Temptation Island continues to captivate audiences with its unique blend of reality TV drama and romantic intrigue, particularly following its successful reboot on Netflix. Originally launched in 2002 on Fox, the series experienced a revival on the USA Network in 2019, spanning five seasons before Netflix took the reigns. With its sultry island settings and bold relationship experiments, the show has always pushed boundaries. This prompts us to explore the current status of the four couples from the inaugural season of this latest iteration and whether any have managed to stay together.
The couples featured in the USA Network’s inaugural season include: Javen Butler and Shari Ligons, Karl Collins and Nicole Tutewohl, John Thurmond and Kady Krambeer, and Evan Smith and Kaci Campbell. It’s telling that a partner proposing a trip to Temptation Island as a “test”often signals underlying issues. Nevertheless, these couples embraced the opportunity to explore their relationships amidst picturesque backdrops and potential new flames.
Javen & Shari
Status: Unlikely Together As of 2025
Among the four couples, Javen and Shari initially appeared the most promising. High school sweethearts from San Francisco, they dated for eight years and cohabited for five before participating in the show. While contemplating marriage, Shari was cautious, remembering Javen’s past infidelity.
Javen’s fidelity during the series was noteworthy, setting him apart from other contestants. The couple even became engaged in the season finale that aired in March 2019. However, reports surfaced a year later indicating their breakup due to allegations surrounding Shari’s fidelity. Yet, they briefly appeared to reconcile, with Javen tagging Shari in a “date night”Instagram post in March 2024. More recently, however, there has been a noticeable absence of interaction between them on social media; neither follows the other, and their joint YouTube channel has been emptied of content.
Karl & Nicole
Current Status: Separated
Karl and Nicole’s journey began with trust issues, partly rooted in their unconventional meeting—Nicole left a boyfriend for Karl at the gym. Having been together for two and a half years before the show, their trip to Temptation Island highlighted their relationship struggles.
Despite forming connections with singles during the season, ultimately, they chose not to leave the island together. Initially reunited after filming, they’ve since split again, with no sign of a reconciled relationship post-2021. Nicole even tweeted her single status in 2022, suggesting their relationship ended sometime during that time frame.
John & Kady
Current Status: Split
John and Kady’s pairing seemed mismatched from the outset; they had a brief three-year courtship that began on Bumble, culminating in their decision to appear on Temptation Island. Kady expressed dissatisfaction with John’s demeanor, continually alluding to her preference for a more “masculine”partner.
As the season progressed, Kady connected with a contestant named Johnny, while John pursued another temptress, Katheryn. By the season’s end, John and Kady chose to depart the island individually, which was a telling end to their relationship. Efforts to revive their romance fizzled, particularly when Kady mentioned visiting Johnny in New York, prompting a definitive breakup.
Evan & Kaci
Current Status: No Longer Together
The tumultuous relationship of Evan and Kaci took center stage, primarily characterized by Evan’s betrayal. They had been together for ten years, exclusively for five, living in Los Angeles. Initially, Evan’s assurance that he wouldn’t cheat due to his upbringing played a pivotal role in their relationship dynamic.
However, once Evan encountered temptress Morgan Lolar, everything changed. His instant attraction led to Kaci witnessing her partner fall in love with someone else. Their breakup scene became one of the most heart-wrenching moments on reality television, with viewers unable to forget Kaci’s emotional plea.
The aftermath didn’t spare any dramatic twists, with Evan and Morgan briefly getting engaged before their split over Evan’s infidelity. Interestingly, during this chaos, Kaci and Morgan unintentionally formed a bond over their shared experience with Evan. Presently, Kaci reflects openly on her time on the show, although she’s opted not to watch the Netflix iteration. In a recent TikTok, she humorously recounted her past experience, indicating that the emotional scars remain.
“That time I went on a reality show with my boyfriend & best friend of 10 years because he was unemployed & we desperately needed the money to pay bills & he swore no matter what happened we would break up off camera (I had dumped him a few months ago before the show & he begged for a last chance to prove himself) but then he cheated on you on national television for a girl he knew for 21 days.”
For fans wanting to catch up, the first season of USA Network’s Temptation Island is available for streaming on various platforms, including YouTube TV.
Sources: Showbiz CheatSheet, Javen Butler/Instagram, Shari and Javen/YouTube, Nicole Tutewohl/Twitter, USA Network, US Weekly, Kaci Campbell/TikTok.