Social media is buzzing following Love Island USA stars Ace Greene and Chelley Bissainthe's shocking exit from the show before the season 7 finale.

During Friday's (July 11) episode of Love Island USA, Greene and Bissainthe exited the villa after receiving the fewest votes from America in a poll where viewers chose their favorite couple.

Greene and Bissainthe, who started the show as "OG" Islanders, had explored several different connections throughout the season before coupling up together several weeks ago. The pair had recently "closed off" their relationship, becoming the only exclusive couple left in the villa.

Despite the apparent strength of their connection, Greene and Bissainthe were voted off the show just before Sunday's (July 13) season finale. Four couples now vie to win America's vote and the $100,000 prize for being the nation's favorite pair.

In an interview with Blavity, Bissainthe and Greene called their departure from the show a "bittersweet moment."

"We got to walk out together, so that means we won. So there’s not anything more I could really ask for. It’s just the feeling of leaving everybody behind. The close friendships that we made, the people that we love so much. It’s like, 'Damn, we’re not going to wake up to you guys anymore.' But I mean, we still get to wake up together. So it’s just one of those things of like, 'Hey, I guess it had to end at some point,' you know?" Bissanthe said.

"We’re leaving a lot of friends behind, but I feel like I came and did what I needed to do," Greene added. "We had a long process throughout this entire season, and once I felt like it was time for me and her to be exclusive, I felt at that moment my journey ended. I was cool with it. It was just time for us to leave."

Social media users expressed their shock over the pair's exit, as they were widely considered the strongest couple left in the villa. Some users pointed to racism behind America's vote amid online attacks against Bissainthe and her fellow co-star, Olandria Carthen.

See their reactions below.

Zach Boog