Photo: Ben Symons/Peacock via Getty Images
After six weeks of jaw-dropping dismissals, the latest Love Island USA elimination was a relief in its predictability. Oklahoma City cowboy Taylor Williams lost all goodwill with viewers after choosing bombshell Clarke Carraway over his early-season other half, Olandria Carthen, during Casa Amor shenanigans. America got its chance to make them pay for his sins with a humiliating game of “Burst Your Bubble” during the July 3 episode, where Williams and Carraway, individually and as a couple, landed at the bottom of all categories, including “worst boyfriend material,” “least trustworthy,” and “couple you’d least want to vacation with.” When it came time to gather around the firepit during Tuesday’s episode, the two knew exactly what to expect, and several days after their elimination, they’re all giggles over Zoom from Fiji. “I did what I came here to do,” Carraway says. “Facts,” Williams adds. “I came in to find a real connection, and I’m leaving with one.”
How’s post-villa life?
Taylor Williams: It’s been real good, actually, ’cause I got to spend it with Clarke and not alone. That definitely made it easier and, uh, more fun.
Were you surprised about the vote?
TW: Hell, naw. I already knew it after the way America voted last time. It was no shocker to me.
Clarke Carraway: Same. I wasn’t shocked.
But you had such a strong connection in the villa, especially compared to some of the couples who seemed to be together more as friends. Did that make it feel different?
TW: Of course, a little, ’cause like, damn, like, we had the strongest connection and we’re voted off. But at the end of the day, everything happens for a reason, so we can’t be too mad at it.
Are there any misconceptions you think the audience had about you as people or as a couple?
TW: Olandria and I were there for, what, three and a half weeks? And then I chose Clarke after three days. I know that really upset America, ’cause that’s when all the voting changed for me.
You and Olandria coupled up really early. When did you get the sense that you weren’t really feeling it?
TW: At first, I was feeling it. We had a genuine connection. But Clarke gave me a spark I didn’t have with Olandria. It was a whole different feeling.
Were you surprised when Nic and Olandria walked in together after their Casa eliminations?
TW: I wasn’t surprised by it ’cause Olandria chose me and Nic day one for the kiss. And then throughout the challenges, they would choose each other to kiss. Obviously, they were attracted to each other in some way. When they came back and said they were coupled, I was happy for them. But then they tried to explore that connection and said there was nothing romantically, and Nic went back to Cierra. But now they’re back together, so, you know, maybe there is something there romantically now. I’m all for it.
So it didn’t feel weird at all?
TW: It didn’t feel weird. If we were in the outside world, hell yeah, that shit would’ve felt weird. But in the villa, we done all kissed each other’s girls. That’s just Love Island.
Clarke, what was the vibe when Nic and Olandria came back from Casa?
CC: It wasn’t weird to me, but I could tell she was uncomfortable, because this isn’t her normal group of girls.
My Casa experience was a little different, because she came back compared to all the other girls who stayed at Casa. But I didn’t let that stop me. I stayed true to myself. I had a conversation with her. I wanted to make sure she knew I respected her and wanted to go about it in the best way. But I loved my Casa experience.
The “Burst Your Bubble” challenge was a big moment for you as a couple. Were you surprised you were ranked so low?
TW: Not at all. When I chose Clarke, I was like, You know what? I’m finna just surprise the whole villa, and it’s gonna be a surprise to all of America.
CC: When I saw him at the bottom, I was like, “I’m next.” We both went three for three, and then we got together and did it again.
It kind of makes it more romantic, though, because it’s like, No, we chose each other over winning the show.
TW: I definitely could’ve played the long game and stayed to win the show with Olandria and just brought it all the way to the end. But I was here to find a true connection. That’s why I went with Clarke.
So, if you were really playing the game, Olandria would’ve been the safer option?
TW: I don’t think she saw it that way, really. She was obviously hurt by my choosing Clarke, and she expressed that. I’m not trying to play the long game or whatever.
Did people’s behavior in the villa switch up after you saw how America had voted?
TW: Not at all. Everybody was supportive of my decision, and everybody kept telling me they saw why I chose Clarke after they had a conversation with me. For Chelley, Olandria’s best friend, to come up to me and be like, “You know, I’m happy you chose Clarke” — like, she sees that I’m happy and it is a true connection. I could care less what America thought about the situation. They’re not living it with me, and the people who are living it with me see this is something real.
You, Nic, and Ace had this really strong friendship. Why do you think the three of you connected so much?
TW: Me and Ace had an instant connection. We would just, like, recite movie lines as jokes. When something would happen in the villa, we would peep it, like, Did anybody else see that? Nobody would see it but me and Ace.
And then, you know, Nic felt left out ’cause he was like, “I don’t get y’all movie references.” But Nic fit in with the guys and cracked jokes with us, and we all ended up just locking in. Now we call ourselves Tres Leches.
Everyone is joking that Ace is the little ringleader. Did it feel like that inside?
TW: No, not at all. Ace is not the little ringleader of it at all. Ace is like the little brother who tries to be big bro. But, you know, I ain’t gonna lie. Ace is creative, so as we needed creativity, we went to Ace for it.
What was the craziest moment of the entire villa experience?
TW: The fourth-base challenge. It was the first challenge we did, and we went all out for that one. We gave that challenge our all. That was probably the freakiest challenge in Love Island history. We really did our thing on that one.
As the Islanders have left the show, some have posted that Hurricane Huda was even worse than what was shown on TV. What exactly was going on in there at the time?
TW: Yeah, Hurricane Huda was damn near taking over the whole of Fiji, you know? When Jeremiah got back from that date with Iris, Hurricane Huda came out. It was a lot. Let’s just say that.
One big moment a couple of days ago was when they pulled Cierra from the villa. What was that like inside?
TW: We were just told that she had to leave. We didn’t get any details about it. We don’t have our phones, so we still don’t know exactly why she left. Mainly it was just everybody trying to be there for Nic. It’s like, Damn, he’s back to day one with a week left in the villa.
Taylor, another big moment was you, Ace, and Nic voting off Jeremiah. Can you tell me the thought process behind it?
TW: From day one, we told him, “Explore everybody.” And five minutes in, he did not do that. He locked in on Huda. We kept explaining to him, “Bro, explore everyone. Give Huda her space. You don’t have to be around her 24/7.” And he just wasn’t getting it, you know? He was like, “Oh, it’s a mutual feeling. She doesn’t want to explore.” But we’re being told that she wanted to explore. We’re hearing two different sides of the story.
Then when Andreina came, of course, he and Huda were split up, but he was acting like he was with Huda again, possessive. He was telling us he wanted to talk to her the longest and nobody else got to talk to her. She and I ended up standing next to each other in the kitchen and having a conversation, and he’s walking in front of us, behind us. As soon as we get done with the conversation, he went straight to her. It was a “I don’t want anybody to talk to her, to make a connection with her, she’s mine” type of deal. And we kept telling him, “Stop doing that, go explore.” Everybody else in the villa was, and he just wasn’t getting it. So when it came down to the decision, we took that into consideration. Everybody else who was in there — Pepe, Austin — they explored every situation and everyone in the villa. And Jeremiah just didn’t.
Why did that bother you so much?
TW: Because you’re cheating everybody else out of their Love Island experience. The first two and a half weeks, Huda didn’t get the Love Island experience. Then, when she was single, all the OGs in the house weren’t trying to explore with Huda ’cause she ruined that day one. Now, all Huda has to explore is bombshells, which sucks, you know? Her choices are limited. The Andreina situation was the same thing. She didn’t get to explore anybody else until Casa.
What have you learned about yourselves in going on the show?
TW: Something I didn’t do before is talk about my feelings. I was just like, I’ll do it on my own, and then you just bottle that shit up. But on Love Island, you have to talk about your feelings. It got me to learn to do that.
CC: I learned about staying true to myself and what I’m feeling, even if it’s hard to do so. Staying genuine and continuing to be me.
What’s the first thing you’re going to look up when you get your phones back?
CC: My little sister’s birthday was yesterday, so I want to celebrate with her.
TW: My mama’s contacts. Can’t wait to talk to my mom. And social-media-wise, the stuff of me, Ace, and Nic. Just go to TikTok and see what the hell is out there of us three together.