Another season of the hetero mess Love Island USA has come to end, but it wouldn’t be a proper season without the fanbase aggressively questioning one contestant’s sexuality. This time around, we had two. While some fan comments were made out of wholesome thirsty shipping, the show’s audience continues to be a hotbed for homophobic taunting.

Even before they became finalists, contestants Aaron and Rob turned heads not only for their good looks but their close friendship. A classic reality TV “bromance” was born from the very start, but it escalated after the two lost the public vote and were sent home in the July 19 episode.

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Aaron and Rob shared a moment on the dock where they celebrated the fact that they were leaving together, looked back over their time on the island and thanked one another for providing a support system through the experience. Producers knew what they were doing with the soft guitar music backing it all.

During a segment of the recap show “Aftersun,” host Maura Higgins poked fun with a “bromance clip,” showing off cute moments of the two confiding in each other and sharing their emotions. She also brought up how much closer Aaron seems to Rob than his onscreen partner Kaylor. “You hugged Rob before Kaylor… You gave Rob a kiss and you didn’t kiss Kaylor …Maybe, you’re all gonna move in together?” she said, and the two laughed it off.

Fans desperate for any glimpse of queer romance on the series were quick to swoon.

Predictably, some of the speculation has been less hopeful and more homophobic. Even in jokes, some viewers seem a little too convinced Aaron and Rob’s interest in their actual romantic partners is fake and a little too quick to mock two men for being emotionally close.

“America finally did something right & get rid of these two. They can finally be lovers from the couch,” commented one user.

This kind of taunting is certainly not a first for Love Island. 

Luckily, the two men don’t seem at all bothered by the comments. But it’d be nice if—in the absence of queer contestants—this show could make it through a season without gay-baiting ridicule.

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