Love Island USA ‘STAGED’ Nic and Olandria’s connection but producers ‘went too far’ with ‘fake’ storyline

Fans have dubbed the couple ‘Nicolandria’

LOVE Island USA producers “staged” Nic Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen’s storyline, insiders have claimed to The U.S. Sun.

Nic, 24, and Olandria, 27, star on Season 7 of Peacock’s Love Island USA.

Nic was coupled up with Cierra Ortega and Olandria was with Taylor Williams before both became single during Casa Amor.

Instead of eliminating the contestants, producers gave them a lifeline by offering that they could return to the villa if they couple up during a romantic date.

Nic took the offer a step further by expressing his desire to explore a connection with Olandria.

Fans rejoiced over the new coupling, as they have been pulling for fan-favorites Nic and Olandria to explore a connection all season.

staged to satisfy fans.

“Nic and Olandria was completely staged, it was one of the fakest stuff we ever did,” the insider alleged.

“Nic and Olandria were never gonna be something that would have existed without us adjusting our ‘story,’ that is for sure. We need to do some fakery and stage some stuff, it’s reality TV but we want to keep the show to be spicy and fun, but also try if people connect or create some good TV moments.”

The source continued to claim that producers did see all of the fans calling for Nic and Olandria to date.

“We did read what the fans had to say about the participants, and we do that often as we want to show the fans what they want to see,” the source claimed.

“We have the freedom to organize and manage the stories pretty much the way we want, in order to keep it spicy and to keep the fans feeling like they are part of the show too, as we adjust some stuff on our shows after checking their reactions on social media for example.”

A second production source confirmed producers “absolutely pay attention to what the fans say,” as different social media platforms “are our target and we have to deliver what they want to watch and the stories they want to see.”

The insider continued to claim, “Some people are pushed to explore being together or flirting and see how it goes, even if they don’t seem compatible or haven’t been close to each other in the first few episodes for example.

“We have to make things look as if they were real, and we can make up some stuff and set up some people together to see how it could work, but we know it’s most likely not gonna work between them.”

The producer admitted the Nic and Olandria storyline “went a bit too far.”

“We set it up as if it was spontaneous and natural, but it was too fake and it was too obvious,” the source said. “They have nothing to do with each other, everybody knows and sees that this connection would never work, and we had to work on a scenario to make things look a bit more natural.

“I think it wasn’t our best idea, but you know, you have to give the fans and show the fans what they want to see and watch.

“We have to stage some stuff, that is for sure, to see how some people could connect but knowing that they won’t, as their differences and personalities or even their goals in this show are different.”

The source continued to claim, “Nic and Olandria have very low potential for connection, and we had to work on that and make it look like something could be possible, but we had to make up some things.

“We do that sometimes, and that is also fun to do as we pretty much have a lot of freedom to work on the show, and set up, stage some stuff here and there to put more spice and potential extra tensions and extra controversies between the participants.”

A rep for Love Island USA did not respond to The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.

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Fans dubbed them NicolandriaCredit: Getty

FAN BACKLASH

And viewers weren’t fooled, as one wrote on social media of the scenes, “You guys are producing too much, setting up a date and forcing them to couple up for fans?”

A second raged, “This is the fakest, cringiest episode of love island ever. I’ve had to pause it 100 times from second-hand embarrassment.”

“I hope this isn’t produced for a storyline since the fans want them together,” a third said.

A fourth commented, “This is so scripted and forced.”

And a fifth said, “This is so fake. Ruining this show in one season is crazy.”

Nic said on the date, “I’ve been wanting to get to know you. I feel like we haven’t had the opportunity to give these conversations. I think this text is the perfect opportunity to do that.

Olandria added, “In the beginning how we kept kissing and we never pulled each other for a chat. He keeps choosing me. Is something there?”

Nic replied, “I feel like it was this fun secret admirer kind of thing. I always wanted to let you know I was into you.”

Once in the villa, Nic and Olandria decided to test their connection by kissing outside of the challenge.

“I’m trying to see if there is anything outside of the challenges,” Nic said to her, as she replied, “There is only one way to find out.”