‘Love Island USA’ star Kenny Rodriguez hits back at racism claims one year after JaNa Craig breakup

“Love Island USA” prima Kenny Rodriguez is denying claims he’s racist a twelvemonth aft his leaked matter messages led to his split from co-star JaNa Craig.

The Season 6 alum collapsed his soundlessness connected leaked texts that led to their split, successful which

The Season 6 alums divided successful July 2025 aft Craig allegedly recovered matter successful which Rodriguez said he does not “like achromatic women” and was “faking” his relationship.

“It was a matter connection pinch a friend that I had earlier [the show] and I did opportunity a connection wherever I generalized and I return afloat accountability. It doesn’t correspond nan personification that I am,” he claimed during his Monday appearance connected “The Journey” podcast — without saying nan nonstop contented of nan messages.

“I’ve dated achromatic women before. I person achromatic ancestry, I’m Dominican, half of my family is acheronian skinned. There was ne'er a problem pinch race,” he said. “The problem was pinch really [Craig] was treating me.”

Rodriguez claimed that successful nan texts to his friend, he was “venting and getting fed up” astir nan “verbal abuse” he faced from Craig passim their relationship.

“I generalized and I made a connection that I’m not proud of. I deliberation it’s a spot cruel to return that business and to person that specify me,” he insisted.

According nan the 26-year-old, Craig had recovered nan texts by going done his telephone 1 nighttime while they were staying astatine a edifice successful Los Angeles.

After Craig confronted him pinch her findings, he asked to spell done her phone, which allegedly escelated nan situation.

“She sewage each up successful my face. She sewage physical. I said, ‘Nope. Here’s your phone. The doorway is there. I’m going to telephone 9-1-1. Here’s your phone.’

That’s nan past time that I saw her. I’ve sent her a missive expressing really I was emotion during nan relationship. It lasted excessively long.”

He claimed that aft she told their chap “Love Island” castmates astir nan texts and they exposed him connected societal media “everything came falling down.”

“She makes it look for illustration this came retired of nowhere, for illustration we weren’t having problems,” he claimed, while doubling down connected his accusation of “verbal abuse” against Craig.

“You’re not going to dainty maine for illustration that. I’m done. Because I haven’t treated you for illustration that.”

Rodriguez claimed Craig “took advantage of nan spot that we had and utilized that to destruct me.”

Following nan breakup, Rodriguez went backmost to his location successful Dallas. He claimed personification leaked his telephone number and he was “receiving 20 FaceTimes a second.”

“All I could spot was these messages like, ‘Go termination yourself. You don’t merit to beryllium here.'”

Craig took to her Instagram Stories pursuing Rodriguez’s question and reply to dispel her ex’s claims.

“To nan personification who thought it was a bully thought to nonstop maine a cease and desist, and past spell connected a full ass podcast and dress up consecutive f—king lies, very ballsy of you, really f—king insane!” she said. “But if you want to f—king play, let’s f—king play. I deliberation you should springiness maine support to driblet each nan matter messages. Why don’t we commencement there?”

She continued, “I spared you for a full f—king year. I’ve been minding my business, virtually focusing connected myself and my blessings, and you thought that was a bully idea?”

In her video, Craig besides claimed that she was nan 1 who was going to telephone rule enforcement connected nan nighttime she recovered nan matter messages because she felt “threatened” by Rodriguez, not nan different measurement around.

The “Love Island USA” finalists announced their breakup successful July 2025 aft astir a twelvemonth of dating. Rodriguez and Craig some posted their ain societal media statements confirming nan news.

Although neither of them ne'er explicitly shared why they decided to extremity things, respective of Craig’s friends shared cryptic posts connected societal media starring fans to judge it was racially charged.