This “Love Island USA” couple has rekindled their romance — and they made it Instagram official. Nearly three weeks after Pepe Garcia-Gonzalez confirmed that he and Iris Kendall had split following the season seven finale, Iris stepped out with her former flame TJ Palma during New York Fashion Week.
Iris Kendall Moves On From Pepe Garcia-Gonzalez
On September 15, Iris and TJ posted a joint Instagram carousel with photos of them holding hands, looking at each other, and posing closely. Iris kept the caption simple with just a heart letter emoji, making it clear they’re back together.
Their “Love Island” family quickly flooded the comments, with season seven winner Amaya Espinal, who recently announced her own breakup with Bryan Arenales, writing, “My kids future godparents.” Fans also spotted Iris and TJ holding hands before attending the Luar fashion show that same day, cementing their return as a couple.
The hard launch comes less than a month after Iris and Pepe placed fourth in the finale. At the time, Pepe explained to TMZ that the pressures of life outside the villa played a role in their split. “It’s a tough thing when there’s a lot of eyes on you 24/7,” he said. “It’s stressful. Being in the limelight isn’t always the best thing in the world.”
TJ Palma and Iris Kendall Rekindle Their ‘Love Island USA’ Connection
For her part, Iris told E! News she initially hoped to keep the breakup private.
“I’m so grateful for all of the love and support I’ve received since leaving the villa, and I wanted to share an update,” she explained. “The connection that I formed has ended, and while it isn’t how I would have imagined, I will always value the unique experience that we shared.”
While Iris’ romance with Pepe played out until the finale, her original bond with TJ was a defining storyline of season seven. TJ, 23, was eliminated in episode 27, leaving Iris heartbroken. He later revealed to Us Weekly that Iris nearly left Fiji with him.
“She was super upset and everything,” TJ recalled. “She’s like, ‘There’s nothing here for me anymore. I wanna leave. I wanna leave.’”
After encouragement from the other Islanders, Iris decided to stay and finish out her journey. TJ admitted he supported her choice, even if it wasn’t easy. “Obviously, I want her to go home with me and I wanted her to leave, but I’m not gonna force anyone to do anything.”
Now, just weeks after the finale aired, the pair seem to have picked up right where they left off. Their hard launch has fans buzzing about what’s next for one of “Love Island USA’s” most surprising second-chance romances.
“Love Island USA” season 7 is streaming on Peacock.
