Love Island’s Ekin-Su Culculoglu shares ‘heartbreak’ after Elma Pazar ‘bully’ claims

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Ekin-Su Culculoglu has said it “breaks my heart to see backlash” on her Love Island: All Stars rival Elma Pazar after a bitter on-screen row that led to accusations of bullying and thousands of viewer complaints.

The ITV2 dating show star opened up about the argument on Lorraine on Friday and urged viewers to “be kinder and show love” to Pazar, despite the clash that escalated into Pazar shouting at her and storming off. It sparked a flurry of complaints to broadcasting regulator Ofcom as Love Island fans accused Pazar of being a “bully”.

But Culculoglu claimed that she and Pazar had put the argument behind them and that she wished her co-star the best in her relationship with Sammy Root, who she partnered on the show.

She and partner Curtis Pritchard also hit back at claims that their villa love story had been a “showmance”, saying that viewers were simply confused by their “theatrical” backgrounds.

What, how, and why?

Lorraine host Christine Lampard asked the question on every Love Island: All Stars fan’s lips as she sat down for a chat with Culculoglu and Pritchard — how are things now between them and Pazar?

Many viewers had been shocked by Pazar’s reaction to Culculoglu trying to address an awkward moment in a challenge where she felt that Pazar had poked fun at her for appearing to be the weakest couple. It led to Pazar shouting and swearing at the couple before storming off and later complaining to the other Islanders about them.

Those watching the argument unfold accused Pazar of bullying, with Ofcom revealing that they had received more than 2,000 complaints in a week about the ITV2 show. The majority were from the episode where the row happened.

But Culculoglu tried to calm the situation as she told Lampard of Pazar: “I love her and it breaks my heart to see backlash on Elma. We should be kinder and show love.

“Yes, there was that thing in there, but listen, it’s a show and things are heightened in there. We made up, we’ve moved on, she’s found love, I found love and I wish her the best. Everyone deals with conflict differently and that’s ok and that’s that, I have nothing bad to say.” Yahoo had previously reached out to Pazar for further comment.

Pritchard, who had stuck up for Culculoglu in the villa, added: “When you were feeling upset I was always going to have your back.”

She replied: “This is something I’ve never had before so it’s refreshing to have a man actually have my back.”

The pair took part in the second All Stars series, which sees former contestants from the dating series return for a second chance at romance. Culculoglu had won the 2022 series with Davide Sanclimenti, but they split in 2023. Meanwhile, Pritchard finished fourth in 2019 with Maura Higgins but they split months later amid cheating claims.

Love Island: All Stars ended on Monday, where viewers saw Gabby Allen and Casey O’Gorman crowned the series winners.

Ekin-Su Culculoglu and Curtis Pritchard deny ‘showmance’ claims

Some Love Island fans had questioned the pair’s motives for returning to All Stars, as well as how real their bond was. Culculoglu has taken part in various reality shows including Dancing On Ice, Celebrity Big Brother and The Traitors US before making a comeback as a bombshell, while former Dancing with the Stars Ireland pro Pritchard is also an entertainment show regular.

Their budding relationship came under scrutiny from viewers, with some saying they found romantic moments and jealousy arguments hard to believe.

But as the showmance claims were put to her by Lampard, Culculoglu replied: “I would say everyone’s entitled to an opinion. It’s ok if people call it a showmance, fake, whatever. That’s ok. What’s important is how we feel and that’s real.”

Culculoglu is a performing arts graduate who had starred in Turkish soap operas, while Pritchard is a professional ballroom dancer.

She added: “We’re both from theatrical backgrounds so if you put me and him together, it becomes a theatre performance, so I understand why people may think that. But it’s fine because it’s an opinion and it doesn’t affect me or (Curtis).”

Pritchard agreed: “We both went in there with open minds and to find someone. Like Ekin said, we are theatrical, we are over the top.”

Although the couple finished in third place, he added: “I feel like we are the winners, just how our journey went in there.