Love Island USA host Ariana Madix expressed her heartfelt condolences for the passing of the show’s executive producer, James Barker.
Madix, 41, shared her sorrow on Instagram Stories during the season 8 finale on Sunday, July 12, stating, “As many of you know, we unexpectedly lost a dear friend this summer. James Barker is the kindest person you could ever meet, with the kind of soul that truly radiates from within. We will miss him always.”
According to Us Weekly, a statement from Peacock on June 15 confirmed that Barker, who joined ITV America in the summer of 2020 and served as a long-time producer on Love Island USA, passed away in Fiji following an “unexpected medical emergency” a week earlier.
In her post, Madix encouraged fans to contribute to a GoFundMe campaign aimed at funding a “celebration he deserves,” along with assisting with mortgage payments and other expenses. “If anyone is so able to donate or to just share this, thank you,” she added.
Madix, who took on the role of host for Love Island USA in March 2026 at the start of season 6, concluded her message with a tribute to Barker. “Thank you to James for touching all of our lives with your amazing light,” she wrote, alongside a photo of the two smiling. “We miss you.”
The June 16 episode of the show ended with a tribute to Barker, displaying a montage of his photos with the words, “For James. We love you.”
The circumstances surrounding Barker’s passing remain unclear.
Barker’s partner, Adam Roth, expressed his deep sorrow following Barker’s death. “James was the absolute light and love of my life. He brought joy and brilliance to everything he touched,” Roth shared with People, mentioning their meeting at a Billie Eilish concert and their more than four-year relationship.
During the finale of Love Island USA on Sunday night, Trinity Tatum and Bryce Alakai Dettloff emerged as the winners, with Aniya Harvey and Carl Lee Schmidt securing second place. Melanie Moreno and Sincere Rhea took third, while Kayda Bosse and Zach Georgiou finished in fourth place.
A reunion special is scheduled for Monday, August 31, where Madix will join Andy Cohen to bring together this season’s winners, favorite couples, and standout participants for an in-depth look back at their journey in the Villa, as announced in a press release.
