Love Island USA executive producer James Barker died last week in Fiji following a medical emergency. While The Hollywood Reporter reported the cause as a medical emergency, a Peacock representative told TMZ that Barker died after suffering an “unexpected medical emergency.” Barker served as an executive producer for the past three seasons of Love Island USA, which is currently in its eighth season on Peacock. He began working on the franchise in 2020 as a story producer and also held similar roles on Love Island Games. His responsibilities included production, post-production, and overseeing the series’ soundtrack. Barker also worked on shows such as Pawn Stars, Counting Cars, Forged in Fire, and Queer Eye. Also, he spent 20 years as a DJ across the United States. ITV America and Peacock released a joint statement describing Barker as a “beloved and greatly valued member” of their collective family, noting that his “kindness, talent and dedication left an indelible mark” on those who worked with him. The statement extended condolences to his partner, Adam, and his family and friends. In a June 3 Instagram post, Barker celebrated the launch of the current season, expressing his appreciation for the “huge squad of brilliant people” involved in the production. The reality dating series will honor Barker in the episode airing this Tuesday. The show, hosted by Ariana Madix, premiered on June 2 and follows singles in a Fiji villa competing for a $100,000 grand prize. According to Deadline, the eighth season has achieved record streaming numbers for Peacock, marking a 74 percent increase in minutes viewed compared to the previous year.