Love Island’s Beatriz Hatz Reacts to Speculation About Her Sexuality

Beatriz Hatz isn’t running away from the rumors.

After being eliminated from Love Island USA this season, the Paralympic athlete spoke out about rumors regarding her sexual orientation that spread online during her time on the show.

On a recent episode of Love Island USA: Aftersun, Beatriz’s friend Jaleen told her via FaceTime that people online were spreading rumors about her, claiming she was attracted to women. Jaleen explained it was a trending topic on the internet.

Beatriz, a Paralympian who competed in both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, responded to rumors by explaining that athletes—especially women—are often unfairly stereotyped as being gay.

A friend of the bronze medalist spoke up for her, telling viewers that people were unfairly categorizing Beatriz and that the label didn’t reflect who she really was.

Beatriz spoke frankly, asserting her independence and saying she enjoys being herself. She expressed her attraction to men with a very direct statement.

The 25-year-old was dumped from the island on the June 12 episode on Day 10 of the competition.

Beatriz initially coupled up with Sean Reifel when she entered the Villa, but quickly connected with Gabriel Vasconcelos on the June 7th episode. However, a surprise recoupling shifted things, with viewers voting to pair Gabriel with newcomer Jen Terry, and Sol Dean with Sincere Rhea. This left Beatriz, Corbin Mimis, and Melanie Moreno at risk of being eliminated.

After Ariana Maddox revealed the choice between the two women, Corbin chose Melanie, resulting in Beatriz being eliminated from the island.

Still, Beatriz looks back at her brief romance with Gabriel fondly.

After leaving the competition, Beatriz spoke fondly of her bond with Gabriel, describing him as genuine, kind, and relatable.

Although Beatriz didn’t stay on the show for long, she was still a memorable contestant. She made history as the first athlete with a disability to be on Love Island USA.

Beatriz, who was born with one less bone in her right leg, felt empowered by the positive feedback she received online after a friend brought it to her attention. She shared, “I’m glad I seemed strong and confident.”

As for what she’d tell her teenage self?

She explained that while your problems might feel overwhelming right now, they aren’t as significant as they seem. Once you truly accept both yourself and your circumstances, life will become much simpler. She also encouraged being open to both kindness and negativity – accepting all experiences with an open heart.

Beatriz believes facing challenges due to her disability has made her strong, but with Gabriel, she could relax and express a more gentle and traditionally feminine side of herself.

She admitted that falling in love is frightening, but worth the chance when you find the right person—and Gabriel made her feel that way.

Keep reading to discover more about the contestants on season eight of Love Island.