Fans were overjoyed when Ekin-Su Culculoglu and Davide Sanclimenti were crowned the winners of Love Island 2022. The Turkish actress from Essex and Italian business owner won over viewers with their fiery but passionate relationship that spanned most of the series.
They beat Gemma Owen and Luca Bish in the final two, while Indiyah Polack and Dami Hope came in third and Tasha Ghouri and Andrew Le Page placed fourth. And in a new twist, ITV this year scrapped the option for one half of the winning couple to steal all of the prize money for themselves.
Both Ekin-Su and Davide arrived in the Love Island villa early on in the series as bombshell contestants and despite an initial attraction suffered a rocky relationship at first, with Davide once branding her a “liar”. However, they later became inseparable and dubbed themselves the “Italian snack” and “Turkish delight”, eventually professing their love for each other.
Upon hearing they had won, Ekin-Su burst into tears while Davide gasped and said "I can’t believe it" before they embraced their fellow finalists. However, while they were pleased with who walked away with the £50,000 prize, viewers couldn't help but flock to social media to share their complaints about where the other three couples placed.
Responding to Andrew and Tasha finishing in fourth place after undergoing a massive u-turn in the eyes of viewers, @sophiahuxleyxx said: "Scam want a refund." @itsmherex screamed: "I SUGGEST YOU SHOULD RECOUNT THE VOTE." @Clohiddles_15 tweeted: "Should have been 1st or 2nd, not 4th?! #loveisland."
@blueberrykushx0 shared: "Luca & gemma being 2nd has destroyed this beautiful streak of happy couples we had. Could of been tasha and andrew joining them #loveisland." @idgafcba commented: "TASHA AND ANDREW WERE ROBBED, NO WAY THEY CAME 4TH #loveisland." @ljtrickster added: "So happy that Ekin and Davide won but I’m sorry Tasha and Andrew were robbed of 2nd place. #LoveIsland."
Before the winners were crowned, the boys donned tuxedos for a summer ball and waited for their partners to make a glamorous entrance. The couples then took turns reading their declarations of love to each other.
Dami had to pause and compose himself before reading his vow to Indiyah, while she said they had gone from “from two heartbreakers to lovebirds” in reference to their troubles during Casa Amor week. During Gemma’s vow to Luca, she professed her love for him and said she “can’t wait to start a new chapter”.
Ekin-Su then told Davide: “It’s been a hell of a ride for us. They say Rome wasn’t built in a day and so are we. I love being together. The Turkish Delight and the Italian Stallion. You are my soulmate."
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