Love Island star Samie Elishi has responded to the “millions of opinions” surrounding her pregnancy with boyfriend Tyrique Hyde in a post shared on Instagram on Tuesday.
The couple announced they were expecting their first child in a touching Instagram video, shared just hours before they attended the Pride of Britain Awards red carpet together.
Now, Samie, 26, has addressed what she described as the “ugly and scary” side of social media. She accompanied her message with a black-and-white photograph of Tyrique, 27, placing his hand on her growing bump.
“Thank you for all the love we’ve received in the past 24 hours, appreciate you all,” she wrote. “This world can be an ugly, scary place at times, especially with social media and millions of opinions. It’s not always right, but sadly it’s the way it is.”
“However, the good always outweighs the bad. We’re so blessed and happy right now. All your lovely comments and messages haven’t gone unnoticed xxxx.”
Samie and Tyrique revealed the news through a montage featuring their first scan and intimate early pregnancy moments, set to Jodeci’s 1991 hit Forever My Lady.
Love Island star Samie Elishi has addressed the “millions of opinions” surrounding her pregnancy with seven-month boyfriend Tyrique Hyde in a Tuesday Instagram post.
The 26-year-old ITV star responded to the “ugly and scary” side of social media alongside a black-and-white image of 27-year-old Tyrique touching her baby bump.
Tyrique also marked the announcement on Instagram, writing: “Don’t make a scene. Can’t wait for this next chapter… Love you @Samie Elishi.”
The pregnancy announcement comes after Samie won the third series of Love Island: All Stars with Ciaran Davies in February. However, their relationship ended just three weeks after they left the villa.
Samie made her relationship with Tyrique public in April, sharing a glimpse of their romantic trip to Morocco on Instagram.
A month earlier, Ciaran, 23, had spoken publicly about their split, around the time Samie was reportedly growing closer to Tyrique.
He discussed what had happened between him and Samie while also addressing speculation about a possible overlap involving Tyrique.
Ciaran described their relationship in the villa as “good” and “genuine”, but said their seemingly perfect romance began to fall apart soon after their victory.
“From leaving the villa I went straight back to South Wales… Samie went straight to London,” he said. “We were talking every day, we would be on FaceTime every night, the communication was great. We set plans for meeting up with each other a week later.”
The rugby player said he later travelled to London to meet Samie’s family and take her out for dinner, but claimed the situation changed after he returned home.
“I knew she was busy, she was going to New York. Then the messages started to get very, very distant. I felt the energy wasn’t being matched,” he said.
Ciaran added that, after attempting to call Samie, he came to believe the relationship had become “one-sided”.
Samie Elishi and Tyrique Hyde announced their pregnancy in a sweet Instagram video before walking the Pride of Britain Awards red carpet together.
Their announcement video featured footage of their first scan and tender early pregnancy moments, set to Jodeci’s 1991 song Forever My Lady.
Earlier this year, insiders told the Daily Mail’s Molly Clayton that Samie’s connection with semi-professional footballer Tyrique may have been brewing long before she ever decided to try her luck again on the All Stars version of the show.
According to a source close to the situation, the cracks between Samie and Ciaran appeared almost immediately after the show wrapped.
Samie, who is from Islington in north London, worked as a senior estate agent coordinator prior to the show while Ciaran hailed from the rural town of Pencoed in South Wales – and the cultural differences became impossible to ignore.
Meanwhile, Tyrique, from Chafford Hundred in Essex, was already embedded in Samie’s social circle and aligned in terms of lifestyle and outlook.
‘Samie and Ciaran came out of Love Island and went to visit Wales almost instantly,’ the source said.
‘When they got there, Samie decided Ciaran wasn’t for her as he came from a small town. She realised their lives were too different.’
It was a stark realisation for a couple who, on screen, had appeared aligned in both ambition and affection.
But thousands of miles away from the South African villa where All Stars was shot, reality quickly set in and the pace of their lives and upbringings reportedly clashed.
‘She came back from Wales, and went on a date with Tyrique,’ the insider said.
‘And the pair have been spending a lot of time together. They have even booked a trip in a few weeks’ time to see if they get on well.’
Earlier this year, Samie won series three of Love Island: All Stars alongside Ciaran Davies although the couple split soon after
Samie hard-launched her new romance with Tyrique in April, as she shared a glimpse of a romantic Morocco trip on Instagram
The revelation raised eyebrows among fans, particularly given Tyrique’s very public admiration for Samie in the months leading up to her All Stars appearance.
Long before rumours of their romance surfaced, Tyrique had made no secret of his attraction.
In an online clip months before Samie entered the villa, when asked hypothetically who he would most like to share a bed with, Tyrique didn’t hesitate: ‘Samie, she’s very good looking.’
Then, days before the latest All Stars season started, he admitted: ‘I rate Samie. She’s a good-looking girl. I’ve seen her in real life and I have been around her at events and she is so cool.’