Casa Amor, a franchise staple in which the male islanders are sent to a secondary villa to mix and mingle with a new batch of beauties. Casa Amor is touted as the ultimate relationship test, and it certainly threw original islander Johnny for a loop. Johnny had been partnered with Cely from the very beginning, and the couple was easily the most lovey-dovey of the season, seemingly impervious to having their heads turned by new arrivals.
But that all changed when Johnny met Mercades, a 26-year-old social media influencer from Los Angeles. Mercades set her eyes on Johnny, and after the two felt a mutual attraction, things heated up in Cely's absence. Johnny reiterated his intent to stay with Cely constantly, which contradicted his series of kisses and cuddles with Mercades. After a couple days, Johnny recommitted himself and his lips to Cely, and Mercades soon moved on to pursuing a relationship with another islander, Carrington. When decision day came, Johnny re-coupled with Cely, and Carrington chose to pursue new girl Laurel, leaving Mercades dateless and thus kicked off the show.
After leaving the show, Mercades took a hiatus from social media and interviews, but fans of the show continued to berate her for her salacious behavior with Johnny. She appeared on YouTube channel After The Island, hosted by season 1 islanders Alexandra Stewart and Elizabeth Weber, on Wednesday to give her side of the Casa Amor story. While explaining how the producers misrepresented her on the show with a bad edit, she commented on how Love Island fans, particularly those who stan Johnny and Cely, have cyber-bullied her. "It's hard coming out of this and the internet hating you in every way possible. It sucks coming out and hearing I'm a homewrecker or 'go kill yourself'," Mercades said.
Before entering the villa, Mercades was extremely active on social media, boasting a combined follower count of 224,000 across Tik Tok, Instagram, and Youtube. However, the onslaught of bullying and hate towards her reality persona has left her and her family reeling. Mercades mentioned that the social media slander has also affected her mother, who allegedly hasn't eaten for days in worry over her daughter's well-being.
Mercades started an Instagram live for the first time the day after her After the Island interview released, letting her followers know that friends would continue updating her social media on her behalf while she recovers from her Love Island USA experience.
Source: After The Island