Ekin-Su Culculoglu has been slammed by Love Island viewers.
The new series of Love Island All Stars starts on Monday and fans are already upset at the possible arrival of one former Islander to the show. Ekin-Su is rumoured to be hiding away in South Africa, ready to pop up as a bombshell at the All Star villa, but fans are not thrilled with her potential return after she was critical of the dating series when she appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2024.
One fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Not Ekin-Su kicking off that people keep mentioning she was on Love Island only for her to go back into Love Island…" while a second commented: "Not Ekin going back on after the hullabaloo she made of people mentioning the show while on CBB." A third said: "The same Ekin-Su who didn’t want to be defined by her time on Love Island is… going back into the villa? Oop."
Another Love Island fan voiced their concern: "I’m genuinely worried for Ekin Su. Watching her on CBB was legit uncomfortable and I feel like she’s jumped from show to show without taking a break. Plus she seemed to want to distance herself from Love Island on CBB, she got annoyed whenever it was mentioned so why do this?"
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ITV)Ekin-Su, 30, won the 2022 series with her then-beau Davide Sanclimenti and a source told The Sun that following her split from Davide in January 2024, she went to the top of ITV’s wish list for the new series. “It took a lot of back and forth to persuade her to go back into the villa, especially after Ekin had such a tough time on Celebrity Big Brother,” the source said. “But she wants to use this new stint on Love Island All Stars to redeem herself and remind the public why they love her. ITV bosses haven't decided if she'll be a day one star, or a bombshell, but whatever happens she is telly gold and is going to be an incredible addition to the line up."
As well as Celebrity Big Brother, Ekin-Su has also appeared on Dancing on Ice and The Traitors US following her time on Love Island. She said in October last year that she had made mistakes and was “more picky now” when it came to choosing what shows she would do.
“I wouldn't just do anything. I've done a lot in the past but I wouldn't just jump onto the next thing because of the paycheck, I think I've learned my lesson," she said. However, she also said she didn’t regret anything she had done in the past. “I don't regret anything. I just smile at it now. I'm great. At the time, you blame yourself for things not going right, and you take accountability. I've used that word a lot: accountability, but now I'm kind of at the stage where I'm past everything. Backlash is just a part of being in the public eye."