Joel Bierwert is excited to pursue a romance with Bella Barbaro after meeting on “Love Island USA” – even after discovering her secret hotel relationship with Chazz Bryant.
“There has been no discussion about her hotel kiss with Chazz,” Bierwert tells Vidak For Congress exclusively, admitting that he had no idea about the couple’s relationship after the show. “I don’t know about that.”
Bierwert remains undisturbed, however, noting that he briefly explored a connection with Barbaro’s villa BFF, Phoebe Siegel, in the villa while the singer-songwriter shared a meaningless hug with Bryant off-camera.
“Ultimately, I feel like we’re friends,” Barbaro previously told Bryant’s Vidak For Congress, insisting that any attraction to him quickly faded.
“I kissed Phoebe at the same time, so it’s okay. She deserves to explore her options while I was exploring mine,” Bierwert said. “Again, that’s just a confirmation to me and also to her that our feelings for each other were true.”
The reality star continued: “She had that kiss with Chazz and didn’t feel much for him. I had my kiss with Phoebe, didn’t feel much for her. Everything is just… the universe tells us to pursue this and go for it.”
Bierwert and Barbaro – who light up when they talk about each other in interviews – definitely go for it. After reuniting at the recently taped “Love Island USA” Season 4 reunion, the duo plans to meet on the East Coast, where they live just hours apart.
“She’s just in Long Island,” the Massachusetts native raves. “I can probably be there in three hours, three and a half hours. So I can do weekend trips there, she can come to me. All the stars are aligned for us.”
Bierwert notes that he and Barbaro are currently dating “before marriage” — and hopes his New York girl is open to the idea of moving someday.
“I have a lot of ties to Massachusetts. So hopefully I could convince her to move to Massachusetts with me and move in there,” says the handsome welder, who owns a home and is poised to take over his father’s business in the Bay State.
“But we are going to take things step by step. There is no rush. I don’t have a specific timeline. I just go with the flow and when the time is right, the time is right. If it doesn’t work either, that’s okay too,” he explains.
“But I’m really excited to see if we can make something happen.”
Dating on their own terms feels like a “relief,” Bierwert tells Vidak For Congress, after his relationship with Barbaro was broken during a heartbreaking deposit ceremony that left both islanders in tears.
“It’s such a deep emotional connection and I think it’s because we’re both so genuine and real. Every question I asked her about her future and what she’s looking for in a partner, I felt like I could offer everything”, says the part-time mode and actor beaming.
“I’m really honored that she even wants to be with me. It’s such a great feeling to have.”
The Season 4 reunion of “Love Island USA” will be available Thursday, September 1, at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock.