A Pennsylvania mayor is riled up after his worker selected to ditch work to seem on actuality tv.
Officer Sean Reifel, 29, is likely one of the latest contestants on season 8 of “Love Island,” which premiered this week.
Peacock revealed the lineup for its breakout actuality courting competitors, during which 12 contestants search romance whereas residing collectively in a villa all summer time.
The Easton native, who started working for the Bethlehem Police Division in August 2025, joined the present for his probability at love.
“You might be having the worst day of your life, and I might enable you to sift by that,” Reifel mentioned in a promo video after revealing his job.
Chaos erupted as followers of the present found that he was fired earlier than the present even aired on Tuesday, June 2.
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In response to Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds, Reifel resigned from his place himself to seem on the present, however he was not keen on the choice.
“I by no means thought I’d see the day in America the place actuality present participation wins out over being a police officer,” Reynolds advised Fox 8.
He additionally mentioned, “Our police division spent lots of time coaching and we paid hundreds of taxpayer {dollars} to ship him to the police academy. We’re upset he left, as we now have one other emptiness in our division that’s unattainable to fill till subsequent 12 months.”
Reynolds is identical man who smiled and congratulated Reifel in a Fb submit after providing the place.
“Sounds just like the boss is a hater,” wrote one individual in response to an Instagram submit from “Leisure Tonight.”
Others identified the irony of the mayor blasting somebody for searching for nationwide fame, but right here he’s chiming in.
“What’s loopy is the mayor is stepping out from his mayoral function searching for fame….the very factor he’s shaming….simply say you’re jealous and transfer on,” mentioned one individual.
One other mentioned, “The mayor is mad he didn’t make the minimize for the present.”
“We have now a actuality TV star because the President l, and the mayor has by no means seen this earlier than give me a break.”
“Samoan Usher quits job as officer to be scorching and wealthy.”
After seeing the mayor’s assertion, Reifel’s mom, Beth Reifel Bow, is now standing up for her son to inform the true story behind his depart.
Beth mentioned the mayor was not “totally trustworthy about all the small print” he shared, and he or she refuses to let false narratives floor on-line.
“That is Sean’s mother and this makes me very unhappy as a result of the mayor doesn’t see what an enormous missed alternative this was. I care about details so let’s begin with Sean put in for depart,” she started, in response to an Instagram submit from “Leisure Tonight.”
Beth continued, “Secondly they didn’t pay for a full academy for Sean. Sean got here to PA after being a Contra Sheriff Deputy since April 2021 they usually paid to place him by a full academy.”
Reifel’s mother mentioned she is “proud” of her son for making the “courageous resolution to place your self on the market to search out love beneath the microscope of the world.”
The newest controversy comes as Peacock makes an attempt to curb rising fan harassment and on-line scrutiny surrounding the hit actuality sequence, which turned the streamer’s most-watched authentic present final 12 months.
Season 8 contestant Vasana Montgomery was faraway from the solid simply days earlier than the premiere after movies surfaced that appeared to point out her utilizing the N-word. Peacock confirmed her exit shortly after the clips started circulating on-line.
