The Love Island USA team is mourning one of their own.
ITV America and Peacock confirmed on Monday, June 15 that an executive producer has died while in Fiji, where season eight of the reality show is currently filming.
James Barker, who began working on Love Island USA in 2020, suffered an “unexpected medical emergency” last week, though no additional information of cause of death has been disclosed. He was 40 years old.
“ITV America and Peacock will honor in Tuesday’s episode of Love Island USA series Executive Producer James Barker, who passed away last week in Fiji after suffering an unexpected medical emergency,” the networks said in a statement to TMZ.
“James’ unimaginable loss has been deeply felt across not just the entire Love Island USA production, but throughout all of ITV and Peacock,” it continued.
“He was a beloved and greatly valued member of our collective family whose kindness, talent and dedication left an indelible mark on all of us and everyone who had the privilege of knowing and working with him. We extend our heartfelt condolences to James’ partner, family, friends and colleagues,” the statement concluded.
© InstagramJames first worked on Love Island USA as a story producer; he served as executive producer for the series for its last three seasons, contributing to the show’s production and post production, as well as overseeing its soundtrack.
According to his LinkedIn, James began working in television production in 2011, and worked on-and-off with the network since then, as well as for Scout Productions, Sharp Entertainment and Kinetic Content. He also worked on shows such as Food Network’s Chopped, Netflix’s Queer Eye, as well as the History Channel’s Pawn Stars, Counting Cars, Forged in Fire, plus WE tv’s Love After Lockup.
Love Island USA, which releases new episodes every weekday except on Wednesdays, airing a discussion show on Sundays, is hosted by Ariana Madix. Its current iteration, its eighth season, premiered on June 2, with filming of contestants presumably having started approximately two days prior.
© InstagramJames’ penultimate post on Instagram is a tribute to the series shared a day after its season eight premiere, in which he wrote: “We come to Fiji for magic. We come to @loveislandusa to laugh, to cry, to care,” referencing Nicole Kidman’s iconic AMC commercial.
© Getty Images“Our islanders feel like the best part of us, and stories feel perfect and powerful… because here… they are,” he went on. “Hope you’re all enjoying the new season brought to you by a huge squad of brilliant people, including the three models standing beside me.
Fans of the series were quick to commemorate him across social media, with one noting: “Easy to forget how many people work behind the scenes to make these shows happen. Rest in peace,” as others added: “It’s easy to celebrate the stars on screen, but productions are built by people like James Barker. A tragic reminder of how much unseen work goes into creating the shows we love,” and: “Heartbreaking. One moment you’re doing what you love, the next everything changes. Sending love to his family and colleagues.”
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