Unpacking Love Island’s Most Hilarious Word Mix-Ups
Let me simplify this for you—apparently you need a hand understanding Love Island’s linguistic slip-ups. The Peacock hit Love Island USA isn’t just a hotbed of romance and scheming; it’s also a masterclass in how English idioms can spectacularly backfire when uttered under pressure. I’ll walk you through the most iconic moments, complete with direct quotes and verifiable timestamps, so you don’t get lost in the villa vernacular.
First up is Huda Mustafa, who recently lit up season seven with a textbook case of “escape goat” instead of “scapegoat.” During a June 2024 episode, after her partner Jeremiah Brown opted for newcomer Iris Kendall on a date, Huda erupted: “Because of the fact that he had a great date with Iris, because of what we’re going through, he’s using her as a f—ing escape goat so that he can f—ing stay in the game.” (Source: E! Online, Peacock) Not content to let it slide, she doubled down when Jeremiah lost a challenge and picked Iris again: “Enjoy it, your safe option. Your escape goat. Enjoy.”
Next, brace yourself for Amaya Espinal’s portmanteau mishap. In the June 22 elimination ceremony confessional, she tried to express gratitude but coined “gratitually,” explaining, “I’m feeling sadness, and I’m also feeling a huge weight of gratitually.” Trust me, no dictionary entry is coming for that one. (Sources: E! Online, NBCUniversal)
Now, let’s hop across the pond to Love Island UK for some global flair. Season ten’s Zachariah Noble aimed for “making a mountain out of a molehill,” but solemnly pronounced “mole hole,” creating a meme-worthy moment when he lamented, “I’m not trying to make a mountain out of a mole hole.” And who could forget George Fensom’s faux pas on the same season? Attempting to compliment Molly Marsh, he declared, “Typically on the outside, I would levitate towards a girl like yourself.” Yes, he really said “levitate.” The charming contestant later trolled himself with a TikTok clip captioned, “Lost the plot at this point.” (Sources: E! Online, TikTok)
These gaffes aren’t just amusing footnotes; they riff on high-stakes dating drama, reminding us that under spotlight stress, even everyday phrases can turn into comedic gold. And with Love Island USA airing nightly (except Wednesdays) at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on Peacock, you now have a cheat sheet to appreciate every linguistic stumble.
Hopefully that wasn’t too mind-boggling for you—now you understand why fans keep replaying these verbal trip-ups. Glad I could clear that up for you.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online, Peacock, NBCUniversal, TikTok
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
