Love Island's Felipe Dishes About Courtney And His Approach To The Show - Exclusive Interview

When the first batch of contestants make their way to the island — or the villa, in this season's case — you know that you're in for a treat that only "Love Island" can produce. The now international franchise has made a splash so big that audiences all over the world are tuning in. From the United Kingdom to Australia to Greece to the United States, "Love Island" not only gives fans a chance to root for their favorite couples, but also allows them to sink their teeth into some serious drama. And with cast shake-ups and new additions, you truly never know who is going to tread water and who's going to sink to the bottom of the pool.

As Season 4 of "Love Island" is nicely underway, couples are starting to fortify their bonds, and newcomers are — as always — keeping the more vulnerable contestants on their toes. We all saw when Tyler Radziszewski sparked a connection with Sereniti Springs, only to be kicked off the island when Chazz Bryant came onto the scene. To the disappointment of those who always root for the OG cast members, Felipe Gomes was sent packing this week. 

After his exit from the villa, we got the chance to sit down with the model and now "Love Island" star to get all the information you want to know. What really happened between him and Courtney Boerner? Does he have any regrets from his time on the show? Did he have a feeling he was going to go home? Gomes spilled all during our exclusive interview.

You've shared in the past that it's been difficult for you to fall in love, but what was it about Courtney Boerner that initially caught your eye on "Love Island"?

From the beginning with Courtney, I felt she had a strong personality and she had attitude. This is attractive to me, when the girl's expressing what they're feeling. I feel like in a relationship, it is 50-50, so I have to give my best — and the girl [does] as well. But you don't have to pretend you are the person you are not. If you don't like something, you tell me. If you like me, and you want to know [more about] me, you tell me. Courtney came to me and was like, "I see the other guys as my friend. With you, I want to know something more. I feel that" — so I was happy.

I don't feel it's wrong; I like it when the girls do that, because I don't have to guess if they really want to be with me or not, so [it's] making my life easy as well in that way. I like that, because if I like someone, I'm going to say so. But to be guessing? I don't like it much.

Did you have expectations or a plan in place before going onto "Love Island"?

No, I put it in my mind that there are no expectations. The only thing I had in my mind was, "I'm going to live here as if it's my last day every day, and I'm going to have fun. [It] doesn't matter if I have a person or I'm alone — I'm going to have fun. I'm here to enjoy myself. I'm not going to stress myself [like], 'I need to find love.'" 

Love appears when we are ready for the love, not when you push yourself to find the love. I don't believe when you put in your mind, "Now I need a girlfriend," you're going to find it. No. Normally, the best relationships we have appear when we're not expecting them.

With that in mind, what were you looking for — something casual, something to catch your eye? What was it that you were expecting?

I went there to try to see if I could have a connection with someone and think about something more — is it time for a new girlfriend, a new adventure in life? But the thing for me is it was difficult to express myself because I don't like planning my life based on relationships. 

I feel [things are] changing a lot, and hundreds of times, the people are [not] honest with themselves. Normally, we say to the person what they want to hear from us, but not what we're really feeling. It's like, "Oh, this girl would like this, so I'm going to say that because I'm going to impress her." It's normally that way.

I'm open — if I find someone, I'm going to give my best. If I don't find it, I'm not going to be sad about that, because it was not going to happen.

When you boil down all the drama and look back in retrospect, in your opinion, why didn't it work out with Courtney?

Looking back, and after I watched the episodes when I went out, I understand she wanted to have something deeper with me — a deeper connection — but she never told me that. Like, "Hey, I want to know you more." I [had] just met her. If you are not comfortable as we are, tell me. I was set on the way I was knowing her. I cannot speak for myself 100% as for when we were in the villa. But I did the maximum I could. 

But if you want something more, tell me, because I don't want to guess. I feel like we didn't get a deeper connection about anything because I didn't feel she wanted that from me. I saw later when she had a deeper connection with [someone else], she was expecting that from me. But I didn't hear that when I was there, so we didn't [progress] that way. I didn't know, so how can I show you something I don't know?

[Courtney] assessed that your conversations were one-sided, but what's your response to that?

I don't know if all the time she was understanding what I was trying to tell her, because most of the time I had arguments with Courtney, they were about some couples' fights and she was asking my opinion. I don't give opinions on the relationships of others. I don't like it, because I don't know what they have in mind. I don't know what they are experiencing. For me, it was like, "Courtney, I like being with you, and I like what we have, but don't forget we are in the game. Some people are playing games. You cannot trust everyone here on five days, seven days. You need time for that."

She thought I was saying that I was playing the game, or if a girl came to the villa, I was going to turn my head. But guys came to the villa and she turned her head. She was telling me, "This is not possible." It is possible in the villa. Your feelings can change so much inside. It is not wrong what she did with me — [if] you feel something more about a guy, you have to go for it, because if you don't, he's going to leave the villa.

I totally understand. I was trying to tell her that we live here day by day, we didn't think about tomorrow, but she did not understand. She thought I was like, "I don't care if you lose me or not." No — of course, I care — but I'm not going to make a promise I [can't] keep. I was feeling more that way with her. It was difficult for me to express [that] to her and for her to understand what I was trying to say.

What was your gut reaction when she ended up picking Bryce Fins over you?

I [had a] feeling she was going to pick Bryce, first because of the day we had, and Courtney is a person who ... She doesn't hide what she's feeling or if something's wrong. When I talked with her before the coupling, I told her, "Don't worry, it's your decision. You do what you think is the best for you." I was feeling that, and [it was also] because she was like, "No, but even if I pick him, I still want to know you," or something. I'm sorry, but in the villa, we don't have time to get to know two people.

You either have one, or you're going to lose both of them. All the people who try to have two things in the villa — it becomes more drama. I don't believe you can do that.

Do you have any regrets about your time on the show?

No. I don't have any regrets. I was really happy. Even when I left, I felt like I did my best inside. I'm proud of myself because I didn't use anyone to stay there or try to be fake with someone. No — I followed my feelings and I'm happy about that. Okay, it didn't work out, but I did what I felt [was right] to do, so I was happy.

What would you say you learned about yourself during your time on the show?

You have to tell the person who is next to you what you're feeling. It doesn't matter if she feels the same as you or not. Normally, when you have a relationship, you want to say to the person, "I love you," but you're expecting [their answer]. She wants the person to answer, "I love you too." No — they don't have to answer what you want to hear.

This is the biggest thing I learned — you do your best. If something goes wrong, you [have to be] good with yourself. I gave it my best, and I said what I had to say.

Now that you've been through this experience, you're back in Dubai. What is on the horizon for you? What's next?

Well, I'm focused on my work now. I have a busy week. These next few days, I'm going to start working from tomorrow on, and then let's see what's going to come. There are some secrets we cannot share — now we are waiting for confirmation. Let's see how it goes. Those are going to be the next steps. I'm talking with my manager, so we'll see. Let's live day by day.

"Love Island" USA Season 4 drops new episodes Tuesdays through Sundays on NBC's Peacock, with recap episodes releasing on Saturdays.

This interview was edited for clarity.