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James Barker, executive producer of the hugely popular reality dating show Love Island USA, died in Fiji.
Barker died last week after an “unexpected medical emergency” while filming the show’s eighth season, according to a statement from Peacock Television and ITV America.
“ITV America and Peacock will honor on Tuesday’s episode of Love Island USA Executive Producer James Barker, who died last week in Fiji after suffering an unexpected emergency,” the networks said in a statement provided to CBC News.
“The unimaginable loss of James has been deeply felt not only by the entire production of ‘Love Island USA’, but by all of ITV and Peacock,” the statement continued.
“He was a beloved and much-appreciated member of our close-knit family whose kindness, talent and dedication left an indelible mark on all of us and everyone who had the privilege of knowing and working with him. Our condolences go out to James’ partner, family, friends and colleagues.”
No other cause of death was given.
Barker got to work Love Island USA in 2020 as the show’s executive producer, according to the statement, and has been an executive producer for the past three seasons. He he started his television career in 2011, working as a producer for programs like these Car Counting, Named after Fire again Pawn Stars. At ITV America, he produced an Emmy-winning Queer Eye, the statement continued.
He is also a DJ, the statement said, with a devoted following.
“After meeting his partner Adam at the show, their shared love of music was at the heart of the life they built together – at home and enjoying music around the world.”
‘The perfect light and love of my life’
His colleague, Adam Roth, told NBC News in a statement that Barker “she was the perfect light and love of my life.”
“Even though it wasn’t enough, I’m so thankful for the time we had and the memories we made together.”
On social media, where he goes by @chaoticdj, Barker wrote yesterday about filming the show.
“Come to Fiji to experience the magic. Help to @loveislandusa laughing, crying, caring,” he wrote on Instagram.
On June 10, she wrote on Threads: “I wish I was in NYC right now. Fiji is great but nothing beats the vibes I get in my hometown.”
The eighth season of the show began on June 2, and the first several episodes generated 824 million minutes watched, a 74 percent increase over Season 7, according to a report from NBCUniversal.
Although Crave is offering the first five episodes of Love Island USA for free, viewers will no longer be able to stream the entire series for free on CTV platforms. Instead, they’ll need a Crave subscription. We asked Canadians how they feel about the new streaming paywall.
