Love Island fans have called out a comment that runner up Ron made about his partner Lana during the finale, calling him a “walking red flag”.
Before hearing the news that they’d made second place in the show’s 2023 winter series, the couple were interviewed by presenter Maya Jama, during which time Ron reported a rather questionable plan for their future.
When they were asked what the future would hold for them, he quickly made it clear that he would not be moving up North to be with Lana, and was looking forward to “missing” his girlfriend.
He told Jama: "I want to miss her for a bit, I want to miss her!”, explaining that the couple would have their own bases, and that they’d spoken about it.
Lana quickly followed up with a reassuring comment, "We're going to spend a lot of time together, aren't we?”, but fans have been left unimpressed with Ron's attitude towards their relationship.
One tweeted: "First Ron tells Lana that he will take her number and now he says he wants to miss her for a bit? I’m sorry but this man is a walking red flag #loveisland”
Another suggested that Ron was already planning time away from Lana: "Ron "wants to miss" Lana, so he literally wants to get away from her??? #loveisland.”
One fan has even floated the possibility that this means Ron doesn’t love Lana, if he’s looking to make other plans away from her.
“Ron does not love Lana man just said "I want to miss her, we will have our own bases" aka I want to go out and have fun! #loveisland,” the tweet reads.
While space may count as part a healthy balance in a relationship, it feels uncomfortable that Ron may be looking forward to actively missing someone. Could this plan be part of a much-needed break from the intensity of the Love Island villa, or is it – as fans have suggested – part of a plan to play away?
As the Love Island runner up couple adjust to life outside the villa, time will tell whether “missing” each other will lead to a healthy relationship dynamic.