Inside the Love Island curse and why so many stars SPLIT weeks after leaving the villa
WITH the final of LOVE Island out the way – the couples will be looking forward to a blissful start to the life outside the villa.
But not all pairings will make it past the first month and the pressure of navigating a relationship in the real world can take its toll.
From this series, the couples who are still together include winner’s Mimii Ngulube and Joshua Oyinsan and runner-ups Nicole Samuel and Ciaran Davies.
While Matilda and Sean, Ayo and Jess Spencer and Joey Essex and Jessy Potts are also still going strong.
Dumped couples Uma Jammeh and Wil Anderson, Hugo Godfroy and Jess White, Harriett Blackmore and Ronnie Vint have been making a go of their romance on the outside.
But will the Love Island curse strike again? And who will fall victim?
Here are the couples who have previously called it a day within weeks of leaving the villa.
AMBER GILL AND GREG O’SHEA
Amber and Greg won the show back in 2019 but split just five weeks after.
The rugby player turned lawyer denied dumping Amber by text – but it was clear that there was no love lost between them.
Amber later went on to describe Greg as “pathetic” in the comments of one of her TikTok posts.
She was devastated at the time but insisted she had moved on and told The Sun a year after the split: “I wish him the best. I only had two people to choose from at the end so it was a bit unrealistic for it to last for ever.
“No regrets. He’s a nice guy but we are two completely different people. Yeah, there’s unrealistic standards to keep when you have fame out of Love Island.”
KADY MCDERMOTT AND OUZY SEE
Kady revealed the couple – who saw sparks fly in the Mallorca villa – had parted ways shortly after leaving the villa in 2023.
While Ouzy, 28, said at the time that it was his “actions” that scuppered their romance, he’s now changed his tune.
The Scottish footballer had found himself embroiled in a cheating row after meeting with a stunning influencer named Alicia.
He’s now insisted nothing sexual happened between the pair, but told MailOnline he can “understand” why Kady was upset.
ELLA BARNES AND MITCH TAYLOR
Messy Mitch and Ella announced today they’d called time on their romance just weeks after leaving the villa.
The former gas engineer Mitch, revealed that he called it quits with Ella after failing to “click” on the outside.
At the time, he wrote: “As you have most likely seen Ella‘s post sadly our relationship has come to an end.
“We had no intentions of ending but with our busy lives at the moment and living the other side of the country it made it extremely hard for it to work.”
Mitch added: “I wish Ella nothing but the best as she is a lovely girl and deserves the world.”
Announced their split on Instagram Stories in August 2023, citing their “busy lives” and living far apart as reasons it was “extremely hard for it to work”.
LEAH TAYLOR AND MONTEL MCKENZIE
Leah and Montel split two weeks after being dumped from the villa, despite appearing to have a strong connection.
Leah told OK! that she realised she didn’t see the relationship as long-term.
She took a swipe at Montel when they reunited on Aftersun.
Maya Jama questioned the pair on what went wrong.
Leah said: “There’s a reason behind why it happened, what happened at Casa Amor. There was quite an issue of trust. i think it was just a good thing for us [to split].”
Leah also opened up about the reasons behind their break up to OK! Magazine: “We were coupled up while on the show and it was quite a new couple as well, so it’s not like we had as much time as the other people in there.
“So we had always said the next step for us was seeing how things work in the real world.
“And coming out we went on one date but it’s just one of those, it hasn’t worked out.”
When asked if something specific had changed once in the outside world, Leah said: “I don’t think there was a standout point really, it was more just realising that I don’t see this as a long-term thing between us both.
“I’m sure he has his own reasons too, it was just the right decision.
“I’m sure he’s faced his own difficulties coming out of it as well because it is very different in the villa to in the real world, it’s a lot to adjust to and learn about, so I don’t think it’s seeming less for anyone”.
CALLUM JONES AND JESS GALE
Jess split from Callum after the couple made it to the final of Love Island All Stars in February.
Jess, who entered the All Stars villa alongside her twin sister Eve, said she was left hurt by Callum’s “unforgivable actions” after finding out something prior to their split.
She said the incident happened around the time of Molly Smith’s party to celebrate a lucrative new clothing deal.
It had been claimed that Callum had a fling with Swansea girl Anna-May Robey, 21, who found fame on the winter edition of the show last year.
A source told the Mail: “She had learned of Callum’s fling with Anna-May, which came as a complete surprise to her, as far as Jess knew she and Callum were trying to make their romance work outside of the show.
“It was embarrassing how it all played out at a party and Callum proceeded to rub salt in the wound by leaving the venue holding another girl’s hand.”
But Callum denied cheating and said things were well and truly over before he dated anyone else.
OLIVIA HAWKINS AND MAXWELL SAMUNDA
Finance student Maxwell, 23 and actress Olivia, 27, left the show hand-in-hand after being voted off days before the final.
But just weeks later the pair decided to call it quits after they were accused of having a “showmance”.
Maxwell opened up about the split, saying his “attention” and “focus” was elsewhere after the villa.
A source said: “Although it was rumoured they’d already split they only had a proper chat about where their relationship was going yesterday, and they both agreed the writing was on the wall.
“They had fun while it lasted, and there are no hard feelings at all, but he obviously went to Mexico, and Olivia has been focusing on work projects.
“They have naturally drifted apart.”
DEMI JONES AND LUKE MABBOTT
Exes Demi and Luke called it a day three months after the villa.
The pair exchanged social media swipes when Demi suggested Lucie Donlan was the reason they split.
Luke hit back and claimed she begged him to fake their relationship for the sake of a clothing deal.
Demi said: “I went through all of Lucie’s profile to see if there was anything on there that might see that they’re together.
“I noticed all these cryptic captions with loads of ‘shhh’ emojis and about getting butterflies and secret eyes.
“I put two and two together. Obviously they must have started talking during lockdown.
“He then wanted to meet up with her – or was already meeting up with her, I don’t know – and that’s why he wanted to suddenly cut it.
“Then they obviously got together not long after that or were together – or released it not long after that.”
But Luke denied any overlap.
INDIA REYNOLDS AND OVIE SOKO
Ovie and India split four months after the show – after being hit by a series of cheating rumours, according to reports.
A source told the MailOnline that the break up was “amicable” and it was a joint decision to end things.
At the time, Ovie hit back against cheating allegations.
While India was also forced to deny cheating on him with football ace Kieran Gibbs at his birthday party in Portugal.
In 2021, India told The Sun that she no longer speaks to her ex.
CHRIS TAYLOR AND HARLEY BRASH
Chris and Harley became the first couple to split from the 2019 series – just two weeks after the show ended.
A source close to the Love Island show’s couple told The Sun Online: “Harley and Chris broke up a couple of days ago, it was really amicable and they both agreed they’ll stay friends.
“Sadly there’s no romance there – it was just a holiday fling.”
Our source added: “Nobody wants to be the first couple to split up – it’s embarrassing and there’s so much pressure to stay together to make money.
“It’s all over but they don’t really want fans to know that – they’d rather someone else split up first!”
Georgia told The Sun: “I am genuinely at the point where I don’t need a man to be happy – maybe that isn’t my purpose in life.”
GEORGIA STEEL AND SAM BIRD
The pair looked like they were for keeps but Sam claimed he found X-rated messages Georgia sent to her ex-boyfriend on her phone and also a picture of them in bed together.
Sam believed she led a “double life” behind his back and also boasted to her pals about her infidelities.
But said that she was a loyal girlfriend and told The Sun: “Everyone has been so surprised that my relationship with Sam is still going strong – but we work because my loyalty is a trait in me that Sam really likes.”
But Sam has been left devastated by the betrayal and said at the time: “I feel heartbroken; the last three months have been a total lie.”
GEORGIA HARRISON AND ANTON DANYLUK
Georgia split from Anton weeks after growing close on All Stars.
But it looks like there may be some bad blood between the pair.
The former friends turned lovers came face to face for the first time since calling it quits at the TV BAFTAs earlier this year.
Their explosive row came to a head at the P&O Cruises after party where Anton told The Sun: “I saw Georgia and wanted to be civil.
“I said ‘hi’ and she replied ‘f*ck off’
“I’ve been nothing but good to her. I don’t understand.”
Earlier that evening, Georgia was overheard joking with friends: “Urgh, men. F*** men. Every boyfriend is worse than the last.”
LAURA ANDERSON AND PAUL KNOPS
In 2018, Paul told The Sun that he dumped Laura just weeks after leaving the villa because they weren’t “compatible.”
He said: “It was my decision to split from Laura – I said to her let’s make it a mutual decision so we could both move on and she didn’t get hurt.
“We weren’t compatible for each other. I knew I had to be 100 per cent sure about it because you know – the next person you’re with could potentially be your wife; you don’t want to be unsure about it.
“We weren’t right for each other and that’s why we never made things official.
“Of course she was upset; there were tears. Obviously it isn’t nice when someone says they don’t want to be with you.
“We aren’t friends now – we haven’t spoken, it is a sore subject. But I told her I would be there for her if she needed me.”
Laura went on to have a baby with ex Hollyoaks star Gary Lucy.