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The latest controversy surrounding Perfect Match Season 3 centers on Louis Russell’s unexpected hard launch of his new relationship with Love Island USA’s Huda Mustafa, an announcement that hasn’t sat well with some of his castmates. Rachel Recchia, who also appears in the third season of Netflix’s Perfect Match, spoke publicly about her disappointment with Louis during her August 5 appearance on The Viall Files podcast.
The season is still airing on Netflix, and cast members are expected to keep key relationship developments private until the finale drops.
“It’s literally airing, we have what, maybe two weeks. It feels, like, a little selfish,” Rachel said. “It affects the whole cast.”
Her comments followed Louis and Huda’s joint appearance at the Weapons premiere on July 31, where they were photographed holding hands. This public debut confirmed dating rumors and prompted fan speculation about how it impacts the Perfect Match Season 3 storyline.
Louis and Huda's romance stirs up Perfect Match drama
Louis Russell is a returning Netflix reality star, previously seen on Too Hot to Handle season 5, who joined the cast of Perfect Match season 3, hoping to form a lasting connection. Throughout the early episodes, he appeared to be developing a strong romantic relationship with fellow contestant Sandy Gallagher. However, outside of the villa, he was already forming new ties.
On July 31, Louis and Huda Mustafa walked the red carpet together at the Los Angeles premiere of Weapons, confirming prior sightings in London that fueled dating speculations. The first part of Perfect Match season 3 had just dropped on Netflix on August 1, and the timing of the couple’s public reveal disrupted the viewing experience for fans expecting an unfolding storyline on the show.
Rachel Recchia directly addressed the situation in her Viall Files interview.
“I love him as a person. I think he’s amazing. I get along with him so well. He’s such great TV,” she said. “It just feels, like, kinda selfish a little bit. I mean Sandy and him have such a good connection on the show. Now people are kinda seeing things like, ‘Oh, what’s going on now?’”
Fallout spreads from cast reactions to friendships outside the villa
The fallout from Louis’ decision didn’t stop with disappointed cast members. His budding romance with Huda appears to have triggered tension with longtime friend and Love Island USA season 6 alum Miguel Harichi. While Miguel hasn’t confirmed all the details of his rift with Louis, he publicly addressed the situation via Instagram Stories on August 2.
“It feels ridiculous I’m even writing this message, but this [is] the world I’m in, and everyone seems to need an explanation,” Miguel wrote. “The people you thought I was close to, please remove that idea from you’re [sic] mind because it’s clear to me now, we’re walking two different paths.”
Much of the speculation stems from interactions between Huda and Miguel’s girlfriend, Leah Kateb, also from Love Island USA season 6. Fans noted Leah unfollowed both Huda and Louis, leading to online rumors of a feud. Miguel later explained Leah’s decision by stating,
“They did it because, as women, the reasoning behind why he was dating her didn’t sit right with them.”
In a TikTok posted in July, Leah directly shut down speculation about her involvement in Love Island. She clarified that she hadn’t commented on the show at all, saying she wasn’t watching it and didn’t understand why people kept trying to involve her. Leah also dismissed rumors of any ongoing feud, stating that she genuinely wished everyone from the show well.
Huda also commented on her previous relationship with Love Island USA season 7 finalist Chris Seeley in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly in July.
“I will never sit here and just accept [whatever] as he says shut up to me. That’s another thing, Chris would want me to shut up. I don’t like that,” she explained. She added, “I’m not going to settle... It didn’t make sense for me to put on a show and be a happy girl and whatever when I’m not happy in my couple.”
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The second half of Perfect Match season 3 is set to premiere on Netflix on Friday, August 8.
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