repeatedly: rejection, exclusion, and disappointment. For young Black girls watching at home, that’s a damaging message. For audiences generally, it’s become predictable and exhausting.‌"When I left after Series 10, things were improving. Contestants like Tyrique, Ella, Catherine, Whitney & previous series with Dami, Indiyah, Kai, Sanam, Kaz, Samira, Yewande and others helped create some of the show’s most memorable storylines. However, working on Love Island USA showed me how powerful genuine representation can be. Seeing contestants from different racial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds authentically connect created richer stories, stronger characters, and ultimately a bigger audience."The Mirror went to ITV for comment. They said: "Love Island's only stipulation is that applicants are over 18, single and looking for love. Our application and casting process is inclusive to all and we are always aiming to reflect the age and diversity of our audience on the show."‌Likewise, former winners Kai Fagan told Mirror: "You have to bear in mind people might have racial preferences but it would be very naïve to say somebody like Kaz only wants to be with a black guy. She might be in the villa and she might want to be with a white guy but might not have felt a connection. I think it’s naïve to think if you’re white, you’re with white, if you’re black you’re with black. I'm mixed race, so I’m white and black, she’s Indo-Caribbean so we’ve got three races going on here, so if it was a question of race, she wouldn’t be with me and I wouldn’t be with her."But, while Love Island UK fans seemed to be tiring of the UK show, USA viewers seem to be tiring of the USA version. On TikTok, several American content creators and commenters slammed the USA show for being "overly produced" and for the Islanders being "closed off" too early.One content creator said: "While we're comparing Love Island USA to UK this year, one area where UK is outshining USA this year is the UK Islanders are actually treating the show like Love Island. We're only three episodes in and I've been able to pick up on three or four love triangles, whereas on USA, these Islanders are acting like they're married."Article continues belowCommenters agreed. One said: "UK producers are doing way better as far as the edit and the drama." Another said: "UK also believes in friendship couples to ensure people find their match. It's a totally different game and they do it well."Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .