Los Angeles just got a little steamier and a lot more controversial.
Reality TV’s favorite emotional whirlwind Huda Mustafa (Love Island USA) and smooth-talking clout magnet Louis Russell (Too Hot to Handle) were spotted holding hands in Los Angeles this weekend, setting the internet on fire with speculation, slander, and a splash of support. While the couple has yet to confirm a relationship or even a collaboration, the public photo-op has triggered a social media storm of both concern and chaotic approval.
And naturally, the internet is not keeping quiet.
A Picture Worth a Thousand Opinions
The now-viral photo shows Huda and Louis walking hand-in-hand outside near The Grove, casually dressed and seemingly unbothered by fans. But while the pair appeared cool and collected, their fans and critics were anything but.
Within minutes, screenshots of the sighting began circulating on X (formerly Twitter), with users dissecting the implications of the pairing. The backlash was immediate, intense, and wildly personal.
One user tweeted bluntly:
“huda doing everything except going to see that child she always crying about & bringing up”
That jab triggered a wave of commentary about Huda’s highly publicized relationship with her daughter, whom she often references emotionally on screen. For many, this new outing undermines her past emotional appeals.
Another tweet piled on:
“huda saying she was gonna surprise her daughter for her bday but not showing up.. instead she hanging out with louis russell…. right right”
Others were more disoriented than angry, unwilling to process what they saw:
“anyways I’m just gonna pretend I didn’t see huda and louis spotted together because no”
“Girl…. Huda need to sit down and HEAL!!! Why tf is she out with Miguel’s friend Louis?”
Louis Russell: The Reality TV Villain Who Stays Relevant
Louis Russell is no stranger to controversy. Known for being an opportunist, loudmouth, and serial flirt on Too Hot to Handle, Louis has parlayed his reputation into a sort of career in commentary. He’s become infamous for dissecting other contestants’ drama, often inserting himself into viral narratives, sometimes with little more than an Instagram Live.
Which is why some users saw this Huda moment coming from a mile away.
“Lmaooo Louis linking with Huda isn’t a surprise, they were in his comments telling him to get with her & we all know he is a clout chaser”
“Louis is a clout chaser….. he was obsessed with giving reviews about Leah last season and hated her for Miguel…..This season when Huda was trending everywhere he started making reviews about her”
This isn’t Louis’ first flirtation with drama-by-proximity. And fans are calling him out.
“They’re happy about Louis, like Louis? Proof that they’re all crazy like her, Louis just be passing around like a hoe”
“louis & huda… that man is such a whore oml”
Huda’s Fanbase Splits: Loyalty, Logic, and Light-Skinned Men
Despite the criticism, some fans are defending Huda’s right to live and love as she pleases.
“ngl, i know Louis is problematic but I support Huda’s rights & wrongs like they’re probably just having fun and she knows what she’s doing. She’s grown”
“yall are weird again cuz how does a picture of Louis and Huda equate to her trying to get with him… a girl can’t hang out with a guy??? I can’t stand yall”
Still, others questioned her patterns, particularly when it comes to her taste in men.
“Huda choices in man oh my God she just jump on the next light-skin man that she found”
There’s a narrative forming. Huda as a woman who rushes into connections, publicly, and Louis as a man who thrives off them. And for many fans, this is less a romance and more a PR blueprint for how to stay trending in a post-Love Island, post-Too Hot To Handle media landscape.
So… Are They Dating?
There has been no confirmation from either Huda or Louis about the nature of their hand-holding rendezvous. Was it a date? A fling? A staged grab for attention? Or are they just genuinely into each other and unbothered by the timeline’s hysteria?
