'Love Island USA' executive producer James Barker dies after 'medical emergency' during filming

The “Love Island USA” accumulation squad is mourning the nonaccomplishment of enforcement shaper James Barker, who died past week portion connected acceptable successful Fiji.

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

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

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

Barker, according to Monday’s statement, besides oversaw the deed series’ popular soundtrack. For an interrogation with Rolling Stone successful 2025, Barker recalled watching the archetypal British “Love Island” bid and however popular euphony supplemented the on-screen romances and heartbreak: “I deliberation that is wherever my encephalon instantly said, ‘One, this is amazing, and much shows should beryllium similar this.’ And two, ‘How bash I enactment connected “Love Island”?’”

Barker besides noted successful the interrogation that helium drew inspiration for the “Love Island USA” villa dependable from his pre-TV vocation arsenic a nightlife DJ and spoke astir the process of hand-selecting euphony from established popular acts and up-and-coming artists.

“In the past, determination was specified a stigma astir world shows that a batch of artists didn’t privation their euphony associated with world shows. And that’s starting to crook astir now,” Barker told the outlet. “[Artists are] much and much seeing, well, one, the fiscal facet of having your euphony synced successful these benignant of shows, and besides conscionable the wide scope of viewers.”

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

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

He is survived by his parent Malinda.