Why Ekin-Su Made A Bombshell Appearance On Love Island: All Stars

Share and Follow

Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu returned to Season 2 of Love Island: All Stars despite previously showing a disdain for the dating show she won in 2022.

Collider shared that the 30-year-old Turkish actress rose to fame after winning the 2022 UK series of Love Island with her then-boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti. The pair left the villa together and even landed their own spin-off show in the UK, before breaking up in 2024.

Despite the reality show making her a household name, she later expressed her frustration about being associated with Love Island. During a 2024 appearance on Celebrity Big Brother, Ekin came to blows with radio personality Zeze Millz after her housemate asked her about Love Island.

Ekin-Su seemingly joked about these comments when appearing as the first bombshell on the All Stars version of Love Island, “Alright, I know I said I was done with Love Island, but here I am, fully invested again. The drama, the chaos, the questionable decisions, I just can’t stay away. Consider me officially back on Love Island.”

Here’s Why Ekin-Su Spoke So Badly Of Love Island On Celebrity Big Brother

Via ITV

Ekin-Su’s time on 2024’s Celebrity Big Brother was met with criticism after she was slated for the show, which helped her gain fame. The Metro described her appearance on CBB as one of the worst decisions of her career, with many people branding the star “fake.” She would later admit her regret for appearing on the show so soon after her split from Davide Sanclimenti.

Ekin appeared visibly frustrated when soap actor Colson Smith asked the Turkish actress about her time on Love Island. “This is not Love Island, it’s not the same. It’s not the same, please just let it go. Love Island is couples and love and connection. It is not the same,” she snapped, per The Mirror.

Radio host and presenter Zeze Millz came to blows with Ekin when she started asking her about the British dating show. “This is like a holiday for me from social media. Some people on Love Island thought it was a holiday,” Ekin-Su told Zeze.

Zeze commented that while she could never appear on Love Island, she appreciated that the contestants got to enjoy a “free holiday” in a “hot country.” Ekin quickly snapped that her experience was very different from what Zeze described. “It’s a reality show filmed 24/7 honey, you only see 40 minutes of it.”

Her comments were met with criticism from fans, reported the Independent. “Why’s Ekin Su so defensive when anyone talks about Love Island?! Girl you’re on Celebrity Big Brother …because you’re famous for being on Love Island?” wrote a viewer on X.

Ekin later admitted that she was going through a rough period of life when appearing on Celebrity Big Brother and was still reeling from her split with Davide.

“I went into the show thinking that I could rebuild myself after everything that happened with Davide, but I came off worse. My guard was up,” she told The Sun. “I blame myself for making a poor choice in my career. People could see that I wasn’t myself, and I can understand why they thought I was being fake.”

I look at the girl on Big Brother, and I think ‘who the hell is that?’ To be honest, I f****dup. I should never have gone into the Big Brother house.

“I just wasn’t in the right head space to go on a show like that… I was snappy, angry, and I just didn’t recognize myself anymore,” she concluded.

This Is Why Ekin-Su Wanted To Return To Love Island

Despite previously wanting to distance herself from Love Island and winning the £50,000 jackpot with Davide Sanclimenti in June 2022, Ekin-Su made a bombshell appearance on Season 2 of Love Island: All Stars.

London Evening Standard reports that Ekin wanted to return because she believes he should have a second chance at love. “Why can’t a winner go back in and rewrite her story and have a second chance?! I think you should follow your gut and my gut is telling me to go back, so I’m listening to it.”

She also admitted she had fond memories of the villa. “It’s somewhere I’ve laughed, cried and learned so much. The fact that there’s an opportunity to do it again – why not!”

Where to Watch Ekin-Su	Year(s)
Love Island: All Stars	2025
Celebrity Big Brother	2024
The Traitors	2024
Dancing on Ice	2023
Love Island	2022

According to The Sun, Ekin told ITV she would only return as a bombshell if the network promised her that Davide would not return to the series. “This wasn’t Ekin being a diva, it’s more than she went through hell towards the end of the relationship and during the break-up.”

A lot of that played out with how she came across on Celebrity Big Brother and she has only just got back to a good place in the last few months. The last thing she wants is to have to be in a villa with her ex and undo all the progress she has made on herself.

The Sun reports that despite her previous statements on CBB, Ekin has no regrets about her time on Love Island and is still looking for a man to settle down and start a family with. Since appearing on the show in 2022, she admits she had to learn to stand up for herself and “be vulnerable with men” and wants a partner aware of their flaws.

“I’d like someone supportive, I don’t care about looks and money – I want someone to be my biggest cheerleader,” she revealed.

What Ekin-Su’s Ex, Davide Sanclimenti, Said About Her Returning To Love Island

Ekin-Su Culculoglu and Davide Sanclimenti Transformers Rise of the Beasts European Premiere In London — Via Instar

According to The Tab, Ekin-Su’s ex, Davide Sanclimenti, is “absolutely furious” with her for returning to Love Island and thinks it’s a “slap in the face.” An insider close to Davide revealed to Closer that Davide is angry with Ekin for appearing on the Love Island: All Stars because he turned it down himself.

“He feels like it’s a slap in the face, especially since he turned down the opportunity himself because it didn’t feel right. They’re no longer together, but this has still hit a nerve for Davide.”

He feels like Ekin-Su’s decision shows a complete lack of emotional empathy; not just for him, but for everything they went through as a couple. He can’t believe she’d jump at the chance without considering how it might look.

Davide also replied to a comment on Instagram about her return to the villa “Bro, stay strong when she’s on TV kissing loads of wee boys.” Which, according to The Mirror, he responded with: “I really hope she does [laughing face emoji’s)] At least she will leave me alone and stop talking about me once and for all.”

Davide wasn’t the only one judging Ekin for returning to the popular reality show. After Ekin-Su told Zeze Millz she hated being associated with Love Island, the English broadcaster took to social media to slam her for returning to the reality show.

Despite Ekin being “ready to finish” her for mentioning Love Island on Celebrity Big Brother, Zeze couldn’t help but share her thoughts about her return on X.

Zeze also posted: “Ekin Su was chatting out her neck about me for 2+ weeks – but you want me to be the bigger person. Be [for real] please.”

Watch Love Island: All Stars on Peacock.