'Love Island USA''s Chelley & Olandria On Black Women Having To 'Tone It Down' For Others To Feel Comfortable

During their first sit down on Keke Palmer's podcast, Chelley and Olandria reflected on the Stand On Business challenge and the overall hate they faced online.

"So many people had think pieces on what happened that night, or how we were, what we said, and this and that and stuff. And I'm like, 'you guys got one hour of a six, seven hour night, so I don't know what y'all saw, but I know it was nothing enough for you to think that you know what happened that night," said Chelley.

"Honestly, I could care less what y'all have to say because at the end of the day, everyone's sitting there, at least in the villa. We all were all on the same page of how we felt, and we're just speaking our truth. So the internet, you're getting whatever message that is being put out to you, but we know what happened in there. No one walked away from that conversation feeling like, 'oh my gosh, you guys did too much. You guys are being mean.' We all felt like everyone was being real and clear about everything."

Keke also asked them if they ever felt like they had to "tone it down" as Black women, pointing out the interaction on the show between Olandria and Huda after Taylor decided to leave his couple with Olandria.

"It's very exhausting to say the least. I truly feel like me and Chelley had to tone down a lot. To not cross over that boundary because a person that looks the opposite of us, soon as they get emotional, it's like, 'oh, we're going to cater to this person.' Bro, what about us?" Olandria explained.

It's seems as though what some people are saying on the internet contradicts how the other islanders feel about Chelley and Olandria based on their experiences in the villa. "What's crazy is, a lot of the times, everybody who's in that villa will tell you that they could always come to us for the best advice, to come vent to us, whatever," Chelley said.

"We're so level headed, we're so honest, we're so loving, we bring everybody a peace of mind, this and that. So to know how your fellow islanders feel, versus coming to the internet and seeing mean girl, disrespectful, angry this, that I'm like, wow, y'all really don't know us."

For other Black women who may want to go on a reality TV show, Chelley shares this piece of advice. "Honestly, all I can say is just be yourself. No matter how much you try to have a certain narrative or portray a certain narrative. Whatever is put out there is out of your hands.

"Like I said, we've been in the island with everybody. To know that we're one of the go to [for] people who love us so much. We bring, like I said, a sense of home to everyone, and then just to come out here and find out we're mean and this and that. So it's like, stick to who you are, have confidence in yourself, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. That's it."

Ain't that the truth. Love IslandUSA season 7 reunion premieres August 25 at 9 pm on Peacock.

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