Last time we wrote about a Love Island split at Grazia we jokingly called it 'Love Island Break-Up Season' but it turns out that might actually be a thing – at least according to certain fan theories that have predicted that some Love Island couples are actually contracted to stay together for at least 6 months following the end of the show.
Ok, so this hasn’t been officially confirmed (unsurprisingly) other than by the speculative corner of Twitter. But when you think about it also makes sense: a couple is a brand and a brand need’s a shelf-life especially when it’s a cog in the Love Island franchise machine. But is there actually any truth in the rumours that couples have to stay together for a contracted amount of time when the show finishes? Or any pattern to how Islanders are breaking up this year? Let’s look at the evidence...
One Month After The Villa: The Early Break Ups
Let's get started with the early break-up's - which went off almost quicker than Sushi in a golvebox, but which also ended the most dramatically.
The first of Love Island Class of 2018 to call time on their relationship were Samira Mighty and Frankie Foster amidst pretty solid evidence that Frankie had cheated. While Samira was still in the villa he was spotted cosying up with a girl in a London nightclub (on behalf of all Samira fans - HOW DARE HE), who he then shared a hotel room with. Then a video went around of him kissing another woman in a nightclub. Frankie's rep said 'Frankie wholeheartedly knows that his actions were not acceptable and has apologised to Samira' while a representative for Samira confirmed she was taking time out of the relationship to focus on her work opportunities (Thank U, Next).
Splitting at break-neck speed Paul Knops and Laura Anderson also ended it in early September after Paul went to the Burning Man festival after leaving the Villa while Laura went to Dubai. Laura said "I was hoping that when he came back we'd spend more time together and build a proper relationship out of the villa. It didn't happen" but also got upset around speculation that their relationship had been fake, writing on her Instagram story "#justathought Love Island relationships are REAL as far as I'm concerned. Be a little bit more KIND people."
Two/Three Months After The Villa: The Most Unconvincing Break-Ups
The next set up of break ups was the one that we all kind of shrugged off because…well, were we even that convinced in the first place?
First was Charlie Brake and Ellie Brown, who announced their split when Charlie curtly wrote on Instagram post late in September "Just to inform you all, Ellie and I have decided to part ways. I wish her all the best." (don’t get too overemotional there Charlie…) and immediately left to party in Monaco (which we did feel sort of quite sorry for Ellie over). According to sources, though, the couple had already broken up earlier in the month. While during Love Island: The Reunion Charlie and Ellie appeared to have reunited, the Mail Online reported that “Producers were forced to cut [Charlie's] microphone off after he threatened to embarrass her and walk off the show." and a source revealed "Things were so bad that they went home in separate cars after the wrap party later that night.” Awks.
In October Georgia ‘I’m Loyal Babe’ Steele and Sam Bird split after – shock horror – Georgia was rumoured to cheat on Sam when she spent the night at an exes. She’s since denied that anything happened, but in what felt like a desperate PR scramble for credibility also claimed that she ‘already knew the relationship was over’ long before their split and had stayed in it anyway because she wanted to prove the public wrong, citing her 'stubbornness'.
Six Months After The Villa: The 'Conscious Uncouplings' (December/January)
Brace yourself, because this is when all of the couple we were really rooting for are now dropping like flies.
The 6-month contract rumour was set rolling by Jack Fincham and Dani Dyer splitting at the beginning of December, exactly 6 months after they left the villa. “Jack & I have sadly decided to part ways,” Dani said in an Instagram post. “It’s been an incredible 6 months, and we will always have a place in our hearts for each other" however they announced shortly after that they had re-united just in time for the release of their ITVBe spin-off show, Life After Love Island.
On the 26th of January Megan Barton Hanson and Wes Nelson announced an amicable split using the Gwyneth Paltrow statement on Instagram declaring that they were 'consciously uncoupling'. Vowing to co-parent their hamster Jon Snow, they have insisted that the split was amicable and mutually respectful. In an exclusive interview with Grazia, Megan said: 'Being a ‘Love Island couple’ – one that survives for months after the show ends – comes with its own pressures.' and 'I really love Wes as a person'.
Most recently, Josh Denzel and Kas Crossley announced their break up in January, with Kaz saying of Josh 'Thank you for everything especially showing me how to love myself again ❤️' however some sources suggested that the pair had actually broken up four weeks before the announcement but stayed together because of a contract to promote the hotel they both snapped holidaying at before the announcement.
So Who's Left?
As it stands, just Adam Collard and Zara McDermott (interestingly, the couple we all thought were least likely to last) and Jack and Dani, now that they're back together. However it’s also been recently reported that Adam and Zara's ‘relationship is on the rocks’ since Zara has become unhappy about Adam partying with other women, most recently the Instagram model Brittany Archer who he partied alongside on a night out with Jack Fincham.
In conclusion, there's definitely some suspicious evidence that Love Island couples stay together in order to see through their contractual obligations (we are SHOOK...sort of) but then again if enduring your ex was a simple caveat of going on an all-expenses paid holiday to the Maldives then I can't lie, I would have my passport ready before you could say 'buffet'.
Jack and Dani - if you are being held hostage to a contract: Blink twice.