Love, longing, and luxury will be in full effect as the cast of Love Overboard gets ready to spill the tea. Hulu’s new reality dating show will drop the entire season at once, suggesting viewers can expect a whole lot of drama. Before the show premiered, the cast, including Bella, Gia, Lexi, Lo, James, and Tim, joined Where Is The Buzz, hosted by Kori Nicole Barnes, to give viewers the inside scoop.
No One Saw This Coming – Literally!
So, we were curious about the cast’s mental preparation for the show. The answer is simple: they didn’t prepare at all.
“We were literally taken from wherever we’re from, flown to Malta, put in a hotel room for days, and then dropped onto this boat on camera,” James revealed. “The twists as they came were so fresh because we didn’t know what the show was about.”
Tim added that the majority of the cast was given only 48 hours’ notice prior to the show.
“I had a 14-hour flight to Turkey, then to Malta,” he revealed. “We didn’t know anything about the plank. We didn’t know anything about the challenges. You reach a point of comfort once you understand the structure, but even after that, they kept you on your toes.”
Boys Will Be Boys… Until They Caught Feelings
James and Tim were quite candid about their mental state when they first arrived at the show.
“Part of us wanted to be the flirtatious lovers, but once we got out there, we thought, ‘No, we’re about to live on a yacht with a bunch of gorgeous women,’” Tim laughed. But both men admitted they were surprised when actual connections were made. “Me and James were probably surprised when we actually built strong relationships with some of the women,” Tim said. “That was a nice addition to the whole experience.”
The Challenge That Had Everyone Talking
When asked about the challenges they went through in the show, the challenge they both mentioned was the heart-rate lap dance challenge.
“My favorite challenge was the heart-rate lap-dance, but I didn’t even get to participate in it,” James said with clear disappointment. “No one challenged me and Gia at the time. But that was probably the most entertaining one for sure.”
Another challenge was mentioned by Tim. “The hardest challenge was swimming because I’m not Michael Phelps,” he said. “I came close to quitting. I’d rather you all win. I’m not doing this.”
Top Deck Drama: Servants and Champagne Demands
Another challenge the contestants went through was the tier system. The top deck was supposed to be for the “beautiful” ladies, while the rest were relegated to the lower decks. The drama this created was the spiciest in the show.
“People on the top side started getting comfortable and demanding,” James said. “‘Oh, you’re my servant.’ I’m like, ‘Okay, we’re not doing that out here.’ If you’re going to wave your hand at me, saying ‘I need more champagne,’ I’ve got to get up top.”
Tim was equally as real about it: “I was on the downside for at least three or four nights and did not like it whatsoever. It’s the trenches down there.”
What the Girls Want You to Know
The ladies of Love Overboard went into the show with a purpose, and they’re not letting the editing dictate their narrative.
Bella was true to herself throughout the show, and her family recognized it right away. “From the first episode, they’ve been like, ‘That is Bella. I’m not shocked, surprised, or anything,’” she said with pride. She was also real about the personal growth she experienced throughout the show. “I went on there almost unprepared because I had so many walls up from insecurities and my lack of self-love.”
Gia was real with her sisters at home, who identify as Black women. “As Black women, we are not monolithic—we come in all different shapes, sizes, and personalities,” she explained. “A Black woman making it off reality TV isn’t an anomaly. We do this. And I want people to understand that.”
Lexi, the lover girl, was real about finding her way quickly after planning to flirt her way through the show. “I’ve had boyfriends my entire life,” she joked. “What happened? Lover girl at heart.” She was also real about the vulnerability of being filmed for the first time. “When I have like 12 cameras in my face, I’m just not completely ready for that.”
Lo’s story was about the blindsiding she experienced with a partner who was not what she seemed. “I was there, my authenticity was there, even though the person I was coupled with wasn’t. They were saying one thing and doing another in interviews.” Nevertheless, she learned something important. “But I learned not to be jaded and stay open to love.”
A Favorite Memory on the Water
No phones, no TV, no music for most of their time on the water, but one day was special for the group.
“The producers had a Bluetooth speaker and let us play music, and we were all on the yacht just living it up.” This was one of the cast’s favorite memories. “It was amazing.” They agreed that dancing on deck at 7 PM was one of the best moments on their trip.
Binge-Worthy and Ready for It
With the entire series released at once, the cast is ready for the reactions. Bella is staying far away from Reddit and hate comments. Lo is ready to interact with fans and spill some tea. James and Tim are ready to hear what the fans have to say.
“I’m curious to hear their thoughts on the show, on certain cast members.” Tim is ready for the fans. “It’s going to be a really cool experience.”
Love Overboard is available on Hulu. Alex Cooper’s Unwell Productions, Jeff Jenkins Productions, 3BMG, and Walt Disney Television Alternative are the producers.
