Love Island’s Joshua Goldstein Sues Hyatt, Claims Hotel Gave Ex Private Details After She Posed as His Late Sister
Goldstein says the privacy breach led to reputational damage, harassment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gainesville, Fla. – Love Island star Joshua Goldstein has filed a lawsuit against Hyatt Hotels Corporation after private information about his stay at the Hyatt Place Gainesville Downtown last year was given to his ex-girlfriend, resulting in months of harassment, reputational damage and lost business opportunities.
The amended complaint was filed on May 27, 2026 by Ryan McCarthy, Partner at Lesser, Landy, Smith & Siegel – Florida Injury Lawyers, in the Circuit Court of the Eighth Judicial Circuit in Alachua County.
Goldstein, who appeared on Love Island USA Season 3 and Love Island Games Season 2, alleges Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Hyatt Place Gainesville Downtown Hotel Manager Megan Gideon failed to protect his confidential guest information after his ex-girlfriend called the hotel pretending to be his sister.
Goldstein was a paying guest at the Hyatt Place Gainesville Downtown from February 21 to February 23, 2025. Two days later, his ex-girlfriend Brianna Lombardo called the hotel, falsely claimed to be Goldstein’s sister, despite knowing she tragically passed away in 2021, and said she was concerned about his whereabouts.
A Hyatt employee failed to verify Lombardo’s identity before releasing Goldstein’s personal, private and confidential guest information without his permission, including date and time-stamped details about his movements in and out of the hotel with two women. The Hyatt employee viewed surveillance footage from the evening of February 22 and/or early morning of February 23 and described Goldstein’s movements with the women to Lombardo over the phone.
Lombardo used those details to spread false information that Goldstein had been cheating on her throughout the duration of their relationship to his friends, family, and business associates, as well as on Facebook, Instagram and other online platforms. She also sent him violent and derogatory text messages that led to him filing for restraining orders in Palm Beach County and Miami-Dade County.
The fallout from this was immediate and damaging, causing Goldstein to lose key business relationships and brand partnerships, including a supplement venture, a collaboration with apparel company Comfrt valued at roughly $4,000 per month, and a partnership with TLF Apparel.
“Joshua Goldstein trusted Hyatt with his privacy and safety, and that trust was violated in a way that caused emotional, reputational and financial harm,” his attorney, Ryan McCarthy said. “A guest’s whereabouts, movements, room information and surveillance details are private – not gossip. This lawsuit is about holding Hyatt accountable for a serious breach of trust and making clear that guest privacy is not optional. It must mean something.”
The lawsuit asserts claims for negligence and invasion of privacy against Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Gideon. The defendants had a duty to safeguard Goldstein’s presence, room assignment, whereabouts and other sensitive information, and disclosure of this private information violated hotel policy, industry standards and basic hotel-guest privacy expectations.
Goldstein is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 and has demanded a jury trial.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM JOSHUA GOLDSTEIN:
What happened to me was a violation of my trust and privacy. When I checked into the Hyatt Place Gainesville Downtown, I believed my personal information as a guest would be protected and safeguarded, which is a reasonable expectation for any hotel guest. Instead, private details about my stay were released to someone who falsely claimed to be my sister, despite the fact that she passed away in 2021.
The six months that followed this private information being released by the hotel were some of the most painful I have experienced since losing my sister. The information shared by the hotel was used to spread false and damaging claims about me, hurt my reputation, interfere with my business relationships, and cause significant emotional distress.
This case is about accountability, but it is also about awareness. Whether you are in the public eye or not, everyone who stays at a hotel deserves to know that their privacy will be protected. I never imagined a hotel would disclose information about my stay, let alone details about my movements, including timestamps and surveillance video details. No one should have to worry that their personal information can be released like that.
I am bringing this lawsuit because what happened to me should never happen to anyone else.
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