Gillian Griffin: Hi, I'm Gigi. Marissa Castillo: And I'm Mimi. Gillian Griffin: And this is Love Island Tea Marissa Castillo: Love another. Gillian Griffin: Time. You crack me up every time you do that. so today it's our very, very, very first episode after both series have finished, US and UK 2026, respectively season eight and series 13. And we're gonna talk about the dating lessons that we've learned from both of the villas. Just so you know, we're gonna be mixing that up. But first we're gonna touch on some Love Island news, which also will be both about USA and UK, just to keep it real. And firstly, it's not fresh, fresh news, but we've got two breakups since the last month or so, right? Marissa Castillo: Mm. Gillian Griffin: About a week ago, Nickelandria done and dusted. Done and dusted. Marissa Castillo: Yeah. Gillian Griffin: I know people are upset about that because people love them. Marissa Castillo: They yeah, a lot of people are upset and a lot of people did love them. I always felt a little weird about it. I never Gillian Griffin: Same. Marissa Castillo: saw it in the villa whereas I guess other people did, but to each his own, I'm not here to argue. Just, you know, wish them well as individuals now. Gillian Griffin: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And we'll get into that more in one of our next coming episodes where we're gonna do a more deep dive into the couples that haven't survived from season seven. And then also we Whitney and Yaman from All Stars Three who have broken up. Some people say longer ago. Maybe it was fresher. We don't know because they like kinda kept together, maybe didn't keep it together. but we are also getting deeper into that. But that was a bummer for me because I really loved them together personally. Marissa Castillo: Same. I did too. Gillian Griffin: Yeah. Then we also have that episode coming out about everyone who survived and all the breakups from series three of All Stars coming out as well. The big news, I think the biggest news, is definitely Janae and Kenny. Marissa Castillo: Lord, have mercy. I feel bad for her. I really do. Gillian Griffin: I I feel more angry for her. You know what I mean? Marissa Castillo: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah, it's just Gillian Griffin: You know, they say all PR is good PR. Marissa Castillo: That's true. For me it's more just like having to face scrutiny and have someone talk about you literally all Gillian Griffin: Yeah. Marissa Castillo: late about things. So Gillian Griffin: I think luckily everyone seems to be on her side. Everyone seems to think that Kenny is a liar, including Cordell. but if you don't know, Kenny went on a podcast, the Journey podcast, apparently, and decided to finally talk about his breakup with Janae, which was about a year ago. And just, I couldn't even be bothered to listen to everything that he said because I was just like. This is exhausting, man. Like, what's going on? And he seemed to be like, I was never happy. I was checked always checked out. It was always spake, which Janae said last year. She said he was spake and never really liked her. She said that. Marissa Castillo: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Gillian Griffin: and then he's like accusing her of being abusive and that like she called the c cops on him, but then she said he called the cops on her. And then he also invoked Cordell's name, said that Cordell knew about all this, and Cordell came out swinging on Instagram. If you didn't see it, he said, at Kenny Rodriguez, and the text is big. The text is big. Marissa Castillo: Mm-hmm. Gillian Griffin: We're not even gonna get on how you sat on that podcast and lied the entire time. But we not gonna do is lie like I condone anything you did slash said after you, all caps, called me. I got on that ass and we haven't spoke since. Shout out to my sis, Janae. Love you for life, girl. And keep my MF name out your mouth. I don't f Fuck with you, bro. FW, you bro. Marissa Castillo: Hmm. He pulled a Will Smith. He said keep Gillian Griffin: That's condemnation. Marissa Castillo: my name out your mouth and rightfully so. Cause you the only person Gillian Griffin: I mean mess. Marissa Castillo: he sh the only person Kenny should be talking about is himself. Gillian Griffin: Mm-hmm. Absolutely. I don't understand because the news had been that like she found like really derogatory texts about herself on his phone, him saying like really shady and racist things about her. Everyone was on her side from day da. I don't know why he would get back out in this mix with lies. I mean, you have her saying he's lying, you have the other person you're mentioning saying you're lying. So what are you doing? Like, why are you causing this? And Janae's video is like. Let's go. She's like, I will lawyer up. I will fight you. Get out of my face with all of that. Cause we know this is your fault. And you're a liar. Marissa Castillo: I mean, it gives the bank account as running dry. Gillian Griffin: He needed someone to talk about him. Marissa Castillo: Just saying. Yeah, he needed to be relevant again. Gillian Griffin: I don't know if he wants to be relevant this way. Marissa Castillo: Well, you just said Gillian Griffin: I mean for her. I meant for her. I meant all PR is good PR for her. Like Marissa Castillo: Okay. Not for him. He sucks. Gillian Griffin: Yes, this is annoying, yes, it's a painful her for her, blah blah blah. But all this has done is remind people that they're on Team Janae and that they're rooting for her. And now people are gonna be clicking on her Instagram and seeing if she's saying more about it and wanting to know more about it if they if she wasn't on their mind. Which personally she wasn't necessarily on my mind, so You know what I mean? Marissa Castillo: She wasn't on my mind either. And and I mean in a good way, I mean she just she was I seemingly living her best life at peace. So you gotta here comes another man. Gillian Griffin: Absolutely. Yeah, she said, she's like, I'm on set. Sh in that video where she's yelling at Kenny, she was like, I'm on set. Try to focus on my blessings and focus on me. Keep my name out of your mouth. Let's go. Tell your lawyer to answer the phone. Marissa Castillo: Right. And I think if Janae is smart enough, she'll keep it off the internet even though people are wanting her to be on it. Just like leave Kenny Gillian Griffin: Mm-hmm. Marissa Castillo: to do that and dig a hole for himself. Gillian Griffin: Absolutely, absolutely. man. Meanwhile, on more unproven drama, apparently everyone, quotes around everyone, air quotes around everyone, thinks that Jasmine and Angelista have snubbed the winner of Love Island UK season 13, series 13, by not hugging her, and that in one of the press photos, the girls are clearly closer to each other than they are to her. I don't think it's that deep. I just don't think it's that deep. Marissa Castillo: I don't think so either, but people love to make a mountain out of a molehill, so there it is. Gillian Griffin: Yeah, this has definitely been the kind of thing that people have fully, really and truly chosen sides about how they feel about who acted what way in the most recent season. you're either on Yulia's side or you're on Jasmine's side. That kind of seems to be the thing. Not that they had that much direct beef, but to me, I'm just kind of like, why would they be into each other? Like, why would they be that friendly? They don't have to Marissa Castillo: Yeah. Gillian Griffin: be anymore. Marissa Castillo: Yeah, I mean Gillian Griffin: The last yeah. Marissa Castillo: let us remind you that this is not Friend Island. This is Love Island. And I personally see, this is why we get kicked out of the pillow. I personally I'm not gonna stand all buddy buddy and fake next to someone that I don't wanna be buddy buddy and fake with. Sorry. Gillian Griffin: Yeah. Yeah. Also, the just the stuff that Yulia started with Jasmine. Also, I don't think Yulia wants to be friends with Jasmine either because she's so paranoid about Jasmine and Lorenzo unless she's not and she was just doing it for the drama. And this is the thing, it's like there's no balance with it. And I just like let's see. Let's see. Maybe they'll all be out on that double date, like Lorenzo, Jasmine, Kavan, and Yulia said when they were sitting for their final interview. Marissa Castillo: Mm-hmm. Maybe. Gillian Griffin: Maybe they'll just help me out on that date. Marissa Castillo: Maybe or Gillian Griffin: Who knows? Marissa Castillo: maybe not, and either way, it's okay. Gillian Griffin: Hm. Yeah. I I I just don't think that it's that deep. And the things that Yulia said in the dressing room did to the other girls, I would understand why you would maybe be keeping your distance. I get it. And there were people at the finale who said that even though Jasmine didn't hug Yulia immediately, that everyone was hugging each other after the cameras were off. Everybody was hugging and laughing and joking and that it seemed like good vibes across the board. Marissa Castillo: See, so we never know what happens behind closed doors. Gillian Griffin: Absolutely. And also, I think it's not that big of a deal for Angelista and Jasmine to be showing a little bit more affection to each other. Also, people act like they're literally like side-eyeing her or something. They have their arms around each other very lightly in such a way that it almost gives that the produ whoever was taking the photos or the producers were like, hey, maybe put your arm around each other or something, like, or that they just wanted to, but I don't know. They were also just like in the villa together from day one and they've been. Marissa Castillo: Mm-hmm. Gillian Griffin: close, close, close friends since day one, even if they were cool with Yulia or not cool with Yulia, they're not nearly as close to Yulia as they are to each other. I think that's just like common sense. Marissa Castillo: Yeah, and I think Yasm not Yasmin, sorry, Yas and Jasm I think Jasmine and Angelista really formulated that bond heavily after Casa when they both were standing there, you know, they have said to one another, You were there for me during the whole Casa situation. So they're they were in this the same boat and they were there for each other and I think that's why they're so close as well. Gillian Griffin: Absolutely. 100%. 100%. Anyway, that's basically all for the news. if you see headlines about how Sammy was kicked out of the final, it's nothing crazy. Sammy and the other significant others of people on the debrief and on the panel came to the final and then apparently were allowed to to watch for some reason. Sammy, Harry, other partners were escorted. back to holding away from the final even though they came to the final. So something was going on there, but you know, it's not as crazy as the headline makes it look. They're like security bam Sammy from the final. I thought that she got to a fight with someone. It was nothing. Clickbait. Marissa Castillo: Yeah. Gillian Griffin: Clickbait. Marissa Castillo: For you. Gillian Griffin: Also there's a clickbait article out there that cracked me up because they were like first couple to split from the Love Island from this Love Island series. And it was them saying that they asked an astrologer who they thought was gonna break up first. And the astrologer said Yasmin and Tommy were gonna break up first because they were gonna find out that their hobbies and things they do outside of the villa don't match up. And I was like, I don't wanna hear what some astrologer thinks. I thought someone actually broke up. Marissa Castillo: Right. But that'd be crazy if that astrologer ends up being Gillian Griffin: If it's true. Marissa Castillo: right. Yeah. Gillian Griffin: We'll see. But now we're gonna get on to our main topic, main topic, which is the lessons we learned from the Love Island Villas. We've both separately written down some lessons that we think were important from both US and UK. And I think that Mimi should start first. Marissa Castillo: wow, I'm flattered. so the first lesson that I wrote down is your level of self-respect needs to be stronger than your feelings. Gillian Griffin: You came out swinging with something deep. my god. Marissa Castillo: As in, don't ignore the red flags because of the level of attraction that you have for someone. And I'm a Pisces guys. I do these, I do go deep, I get deep. You know, I just that was just on my mind. It's just like, why would you ignore who you are just because you feel a certain way for someone? And that's just a general. Gillian Griffin: Why would you ignore ignore who they are? Marissa Castillo: That too. Why would you ignore who they are just because you think they're hot and they're your type on paper? Gillian Griffin: Because you're trapped in a house with them. You're trapped in a house with them. Marissa Castillo: Then leave. That's what I'm saying. Like Gillian Griffin: She wants everyone to walk out of the Love Island villa. Marissa Castillo: Idea not everyone, it's just I think at one point Ellie should have left when she said that she was going to leave. I think that's a perfect example of her self respect that she had and that she claimed she had went out the window. She kept saying, I'm gonna leave, I'm gonna leave, I'm gonna leave. You should have left. You should have stand on you should have stood on business and you should have been like, let that man miss me while I'm gone. Gillian Griffin: Yeah, I think that I don't know if historically in USA that anyone has like left of their own accord. I can't remember anyone doing it. I know people threatened to do it, Anaya threatened to do it, Rob threatened to do it in season six famously, but Marissa Castillo: Ha ha ha. Gillian Griffin: you just dumped three people. I just don't. Marissa Castillo: Now you send in three home. Gillian Griffin: I just think that. I I don't think that it's as popular in the US as the UK, because there are people who who leave in UK, like very actively, who are like, I'm going home, I'm Marissa Castillo: Mm. Gillian Griffin: leaving because this other person left. I left for this reason, that reason, whatever. I just do think I think that's a huge dating lesson. And that if you watch Love Island and you're like, why don't they leave these clowns? That you need to make sure and remember that and keep that for yourself. Because my little one that I wrote down that is my my two that are similar in the same vein that I'll go ahead and bring up are about the sunk cost fallacy and that being chosen is not a prize, which is literally like a lesson that was shouted out loud, but seemingly some people are still with some people. And I Marissa Castillo: Mm. Gillian Griffin: think there was a lot more this year across the board of women putting up with things that I Think we're bigger red flags than they think. Except for Melanie. Marissa Castillo: Yes. Gillian Griffin: She knows exactly how big that red flag is, and she's waving it. She's marching down the street with it proudly. Marissa Castillo: her favorite colour is red. Gillian Griffin: It's her favorite color. So, Melanie, do your thing. But I thought you dropped a real one, a real piece of wisdom that being chosen is not the prize. It doesn't matter if they choose you after X, Y, and Z happen. Like it's not the reward. And I feel like I would like to say that to Jasmine. from UK, you know, Marissa Castillo: Mm. Gillian Griffin: I'd like to say that to Ellie. I'd like to maybe say that to is there anyone else? Kind of Angelissa, but after it came out that Simba was pushed by the producers to bring Mara back or bring someone Marissa Castillo: Yeah. Gillian Griffin: back, I maybe not so much because and maybe that's also why they didn't get any votes because it was set around the villa but they didn't air it that the producers Marissa Castillo: Yeah. Gillian Griffin: made him bring someone back. Marissa Castillo: Mm. Gillian Griffin: it is It's hard because I understand that things are so much more intense there. And it's not like the real world where you can just stop seeing that person or you can actually take a break, like Kavanas Jasmine too in the UK. You've got to see them all the time, potentially maybe sleep in a bed with them. Though the US men don't know how to sleep in the in the outside bed to save their lives when they've done something wrong. It's always a girl sleeping outside, which pisses me off. It's Marissa Castillo: Mm-hmm. Gillian Griffin: it's rough. It's just rough. But yeah, and then the sunk cost fallacy part was about Anaya choosing Casey over Carl. We all have to remember, and if you haven't heard of it, sunk cost fallacy is the belief that you put so much time and money and investment into something that you should and have to keep going with it because you've already put so much into it, which is something that happens in business as well as relationships where you're like, Well, I've had this friendship for so long. I put so much into this friendship. I've had this relationship for so long. I put so much into this relationship. I can't just call it quits when really maybe you should, or probably you should. You know what I mean? And I think that happens to Marissa Castillo: Mm. Gillian Griffin: a lot of us all the time, which is like you're saying about your self-respect being bigger than your feelings. You've got to remember that sometimes it's not actually worth it. Like you, you're convincing yourself that it's worth it because you've you've made it worth it, because you've put so much work in. Marissa Castillo: Mm. Right. And you're not seeing the lack of from the other person. Gillian Griffin: Right. Or the the red Marissa Castillo: Which Gillian Griffin: flags and this brushing that off and going but but I felt so much I feel like that with Ellian Finn, like my god, that he should have to do so much work to keep that on the right track because he did not respect her. He did not. Marissa Castillo: Mm-hmm. And that's what I was gonna say as well to your response of like, but you're in a house together. Yes, absolutely. And we found that a lot of the time the girls were like, I think in both maybe not in both, mostly in the UK, where the girls were like, you need to put in work to make this better. And Gillian Griffin: Right. Marissa Castillo: it didn't take much. Whereas for me, it Gillian Griffin: Yeah. Melanie. Marissa Castillo: would take a lot more. It would take So much more. It would like like it would take more than a breakfast, Melanie. It would take more than a few breakfasts, Gillian Griffin: Yeah, more than a few words. Marissa Castillo: more than a few words, more than a few actions. I just, you know, i with the whole Ellie and Finley situation, he had said multiple times that he wasn't gonna pursue Alicia or that he wanted to, but she but he also knew how Ellie felt about it. So that's my argument of just like if you said I'm gonna leave if he doesn't do X, Y, and Z, then stand on that. Stand on the fact that he didn't do X, Y, and Z and it's your time to go because he doesn't deserve you. Gillian Griffin: Yeah. And let him follow you out because if he really liked you, he would left with you. Marissa Castillo: He would have pulled a simba and said, You go, I go. Gillian Griffin: And he couldn't he couldn't believe that she was leaving. He was like, What? Finley was like, What? Marissa Castillo: I know. Obviously. Yeah, Gillian Griffin: my gosh. Marissa Castillo: that was a heavy hitter, huh? That's a big one. Those your your two were Gillian Griffin: That's a big one. It was a heavy hitter. I have a smaller one. Marissa Castillo: mm-hmm. Gillian Griffin: I have a smaller one. Wear whatever the fuck you want. Marissa Castillo: Yeah. Gillian Griffin: So happy because this year felt like the year where the girls really wore whatever they want. We've really dead off constantly wearing club dresses on Love Island, truly, and being like potentially like hyper femme, hyper whatever. And instead, I we're seeing lots of like leather jasmine with her shorts and her jeans all the time. I Marissa Castillo: Mm. Gillian Griffin: was like, Yes, bring pants to the villa for real, for real. The girls wearing more cover-ups during the day, shorts during the day. I was really happy to see that and really happy to see like the standard changing. Even Anaya with her bodysuit, Marissa Castillo: Mm. Gillian Griffin: come on, and s some of those Trinity outfits. the time that they said that Kata looked like she was gonna go work out. I was like, everybody do it. Everybody wear whatever they want on Love Island, please. I wanna see more of that personal style and less of the the Shein dresses and the club dresses. It makes me happy. Marissa Castillo: I agree. I agree with that and I love that I had brought this to Gigi's attention where I was like, you know what, another reason why I can't go into the villa is because I can't be wearing bathing suits all the time. Like I'm a full figured woman. I feel like we're still sort of in that in between where being full figured is lovely, but then it's also still like according to some people, not not a great look. Gillian Griffin: definitely hasn't been found in the Love Island Villa. There definitely is not a lot of body diversity in the Love Island villa for sure. And I would love to see some fit girls get some love on Love Island, because please, they deserve love too. Like what's going on? Marissa Castillo: Me too. Me too. I will say, I think Melanie was the most full figured that I've seen. Have you seen her behind? Please. Gillian Griffin: Shin was more full f figure than Melanie. Melanie's pretty petite. And also Anaya. Marissa Castillo: that's true. That's true. Naya's body is tea. everyone's beautiful. I think I would just like Gillian Griffin: Beautiful. Marissa Castillo: like to see someone honestly more like me who has a role here too, you know, who has Gillian Griffin: Fully. Marissa Castillo: a lot of cellulite and stretch marks and still have Gillian Griffin: Yeah. Marissa Castillo: it be like that's gorgeous. And she's sneezing. Gillian Griffin: When I'm mute for y'all. Marissa Castillo: Yes. Gillian Griffin: yeah, definitely. But I'm I'm glad at least we're getting more like what feel like real life going out outfits. Like so many girls wore jeans this year on UK at least. It made me so happy because you know no a lot of us are going out wearing jeans. Marissa Castillo: Mm. It's true. And it's cold. I know for sure it's cold at night over there. Gillian Griffin: Yeah, the night the temperature drops for sure. okay, what's your next lesson? Marissa Castillo: Ugh, my next lesson, probably one of my favorites from UK. Never let a man tell you twice he doesn't want you. Gillian Griffin: that down. I absolutely wrote that down. And I wish Jasmine had listened to herself. We'll see. Prove us wrong, Jasmine. Or rather, prove us wrong, Kevin. No one feels anyone type of way about you. I mean nobody who's saying that you're gonna break up feels any type of way about you or that they think you should break up. Like most of the people who are saying it, we have doubts about Kavin. We don't like that he did you dirty. We don't feel like he's done enough. But maybe we just weren't shown it, you know? Like apparently there were conversations between them after movie night or after CASA or something. Overall, I read there were conversations that weren't shown. We'll see when they start jumping on the podcast and talking. But yeah, Marissa Castillo: Mm-hmm. Gillian Griffin: I heard that there was stuff that wasn't shown and there are more conversations. So fingers crossed that that is the case, but we shall see. We shall see. But yeah, definitely. Don't let that man tell you twice he doesn't want you. Marissa Castillo: We shall see. Definitely in a real world situation, if a man shows you and tells you that he is uncertain, just walk away. Cause you deserve to be chosen, babe. Gillian Griffin: Lesson learned. Lesson learned. And also like it and that Marissa Castillo: Lesson learned several times. Gillian Griffin: and that's the other thing is like if they choose you after like four times like this is where we are with Melanie. It's like the the being chosen eventually is not a prize. It's how you're treated and consistently shown Marissa Castillo: Mm-hmm. Exactly. Gillian Griffin: how they feel. And I think that does also lead into my other lesson. The guy should be obsessed with the girl. Victoria said it so well. I don't is I don't think that that's a problem. Like if the girl's into the guy, if the guy seems more into her, I don't think that that's a real problem. I think Marissa Castillo: Mm. Gillian Griffin: that's usually where a lot of the best relationships come from, is that the guy is just absolutely obsessed with the girl. It's the guy who's like excited to see you take off your makeup, who loves it when you're in like sweats and whatever. Cause like, you know, those are the real relationships when the men take because you know how they're always like. Girls will post to be like, why does my boyfriend take pictures of me like this that are so awful? Because they still love you regardless, because they think you're the shit. And that's why they're Marissa Castillo: Mm. Gillian Griffin: like, my God, look at you. You're so beautiful eating a cheeseburger. And then you see it and you're like, why would you do this? Why would you do this? Marissa Castillo: Yes. that's so cute. Yeah. I always Gillian Griffin: One of my coworkers, her husband, made a book of all the photos he took while she was just sleeping. All over the house, random position just passed out. Marissa Castillo: Jesus. Gillian Griffin: And it's just a book of her like snoring her life away and I'm like, That's love. That's love. Marissa Castillo: Yes. I think well speaking as a queer woman, I think that's like from a heteronormative perspective, yes, absolutely the man should be obsessed with the woman. It is different, I will say, in same sex couples or couples who were one person may not subscribe to any gender, they're gender neutral or whatever. It's different. I just wanna get that out in the air. I personally Gillian Griffin: Well of course, asterisk love island is usually about heteronormative love. Marissa Castillo: Yeah, yeah. So I couldn't tell you in a queer relationship as someone who has dated women who should be obsessed with who because it has gone both ways and maybe I'm the problem because it hasn't worked out. I think there needs to be a balance maybe in that situation. Gillian Griffin: Yeah. Equal obsession's always ideal. I think equal obsession is usually ideal. and Marissa Castillo: Mm. Gillian Griffin: it's also the I s I think sometimes it's just about how the other person shows it. I like this Marissa Castillo: Yeah, that's true. Gillian Griffin: comes from Mika and Samraj, and I think Mika was a lot more into Samurage than it appeared. I think it appeared that he was more obsessed. Marissa Castillo: Mm-hmm. Yeah, Gillian Griffin: Ha ha ha. Marissa Castillo: but she she I think she's obsessed in her own quiet way. Like she's Gillian Griffin: Yeah, she said she has a difficulty expressing herself. Marissa Castillo: exactly so. I think there are people who are good at expressing themselves verbally, whereas there are other people who can't necessarily say it, but show it. And I think that's as important if you can't be expressive. It's just show your partner how much you. Love and care for them. Gillian Griffin: Absolutely. Absolutely. what do you have Marissa Castillo: Love that. Gillian Griffin: any other lessons? I think I actually talked about all of mine because we were overlapping slash things floated to other things. Marissa Castillo: I do have one more and it's a very, very obvious one. Ready? Gillian Griffin: Say more. Marissa Castillo: Communicate. Ha ha ha. Gillian Griffin: That is not what I thought you would be writing down. Obviously, yeah, these people don't talk to each other. Marissa Castillo: No, you have to have in the villa open discussions about expectations, feelings, and conflicts. Where KC messed up with Anaya was not being honest about how he was feeling throughout his time there. So that's why it came to a shock to everyone when he came back with Titi and how Gillian Griffin: Yeah. And when he was moving so crazy in in Casa More, because we were all like, What? Marissa Castillo: Right. And communication doesn't just go for couples, but it goes for everyone. Because even Anaya's mom was saying, I don't think you've been very honest with Melanie about Sincere. I think you should be that friend that's like, I'm worried. I see things that, you know, maybe aren't the best. And just even Sincere's friendship with Anaya, he could have mentioned something of like, Hey, I don't know. Maybe you should have a conversation with KC because I'm not sure if he's really feeling the same way that you are, or maybe he has, you know, just something. Somebody could have given her a heads up. Y'all could have communicated to each other. Gillian Griffin: Yeah, a lot of the guys. Absolutely. And in general, it's just like it's better to be open and honest than shove feelings away. And also sometimes it's just a sign that your relationship doesn't work. Marissa Castillo: Mm. I think Gillian Griffin: If you if if you feel like you can't say things to each other and you can't come out the other side of it, your relationship actually doesn't work. Marissa Castillo: Mm-hmm. If I could have given talking about? my gosh, my brain is blanking on the word. If I could have given an award to Priya, it would have Gillian Griffin: Yes. Marissa Castillo: been best communicator because she was on it with everyone. She said, Okay, I had my conversation with you, I'm gonna have my conversation with you, I'm gonna say what that and that and that. Like she she she did that. Yes. Gillian Griffin: Yeah, she let everyone know what was going on. Yeah. Everyone knew exactly how she felt. Sometimes even when her feelings were not necessarily the best ones, where's my coffee? You know, she's Marissa Castillo: Mm-hmm. How long does it take? Gillian Griffin: very open and very direct. And some people said that's Marissa Castillo: Yes. Gillian Griffin: why they think guys were into her, but that's another conversation. I will say that less of a dating relationship. lesson, or maybe it still is. What I've learned from both villas socially is that the bar is in hell for men. And for women, it is sky high. Like the women who made mistakes and did things a little wrong. And even granted, some of the we've talked about the women who take the men back, whatever, but it's less like it's less of an indictment of them and more of the fact that we continue to let the men get away with so much. And if they were just held more accountable, I think the world would be so much better off because so many men get like these redemption arcs and they do like a little and it proves so much. And it's like, my gosh. my gosh. So may it felt like the guys were getting away with murder. And also when they were pulled up on things in both villas, they would lose their minds. They'd be like, I didn't really do anything that bad. It's always that it's not that bad. And then Marissa Castillo: Mm. Gillian Griffin: they get forgiven. Marissa Castillo: Right. And I will say Corbin did a really good job at realizing Sincere's actions and checking that. Cause Corbin was also like, You weren't honest with me and I had your back. And now I look like a fool for having your back. And you moved the wrong way. So I will say, Corbin, Gillian Griffin: Shock of all shocks. Absolutely. Marissa Castillo: good on you for holding Your boy accountable. I wish I saw that more in both Villas as well. Just Gillian Griffin: Absolutely. Sam Raj did a little bit sometimes. Sam did it. Shout out to Sam. Shout out to Sam Workman. Marissa Castillo: See Gillian Griffin: We love Sam. He was holding people accountable. And it felt like a lot of the boys were just like backing each other unnecessarily and then accusing the women of doing the the same thing when what the women did was actually not as bad when what the women Marissa Castillo: Mm. Gillian Griffin: did was back each other when they were supposed to. Whereas the guys got really like in their heads and hive minded and wigged out and would just be like, but you shouldn't be getting on him about that. It was re felt really unhinged. More in the even more in the UK villa, but also in the US villa. Just a lot of double standards and men low standards for the men as well. Marissa Castillo: Absolutely. And I will say there was a stark difference in when the women were called out and they apologized versus the men being called out. Kenzie, perfect example. She saw everything play out right in front of her. She said, I can't even deny that that's what happened. I didn't mean to. I'm sorry. I didn't you know, all of these things. She was very genuine and even a few days later a day later, two days later, she was still thinking about it, still feeling bad about it. Whereas The men were like, it took KC three days to apologize to Anaya properly. Gillian Griffin: Yeah, it took him a while to even realize what he did was that bad. And also just to say, a lot of the men when they were pulled up on something would throw the women under the bus about things that were not equivalent. Marissa Castillo: Mm-hmm. Gillian Griffin: Maybe like, but you this, like sincere going to Melanie, yeah, but you don't even remember what you did to to so and so before, what you did to Corbin or whatever. And everyone was like, What are you talking about? Ania, you Marissa Castillo: Right. Gillian Griffin: haven't explored. Or or was it Trinity? Marissa Castillo: Trinity, you haven't explored. or the Kavan situation with Jordan and Jasmine. It's just like she didn't even give that man an inch. Relax. Gillian Griffin: People really acted like Jasmine and Jordan were up on the terrace making out, saying they were so into each other, but she wasn't sure. Like she like, I'm into you, but I'm not sure. I don't wanna like fully betray Kevin. So I hope that he comes back back. Did it like people act like they were making out and like they had seen Jasmine say, yeah, I wanna go to New York with you for Christmas. Marissa Castillo: Mm-hmm. Gillian Griffin: And that they were all over each other sleeping in the same bed, blah, blah, blah. Like, come on. Come on. Not Marissa Castillo: I know. Gillian Griffin: equivalent at all. Marissa Castillo: Which I think to your point, maybe your lesson in in summary would just be stop settling for the bare minimum. Gillian Griffin: I guess I'm just still saying hold hold Marissa Castillo: I mean Gillian Griffin: hold more people accountable. Like equality. Let's have some equality. Let's have some critical thinking. Just also, I think Marissa Castillo: Mm. Yeah. Gillian Griffin: it's worth noting when your partner who is a man who's being held to a lower standard in life by design is throwing you under the bus or can't just admit that he did something wrong. You know what I mean? Like Marissa Castillo: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Gillian Griffin: it's Very concerning. It's very concerning. And that's why, hands up, at least Samraj, when he did really do something wrong, except for his fight with Priya. That's the only thing that hill that he's gonna die on. Marissa Castillo: Yeah. Gillian Griffin: He usually was like, I did that wrong, I'll hold my hands up. You know what I mean? It's a different quality of person. And he Marissa Castillo: Yeah, for sure. Gillian Griffin: didn't go, but you did this except for the one fight with Priya. Which to be fair, both of them said things were wrong. They should never speak about it again. Never. Marissa Castillo: Right, please. Let's never bring it up again. Thank you. Gillian Griffin: man. And I think that's the tea. Marissa Castillo: That's a tea. Gillian Griffin: I hope y'all enjoyed this, our actual first episode. There's an episode coming out where I have misspoken and I'm so sorry because we recorded in the wrong order and I regret it. shut up, Gigi. but yeah, this is our first topic episode where we're not just talking about rewatching an episode or watching an episode of Love Island. But if you would rather us switch to rewatching one series of Love Island or another, I think we're down. We'll have to work out. Exactly how we'll do it probably would have to be like two or three or four episodes that we talk about per episode in order to like get it out in a timely manner. But let us know if there's a season you really want us to watch. I think probably season five UK would be at the top of the list to rewatch because it's so famous and I'm sure everyone's telling you, you f you just got into Love Island this year. You should watch season five of UK. So Marissa Castillo: Yes. Gillian Griffin: that's up there on the list. We can switch to that. Just thought maybe doing topics and news would be fun as well. But let us know what you prefer. I'm gonna put up a poll on the Patreon, which will be free to view, and then check out our tiers if you'd like to join. Got tiers starting at one dollar going to twenty five dollars just to see how people feel about us, you know? You can also leave reviews on Apple, rate us on Spotify, or drop a comment on Spotify. You can also get to us in the DMs real easily right now on Instagram and TikTok, meaning where can they find those accounts? Marissa Castillo: You can find us at Love Island Tea Time on TikTok or Instagram. And if you feel like following us on X, you can follow us at Capital L I Tea Time Pod. Our Instagram page does have our link tree as well, where you can find all the links to all the things, including our Patreon. And yeah, thanks for listening. Gillian Griffin: That's right. That's right. You'll hear from us next week. Bye. Marissa Castillo: Bye.