‘Love Island USA’ Executive Producer James Barker Dies After Medical Emergency in Fiji

Love Island USA executive producer James Barker died last week after suffering a medical emergency in Fiji.

Barker started working on Love Island in 2020, beginning as a story producer and working his way up to co-executive producer and executive producer, a position he had for the past three seasons. He had similar roles on Love Island Games. He worked on production and post-production and oversaw the series’ soundtrack.

Love Island USA will honor Barker in Tuesday’s episode of the hit reality dating series, currently in its eighth season, which premiered June 2 on Peacock. The Ariana Madix-hosted real-time competition show released new episodes every day of premiere week and then will drop new installments Thursdays through Tuesdays thereafter.

“James’ unimaginable loss has been deeply felt across not just the entire Love Island USA production, but throughout all of ITV and Peacock,” ITV America and Peacock said of Barker’s death in a joint statement. “He was a beloved and greatly valued member of our collective 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. We extend our heartfelt condolences to James’ partner, family, friends and colleagues.”

Barker began his TV career in 2011 at Leftfield Pictures, working on shows like Pawn Stars, Counting Cars and Forged in Fire. At ITV America he served as a story producer on the Emmy-winning Queer Eye and worked on shows for Kinetic Content, Scout Productions and Sharp Entertainment.

A devoted music fan, Barker had spent 20 years DJ’ing across the U.S., building a dedicated following of fans. He met his partner Adam at a show and, ITV and Peacock said in the release announcing Barker’s death, “their shared love of music was at the center of the life they built together — both at home and experiencing music all over the world.”

In a June 3 Instagram post, Barker had celebrated the launch of Love Island‘s latest season.

“We come to Fiji for magic. We come to @loveislandusa to laugh, to cry, to care. Our islanders feel like the best part of us, and stories feel perfect and powerful… because here… they are,” he wrote. “Hope you’re all enjoying the new season brought to you by a huge squad of brilliant people, including the three models standing beside me.”