“Love Island USA” Season 7 wrapped up with a reunion special, reinforcing its reputation as a top reality dating show. As anticipated, there was plenty of drama, including Bryan Arenales confronting rumors of cheating on Amaya Espinal. (The two have since parted ways.) However, the most unexpected conflict arose between co-host Andy Cohen and streaming giant Netflix, catching fans by surprise.

During the finale, Huda Mustafa ended her relationship with Chris Seeley and was later seen on the “Weapons” red carpet with Louis Russell, a former “Too Hot to Handle” contestant. (Their thoughts on the gruesome horror flick Looper remain unknown.) When Ariana Madix inquired about the new relationship, Mustafa dodged the question, citing Netflix restrictions. “It’s Netflix,” she said. “I’m not allowed to talk about it.” Cohen pressed for more details on the reunion special, but Mustafa stood her ground, citing legal limitations, prompting Cohen to conclude with, “Okay. Tell Netflix this was the number one streaming show of the summer.”

In a playful response, Netflix temporarily changed its X bio to “DON’T @ ME IDK!!!”. Although “Love Island USA” streams on Peacock, Russell was recently featured in Netflix’s “Perfect Match” Season 3. This season, perfect for “Love Is Blind” fans, aired episodes from August 1 to 15, while the “Love Island USA” reunion filmed on August 12. It appears Mustafa was under a legal obligation not to spoil that show’s finale, where Russell did not end up with anyone. But this isn’t the end…

Speculation about Huda Mustafa and Louis Russell’s relationship began on July 31, when they appeared together on the red carpet, predating the “Perfect Match” season’s start. Fellow contestant Rachel Recchia criticized Russell for not delaying these rumors, but with both reality shows now concluded, it seemed like things might settle down, right?

Wrong! Post-“Love Island USA” reunion, Mustafa uploaded (and later deleted) a TikTok story addressing the situation. She shared, “I prefer to disclose relationship details on my own terms, not for a TV show where it’s irrelevant. Pressure to open up, especially excessively, makes me uncomfortable. I’d really appreciate if that’s respected. They edited out the number of times they asked and got others to comment for me.” The video concluded with a fleeting glimpse of Russell, indicating their relationship. Meanwhile, Russell added his own twist by posting an August 18 video of a woman’s hands with butterfly tattoos (similar to Mustafa’s) on his face.

This raises questions about what Mustafa could legally discuss, given her TikTok story omits any mention of a legal arrangement with Netflix. She hints that many more Andy Cohen questions were asked than shown during the reunion special; an extended version might reveal just how often her new relationship was probed.