James Barker, the manager producer of “Love Island USA,” has died, in response to ITV America and Peacock.
The networks launched an announcement saying his demise occurred in Fiji with out specifying a reason for demise.
“ITV America and Peacock will honor in Tuesday’s episode of Love Island USA sequence Govt Producer James Barker, who handed away final week in Fiji after struggling an sudden medical emergency,” the networks stated.
“James’ unimaginable loss has been deeply felt throughout not simply the complete ‘Love Island USA’ manufacturing, however all through all of ITV and Peacock,” the assertion continued.
“He was a beloved and vastly valued member of our collective household whose kindness, expertise and dedication left an indelible mark on all of us and everybody who had the privilege of realizing and dealing with him. We prolong our heartfelt condolences to James’ companion, household, pals and colleagues.”
Season 8 of “Love Island USA” is presently airing on Peacock. Peacock is owned by NBCUniversal, TODAY’s guardian firm.
Barker’s companion, Adam Roth, referred to as Barker “absolutely the gentle and love of my life” in an announcement about his demise to NBC Information.
“He introduced pleasure and brilliance to the whole lot he touched. James was such a champion of the group of younger music artists he was capable of introduce to audiences on Love Island,” Roth stated.
He added that the 2 met whereas attending a Billie Eilish live performance and that their shared love of reside music remained “a relentless” of their relationship.
“I’m so happy with the work he did and that he was surrounded by such a tremendous group. His loss is unimaginable. Whereas it was not sufficient, I’m so grateful for the time we had and the recollections we made collectively,” Roth stated.
Barker first began engaged on “Love Island USA” in 2020 as a narrative producer, in response to a press launch. He had been an govt producer for the previous three seasons.
He labored behind the scenes with the manufacturing and post-production crews, and he oversaw the truth courting present’s soundtrack.
Earlier than the Peacock sequence, Barker beforehand labored at Leftfield Photos as a producer on reveals reminiscent of “Counting Vehicles,” “Solid in Hearth” and “Pawn Stars.” He then began working at ITV America and produced “Queer Eye.” Along with “Love Island USA,” he labored on “Love Island Video games,” too.
Barker celebrated the beginning of “Love Island USA” Season 8 by sharing a photograph alongside different members of the present’s group.
“We come to Fiji for magic. We come to @loveislandusa to snigger, to cry, to care. Our islanders really feel like the perfect a part of us, and tales really feel good and highly effective… as a result of right here… they’re,” he captioned a June 3 publish. “Hope you’re all having fun with the brand new season dropped at you by an enormous squad of good individuals, together with the three fashions standing beside me.
Except for being a producer, Barker was additionally a DJ for 20 years and constructed a fanbase throughout the nation.
He often shared posts about his music pop-ups and the concert events he attended with Roth.
His position as an govt producer on “Love Island USA” allowed him to mix his passions.
He spoke in regards to the significance of music on the present in an interview with Rolling Stone printed in June 2025, revealing that the favored franchise first caught his consideration when he watched the flagship U.Okay. sequence.
“It actually was seeing ‘Love Island UK’ for the primary time the place I used to be like, ‘Oh, it simply is a leveling up of actuality and the way we are able to inform tales when you’ve got this private connection to a pop tune and also you see it utilized in context of a narrative that you just’re watching on TV,’” he stated on the time. “I feel that’s the place my mind instantly stated, ‘One, that is superb, and extra reveals needs to be like this. And two, how do I work on Love Island?’”
He defined that earlier than every season he would collect “actually an arsenal of music pre-cleared for the present.” He stated one among his favourite issues about crafting the soundtrack was highlighting unbiased artists.
“When we’ve put unbiased artists on who get their first sync or their first time on a giant present like this — I’ve seen Instagram movies up to now of them seeing their tune on tv for the primary time, flipping out,” he stated. “As a music head and a music lover, that’s the good factor on this planet.”
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