Islanders
Who Is Johnny Middlebrooks on ‘Love Island Games’? His History With Cely Vazquez & More
One of the best parts about Love Island Games is all of the contestants’ preexisting lore, and a few of the franchise veterans battling it out in Season 2 have as much as Johnny Middlebrooks.
The bombshell has made a splash since he arrived in the villa in Episode 3. If you’re tuning in for Love Island Games for the first time and haven’t watched every season of Love Island USA, you might be wondering why Islander Sydney Paight joked that Johnny’s going to be on Love Island Season 80.
That’s where we come in. Swooon is here to help if you need some context (or a refresher) on Johnny as he competes for the $250,000 prize. What seasons of Love Island USA was Johnny on? And what exactly went down between him and his ex, Cely Vazquez? Keep reading for all the details.
Who is Johnny coupled up with on Love Island Games Season 2?
Johnny is currently with Gabby Allen, who appeared on Love Island UK Season 3 and went on to win Love Island: All Stars Season 2. His coupling up with her was far from drama-free. In Episode 10, Johnny put himself forward to be selected by a newly arrived Gabby, abruptly ending his partnership with Andreina Santos (Love Island USA Season 7).
At the time, Johnny and Andreina were one of the couples safe from elimination, but Andreina was made vulnerable when Johnny abandoned her. One episode later, Andreina was dumped from the Island following a public vote and a duel with Garbi Denteh (Love Island Netherlands Season 4).
Who is Johnny Middlebrooks?
Johnny is a 27-year-old Virginia native. When he attended the University of Mount Olive in North Carolina, Johnny was a track and field athlete. Since then, he’s made a name for himself in the reality TV world, appearing in shows like The Challenge and All Star Shore in addition to Love Island.
Outside of the Love Island world, Johnny is a dad to daughter Elena. He announced her arrival in April 2024. Weeks before joining Love Island, he shared a sweet photo with Elena on their “daddy daughter weekend.”
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What seasons of Love Island was Johnny on?
Johnny first came onto the scene in Love Island USA Season 2, which filmed in 2020. His journey in the franchise didn’t stop there, though. Johnny came back for Love Island Games Season 1 before starting his Season 2 run.
What happened on Johnny’s seasons of Love Island?
Love Island USA Season 2 contestants Johnny and Cely had a tense reunion on the first Aftersun episode of Love Island Games Season 2. (Cely was a guest panelist.) So what exactly is their history?
Johnny and Cely got together in the early days of Season 2, though they encountered some trouble during the Casa Amor episodes. Cely remained committed to Johnny, but the latter didn’t. When presented with new bombshells, Johnny pursued Mercades Schell. Ultimately, he chose to return to Cely, but his Casa Amor actions later caused problems between them. Still, they stayed together and came in second place.
Johnny and Cely broke up in January 2021, four months after the finale aired. They didn’t reveal the cause at the time. In a since-deleted X post, according to People, Cely wrote, “There is no reason to speculate, I am so thankful for our time together, but now it’s simply time for each of us to focus on our personal journey.”
So, it was a surprise for everyone, including Cely, when she was joined by her ex on Love Island Games Season 1. During a challenge, Cely was blindfolded and kissed by a bombshell, only to discover that it was Johnny. They didn’t get back together. Cely told him that “the only way you could ever kiss me again is if I were blindfolded.”
She also opened up about their breakup for the first time during Season 1. Cely said they parted ways after Johnny wouldn’t pay for her nachos at The Cheesecake Factory, and then he went Instagram live to talk about the debacle. “I just can’t even put into words how shocking it is to me that you would think that our interactions after that would be cordial or would be cool after how you left s**t,” she said.
In the end, Cely was eliminated with Love Island UK alum Eyal Booker, while Johnny and his partner, Love Island Germany‘s Aurelia Lamprecht, finished in second place. That brings us to the present day, since Johnny’s back to win the title of Love Island Games champ Season 2. Are you rooting for him? Let us know in the comments below!
Love Island Games, Season 2, Every Night Except Wednesdays, 9/8c, Peacock
