Love Island USA Shake-Up: Maura Higgins Axed from Aftersun, Sophie Monk Takes Over
In a surprise move, Irish beauty Maura Higgins has been replaced as the presenter of Love Island USA spin-off Aftersun. The 34-year-old hosted the sister show, which airs on streaming service Peacock in the US, for its fifth season last year. According to The Sun, Maura has been replaced by Sophie Monk, who will be familiar to Love Island fans as she hosts the Australian version of the show (The Sun).
The shake-up was announced via an Instagram post on the show’s official account, with a posed snap of a beaming sofa and the caption: "Welcome Sophie Monk to the Aftersun family!" Main show host Ariana Madix, who found fame on Vanderpump Rules, shared her excitement over the new hire, stating: "You guys have no idea how much i’m dying over this." As reported by The Sun, it is understood that Maura has not been axed however, and the shake-up is due to scheduling conflicts (The Sun).
An insider teased: "She wasn’t able to commit to hosting Aftersun this season due to other work commitments, but she will be back on screen in some capacity later in the run." While it’s not confirmed, one fan theory is that she is believed to be filming the US version of The Traitors, following in the footsteps of fellow Love Island star Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu. As The Sun previously reported, it is thought that she may return to host Aftersun for the second season of Love Island Games, which films later this year in Fiji (The Sun).
Fans were quick to ask where Maura was, with one worried follower writing: "Oh no! What happened?!" However, another reassured them, replying: "She’s going to be on traitors. She’s back for love island games." Maura is yet to make any official comment herself on social media. The Sun has contacted a rep for Maura for comment. According to The Sun, Sophie Monk will be taking over as host of Aftersun, bringing her experience hosting the Australian version of Love Island to the role (The Sun).
It’s certainly been a tricky year for Maura, who hails from County Longford, Ireland. Back in February, she faced a huge backlash after she was snapped sharing a drunken kiss with McFly’s Danny Jones at a Brits after party. The pair grew close after starring on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! last November. And while Danny has patched things up with wife Georgia and issued a grovelling apology, Maura has not publicly commented on the scandal, as reported by The Sun (The Sun).
As the Love Island USA franchise continues to grow in popularity, it seems that Maura Higgins will be taking a break from the show to focus on other projects. With Sophie Monk taking over as host of Aftersun, fans will be eager to see how the new dynamic plays out. According to The Sun, Maura’s replacement was announced on the show’s official Instagram account, with fans reacting to the news (The Sun).
This breaking news has sent shockwaves through the reality TV world, and The Sun will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. For now, it’s clear that Sophie Monk is set to bring her own unique energy to the role of Aftersun host, and fans will be tuning in to see how she performs. As reported by The Sun, the next series of The Traitors USA has yet to be officially confirmed, but fans will be keeping a close eye on Maura’s future projects (The Sun).
