If you were glued to your screen during the second season of Love Island USA, you definitely remember the chaos. It was the "quarantine season" in Las Vegas. Everyone was stuck in a hotel villa, and amidst the neon lights, we got the absolute roller coaster that was Connor and Mackenzie from Love Island.
They were day-ones. Mackenzie Dipman and Connor Trott locked eyes, coupled up, and basically became the villa's "mom and dad" within forty-eight hours. But as any reality TV fan knows, the higher you climb, the harder the fall.
The Casa Amor Disaster and Gus the Bear
Honestly, Mackenzie gets a bad rap for what happened at Casa Amor. She was in her head. She felt like America didn't like her because the public kept voting Connor onto dates with other girls. Remember Lauren? That was a mess. Mackenzie wanted reassurance, and Connor, being the sweet but somewhat non-confrontational guy he was, struggled to give it to her in the way she needed.
So, Casa Amor happens.
Mackenzie, convinced Connor was going to stray or that he didn't truly want her, recoupled with Jalen Noble. It was a defensive move. Then came the walk of shame—or rather, the walk of heartbreak. Connor walked back into the villa completely alone, clutching Mackenzie’s teddy bear, Gus.
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It was brutal. Truly.
Jalen turned out to be a bit of a dud for her, and Mackenzie realized she’d made a massive mistake almost immediately. But the damage was done. They eventually both got dumped from the island separately, and it looked like the end of the road.
Reunited and It Felt So Good (For a While)
Here is the thing most casual viewers missed: they didn't actually give up.
The second Connor got his phone back after being eliminated, he didn't call his mom. He FaceTimed Mackenzie. She was at the airport, Gus in hand, and they decided to give it a real shot in the "real world."
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For a few months, they were actually the "success story" of Season 2. While other couples like Justine and Caleb or Cely and Johnny were imploding in very public, dramatic ways, Connor and Mackenzie were posting cozy photos from Arizona and Pennsylvania. They even got a second teddy bear named July (Jules) to keep Gus company. It felt wholesome. It felt like they might actually beat the odds.
Why Connor and Mackenzie Finally Called It Quits
In March 2021, the news finally broke. They were done.
It wasn't some scandalous cheating drama or a blow-up fight. It was just... life. Connor was starting his career as an auditor—a job that famously requires 80-hour weeks during "busy season"—and he was based in Pittsburgh. Mackenzie was in Tucson, focusing on her own brand and finishing school.
They released a joint statement that was actually pretty mature for reality stars. They basically said that they were young, their careers were pulling them 2,000 miles apart, and they couldn't see a way to merge their lives anytime soon.
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"Relationships are all about timing, and this is just not our time."
It’s a bit of a cliché, sure, but in this case, it actually rang true. Long distance is a relationship killer, especially when one person is grinding in public accounting and the other is living the influencer life.
Where Are They Now in 2026?
A lot has changed since the days of the Las Vegas villa.
Mackenzie actually made a surprise return to Love Island USA in Season 4 as a "bombshell" to see if she could find lightning in a bottle twice. It didn't lead to a lasting villa romance, but she eventually found love outside the show with someone from the production side of things. She's been in a steady relationship for a while now and continues to run her podcast and clothing line.
Connor, on the other hand, took a hard pivot. He left the world of accounting behind—which, honestly, good for him—and moved to California. He’s now heavily into fitness, Christian influencer content, and motivational speaking. He’s much more private about his dating life these days, but he seems to have found a lane that suits him way better than a cubicle.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're still holding out hope for a Season 2 reunion, here’s the reality check:
- Follow the individuals, not the couple. Both Connor and Mackenzie have moved into completely different phases of life. Following their current projects (like Mackenzie’s podcast) gives a better look at who they are now versus the edited versions we saw in 2020.
- Don't believe the "editing" entirely. Mackenzie has spoken out multiple times about how much of their "good" moments were cut from the show to make her look more "difficult." When revisiting the season, keep in mind that the producers wanted drama, not a stable romance.
- Respect the distance. Most Love Island breakups happen because of the geographic gap. If you’re rooting for a new couple in the current season, check their zip codes—it’s the best predictor of whether they’ll last past the reunion special.