The Shocking Truth: Who Did Pepe Cheat On Iris With? The Love Island USA Scandal Explained

The question of "Who did Pepe cheat on Iris with?" is one of the most explosive and persistent rumors to emerge from Love Island USA Season 7, but the actual truth behind the scandal is far more complicated—and surprising—than the initial social media buzz suggested. As of December 2025, the relationship between Jose "Pepe" Garcia-Gonzalez and Iris Kendall, which finished fourth on the show, is definitively over, but the cheating narrative that led to their split has been fiercely debated by both parties.

The core of the drama revolves around a whirlwind post-villa breakup, a swift denial of infidelity from Pepe, and a counter-allegation that saw Iris quickly couple up with another Islander, Thomas "TJ" Palma. This article dives deep into the timeline, the allegations, and the full profiles of the reality stars involved in one of the season's most controversial splits.

The Love Island USA Cast Members at the Center of the Scandal

The speculation surrounding the cheating allegations involves three main figures from the Peacock reality series Love Island USA Season 7. Understanding their backgrounds provides essential context for the post-show drama.

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Jose "Pepe" Garcia-Gonzalez: Biography and Profile

• Full Name: Jose "Pepe" Garcia-Gonzalez.
• Age: 27 years old (at the time of the show's airing).
• Hometown/Origin: Originally born in Spain, with a background in Los Alamitos, CA.
• Occupation: Reality TV Personality, former college basketball player.
• Role on Show: Entered the villa on Day 9 as a bombshell and ultimately finished in fourth place with Iris Kendall.
• Key Entities: Basketball, Spain, Los Alamitos, Peacock, Love Island USA.

Iris Kendall: Biography and Profile

• Full Name: Iris Kendall.
• Age: 25 years old (at the time of the show's airing).
• Hometown: Los Angeles, California.
• Occupation: Influencer, content creator, and spray tan artist.
• Role on Show: Entered the villa on Day 9 and was coupled up with Pepe for the majority of her time, securing a spot in the final four.
• Key Entities: Los Angeles, Influencer, Spray Tan Artist, Content Creator, Final Four.

Thomas "TJ" Palma: Biography and Profile

• Full Name: Thomas "TJ" Palma.
• Age: 23 years old (at the time of the show's airing).
• Hometown: Tampa, Florida (originally from Pleasantville, New York).
• Occupation: Real estate agent.
• Role on Show: Entered the villa on Day 14 as a bombshell. He was connected to Iris early on, but she chose to couple with Pepe.
• Key Entities: Real Estate, Tampa, College Baseball Player, Bombshell, TJ and Iris.

The Cheating Allegations: Pepe’s Side of the Story

The breakup between Pepe and Iris occurred shortly after the Love Island USA Season 7 reunion aired in late August. While the couple appeared to be together at the reunion, a social media firestorm quickly erupted with rumors that Pepe had been unfaithful to Iris once they returned to the United States.

Pepe Garcia-Gonzalez has consistently and strongly denied all allegations of cheating.

In his public statements following the split, Pepe confirmed the breakup but adamantly rejected the notion that he was the one who had strayed. He referred to the accusations circulating online as a "false narrative" being pushed by the media and online gossip. Pepe maintained that he "did not" cheat on Iris.

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Crucially, the initial social media rumors that fueled the question "who did Pepe cheat on Iris with" never named a specific person or provided concrete evidence. The speculation remained vague, focusing only on the general accusation of infidelity as the cause of the split.

The Surprising Counter-Narrative: Iris and TJ Palma

The situation took a sharp turn when Iris Kendall officially stepped out with fellow Islander TJ Palma, just a few weeks after her breakup with Pepe. This development introduced a significant counter-narrative to the cheating scandal, suggesting that the question of infidelity might have been misdirected.

Pepe publicly hinted that Iris may have been the one who was unfaithful.

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Reacting to the news of Iris and TJ becoming an official couple, Pepe posted a cryptic message on social media, questioning how someone could "jump from one person to the next" so quickly. This strongly implied that Iris had moved on, or perhaps even started a relationship with TJ, while still involved with Pepe. TJ Palma was a bombshell who had expressed interest in Iris earlier in the villa, but she ultimately chose Pepe, making their post-show coupling particularly dramatic.

The rapid transition from the Pepe-Iris relationship to the Iris-TJ Palma relationship led many fans of Love Island USA to conclude that the cheating rumors surrounding Pepe may have been a distraction from the true reason for the breakup: Iris's renewed interest in TJ.

The Final Status of the Love Triangle

The dramatic fallout cemented the fact that the Pepe and Iris pairing was not meant to last outside of the Fiji villa. The relationship timeline was short-lived, with the couple confirming their split almost immediately after the reunion episode.

Here is the current status of the three key Islanders as of late 2025:

• Pepe Garcia-Gonzalez: He has continued to focus on his career and social media presence, maintaining his stance that he did not cheat on Iris. He is currently single and not publicly linked to any new relationship.
• Iris Kendall and TJ Palma: Despite the surrounding drama, Iris and TJ Palma became an official couple shortly after the breakup news broke. They are one of the confirmed couples from Love Island USA Season 7 who are still together, alongside other successful pairings like Clarke Carraway and Taylor Williams. Their relationship has been documented on social media, confirming that their connection was stronger outside the villa's constraints.

Ultimately, while the internet remains curious about "who did Pepe cheat on Iris with," the reality star himself denies the allegations, and no concrete evidence has ever surfaced. The most compelling evidence points toward Iris Kendall moving on quickly with TJ Palma, suggesting the end of the Pepe-Iris relationship was a complex mix of rumored infidelity, differing post-show expectations, and a new connection that blossomed almost immediately.