⚠️ Breaking News: Survivor 52 Production Suspended Following Shocking Murder Investi
⚠️ Breaking News: Survivor 52 Production Suspended Following Shocking Murder Investi
THE executive producer of Love Island USA has died in the middle of filming the latest season in Fiji.
The Peacock reality dating series is currently filming its eighth season on the island, but the unexpected death has rattled production just one week into the season.
James Barker, who has served as the show’s executive producer for the past three seasons, suddenly passed away after experiencing a medical episode, The U.S. Sun confirmed on Monday.
The 40-year-old died following an “unexpected medical emergency,” ITV America and Peacock said in a statement.
The show will honor James in Tuesday’s episode, the networks said.
“James’ unimaginable loss has been deeply felt across not just the entire Love Island USA production, but throughout all of ITV and Peacock,” the statement said.
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“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.
A Peacock source told The U.S. Sun that James’ death was unrelated to filming but further details cannot be disclosed at this time.
James signed on as the show’s full-time executive producer in January, after spending years working on the popular franchise, per his LinkedIn page.
He previously worked as an executive producer on a freelance basis for several seasons of the show and its spin-off, Love Island Games.
James also ran point on numerous other reality shows, including the Hulu reality series, Are You My First? and produced the Emmy-winning Netflix series Queer Eye, and Pawn Stars.
The New York native joined ITV America around August 2020.
Aside from reality TV, James also had a passion for music and spent 20 years DJ’ing around the country.
He shared this love with his partner, Adam, whom he met at a live show.
In one of his final Instagram posts, James gushed over his Love Island USA colleagues, hours after the Season 8 premiere.
He shared a black-and-white photo of himself with three others who worked behind the scenes with him.
“We come to Fiji for magic. We come to @loveislandusa to laugh, to cry, to care.
“Our islanders feel like the best part of us, and stories feel perfect and powerful… because here… they are.
“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,” his caption read.
This season has been record-breaking for the franchise and Peacock, as it has raked in astounding numbers.
According to NBCUniversal, the first few episodes accumulated 824 minutes of watch time.
It also secured the title of the number one most-streamed original season debut in the platform’s history.
