'love Island Usa' Executive Producer James Barker Dies After 'medical Emergency' During Filming

The “Love Island USA” accumulation squad is mourning nan nonaccomplishment of executive shaper James Barker, who died past week while connected group successful Fiji.

“Love Island USA” producers ITV America and Peacock confirmed Barker’s decease successful a media merchandise shared pinch The Times connected Monday. The announcement said that Barker died aft “an unexpected aesculapian emergency” but did not supply further details, including nan time of his decease and a origin of death. Barker was 40.

“James’ unimaginable nonaccomplishment has been profoundly felt crossed not conscionable nan full Love Island USA production, but passim each of ITV and Peacock,” nan tv companies said successful a associated statement. “He was a beloved and greatly weighted personnel of our corporate family whose kindness, talent and dedication near an indelible people connected each of america and everyone who had nan privilege of knowing and moving pinch him. We widen our heartfelt condolences to James’ family, friends and colleagues.”

Barker began his tenure connected “Love Island USA” successful 2020, first moving arsenic a communicative producer. He has worked arsenic an executive shaper connected nan bid for nan past 3 seasons and was besides a personnel of nan producing squad connected “Love Island” companion bid “Love Island Games” and “Love Island: Beyond nan Villa.”

Barker, according to Monday’s statement, besides oversaw nan deed series’ popular soundtrack. For an question and reply pinch Rolling Stone successful 2025, Barker recalled watching nan original British “Love Island” bid and really popular euphony supplemented nan on-screen romances and heartbreak: “I deliberation that is wherever my encephalon instantly said, ‘One, this is amazing, and much shows should beryllium for illustration this.’ And two, ‘How do I activity connected “Love Island”?’”

Barker besides noted successful nan question and reply that he drew inspiration for nan “Love Island USA” villa sound from his pre-TV profession arsenic a nightlife DJ and said astir nan process of hand-selecting euphony from established popular acts and up-and-coming artists.

“In nan past, location was specified a stigma astir reality shows that a batch of artists didn’t want their euphony associated pinch reality shows. And that’s starting to move astir now,” Barker told nan outlet. “[Artists are] much and much seeing, well, one, nan financial facet of having your euphony synced successful these benignant of shows, and besides conscionable nan wide scope of viewers.”

Before “Love Island USA,” Barker was a shaper connected reality bid “Pawn Stars,” “Counting Cars” and “Forged successful Fire.” He later served arsenic a communicative shaper connected “Queer Eye,” “Cosmic Love” and “Are You My First?” Outside of his TV work, Barker often performed as DJ Chaotic astatine cheery barroom C’mon Everybody successful Brooklyn.

“Love Island USA,” which began its eighth play earlier this month, will salary tribute to Barker successful Tuesday’s episode.

He is survived by his mother Malinda.