Love Island's Miguel Clarifies Friendship Status With Perfect Match's Louis

Love Island USA season 6 alum Miguel Harichi is revealing where he stands with Perfect Match star Louis Russell after the presumed drama with their respective girlfriends.

“If you know me, you know I’m someone who’s very private. If I have a problem, I deal with it personally,” Miguel, 28, wrote in a Saturday, August 2, statement shared via Instagram Stories. “However, the more I dive into this world, the more I see some people have different takes on that, and perspectives can get corrupted.”

He continued, “People I called my friends feeling as though they have the right to talk on my relationship so negatively in such a public manner with no regard for how this might affect my girl’s mental [health]!”

Miguel has been dating Leah Kateb since 2024, when they met on season 6 of Love Island USA. Rumors swirled earlier this week that Leah, 25, allegedly unfollowed Louis, 24, after he attended the Weapons red carpet premiere on Thursday, July 31, with season 7 Islander Huda Mustafa. (Neither Huda, 24, nor Louis has addressed their current relationship status.)

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“Making assumptions without first understanding reasons behind certain actions and using that to let people drag her name and drag my relationship is disgusting,” Miguel added on Saturday. “I’m beyond disappointed, I’m beyond upset, and I honestly want no part in any of it.”

He continued, “It feels ridiculous I’m even writing this message, but this [is] the world I’m in, and everyone seems to need an explanation. So, here it is. The people you thought I was close to, please remove that idea from you’re [sic] mind because its clear to me now, we’re walking two different paths.”

Miguel further denied that Leah — and her Love Island besties — unfollowed Louis solely because he is reportedly dating Huda.

“They did it because, as women, the reasoning behind why he was dating her didn’t sit right with them,” Miguel claimed. “Whether or not they are truly falling for each other, at this point, I couldn’t care less. I wish them nothing but peace, but my road is my own, and I would prefer if my name and my girl’s name no longer closed into their world.”

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After Love Island USA season 7 concluded last month, fans noticed that Leah unfollowed Huda on Instagram. Leah later denied via social media that she had any “beef” with any of the Islanders.

“I’m incredibly proud of everyone who has gone on Love Island bc it takes a lot to put yourself up on a chopping board like this,” Leah wrote via TikTok comment last month. “I wish them all well truly. … I haven’t spoken about Love Island once. I’m not watching it. I don’t know why you guys want to involve me so badly. Please leave me alone.”

Huda, for her part, left the Love Island villa single after she and Chris Seeley ended their summer fling. It is not known how Huda connected with Louis, who is now competing on season 3 of Perfect Match. Throughout the first six episodes, Louis formed a connection with The Ultimatum alum Sandy Gallagher.

New episodes of Perfect Match drop weekly on Netflix.