Love Island 2023 has aired its most dramatic episode yet thanks to the Casa Amor recoupling. The episode, which aired on Thursday, February 16, saw presenter Maya Jama return to the South African villa as the Islanders decided whether to stick in their current couples or recouple with a bombshell.
Contestants clashed and tears were shed during the explosive episode as the Islanders got an insight into what their partner had been up to in their absence. Things got tense between Olivia Hawkins and Kai Fagan despite them both deciding to recouple, while Cynthia Otseh-Taiwo was left in tears as Casey O'Gorman decided to stick with Claudia Fogarty and claimed their connection wasn't deep.
Elsewhere in the episode Will Young and Jessie Wynter both cried after he admitted he'd failed to be loyal during the first night of Casa Amor, while Tom Clare was called out by bombshell Layla Al-Momani over his recoupling speech.
Read more: Love Island recoupling: Who is coupled up, who is single and who went home after Casa Amor 2023?
The biggest shock around the firepit was when Shaq Muhammad decided to stick with Tanya Mahenga but was left single when she walked back in with Martin Akinola. Ron Hall and Lana Jenkins were the only pair whose recoupling remained drama free after they both chose to stick, remaining faithful throughout Casa Amor.
With Martin, Sanam Harrinanan, and Maxwell Samuda becoming the only chosen bombshells, the rest of the line-up were then dumped. It meant Layla, Sammy James, Cynthia, Lydia Karakyriakou, Lynda Flix, Kain Reed, Ryan Weekley, Frankie Davey, and Bayley Mummery were sent home. You can see a full list of who recoupled, who was left single and who was dumped here.
Here's the most explosive moments from the Love Island 2023 Casa Amor recoupling.
Cynthia exposes Casey
Casey decided to "stick" with Claudia, despite growing closer to bombshell Cynthia. As Claudia returned, he said: "I wanted to come into the Casa experience and get to know the girls, and I feel like I did that. But no one is as special as my girl Claudia."
Host Maya then turned to the line-up of bombshells and asked: "Is anyone holding their tongue at the moment?"
"A little bit," Cynthia responded, before addressing Casey and saying: "I was snogging you on the terrace so, you know. We were straddling, we were kissing, so...."
She continued: "I know you've been honest, and you said that someone will get hurt. I have got hurt." Cynthia then started crying, as the other bombshells wiped her tears.
Layla then spotted both Claudia and Casey laughing and asked: "Why are you laughing? Why are they laughing?" as Cynthia sarcastically suggested: "It's obviously funny, isn't it?"
Claudia clapped back: "What's funny?" I'm literally laughing at something else. Don't start, because I'm laughing at something else."
"I'm not starting," Layla insisted before Claudia said: "I'm not laughing at you, so just chill out."
Olivia and Kai clash
Olivia Hawkins was not happy to find out that Kai had recoupled, despite recoupling in Casa Amor herself. Kai chose to recouple with Sanam and said he hoped Olivia had also found a connection in the days they spent apart.
But despite walking back in with Maxwell, Olivia immediately took aim at Kai. "It's very telling, and I can't say I'm shocked," Olivia told Maya, before sarcastically adding: "Missing me already? Clearly not enough."
Hitting back, Kai said: "After a couple of days apart I could tell what is genuine and what isn't…and I think I've got a real genuine connection now."
Insisting she also had a connection she couldn't ignore, Olivia continued: "Max treated me right, he's a lovely boy, we got on well, we have a lot in common and I think the Casa boys, you know, they definitely showed me what I was missing and what the public where seeing."
Maya then asked Kai if he was happy, to which he responded: "Absolutely, I think in my speech I said I was going to jump into it with two feet so that's what I'm doing." "Dive right in," Olivia interjected.
Maya then asked Sanam how she was feeling. "I'm a bit lost for words to be honest," she replied. "Olivia has recoupled so I don't think her speech is completely relevant, but if they weren't meant to be they weren't meant to be, I'm here to make Kai happy."
"It's not between me and you," Olivia then said, "It's between me and him. I'm not that girl."
Kai hit back: "I don't want this beef right now, I don't know why you think I'm a confrontational person, you're happy and I'm happy, so just leave it, you don't have to come here bitter." Looking at the boys, Kai then said: "I don't get it."
Tom comes under fire
Tom chose to stick with Samie, despite getting closer to bombshell Lydia. "There has been someone that I've got on with very well, there's no shying away from that," he told host Maya. "Look this decision has not been easy for me, both girls have got qualities that I look for, I'm going with my heart, so I've decided to stick."
Samie also decided to stick, explaining that her "heart" was with the main villa. When asked if he was loyal, Tom responded: "Coming into this Casa experience I was open, I did get along with one girl in particular. I tried something and I wanted to try it for me to realise if my feelings were genuine for Samie, so I think it was a test I needed for myself."
Bombshell Lydia then shared: "We obviously shared a kiss and we were cuddling a bit, but if they've got something special that he thinks is there then I can't argue with it."
Annoyed Samie told Tom: "Well, I didn't cuddle anyone or give anyone a kiss outside of any challenges, so maybe we work a bit differently. I don't feel like I need to test myself and kiss people and cuddle them to know where my heart is at."
Tom continued: "The kiss was outside a challenge, that's just me, I needed to do that for me to realise my feelings for Samie. I'm not scared to hold my hands up and say I've done something."
Layla then interjected, telling Tom: "I think it's not really fair to either woman to say that you needed to kiss somebody else to realise, like Samie said she didn't need to kiss anybody, I think it could have played a little bit different but yeah."
"Look I never want to hurt anyone, from the bottom of my heart I never want to hurt any girl," Tom replied, to which Layla said: "We all believe that for sure, but I don't think you needed to kiss somebody to realise. I think you kissed because there was something there, that's what you meant to say."
"We got on and there was obviously attraction and stuff," Lydia then said, before adding: "But I'm actually genuinely happy for you."
"A leopard never changes his spots," Olivia could be heard saying at the firepit.
Will and Jessie in tears
Next up was Will who shared a bed and kissed Layla twice on the first night, but later admitted his regret and said he had growing feelings for Jessie, who he was coupled up with before Casa Amor.
Deciding to stick with Jessie, Will said: "I'm very nervous, it's been a tough old experience I'm not going to lie. I'm going to be a broken man either way, either if Jessie walks in with another boy or I have to explain to her what I did on the first night.
"It's been difficult, the last couple of days have been eating me alive. Everyone in the villa has seen I've not been myself, I've probably been like five percent of me and it's been really tough. I have let myself down and I just really hope I haven't let Jessie down too much."
As Jessie walked in single, Will told the boys: "I feel like I'm going to cry. I can't breathe." Upon seeing Will standing there single, Jessie burst into happy tears and said: "I'm so happy I knew I could trust you."
However, her happiness was short-lived as Maya asked Will if he had remained loyal during Casa Amor. He explained: "No, not completely, no. I think on the first night it was a lot, emotions were high and everything like that, and me and Layla had a kiss and I'm not going to lie it was really tough after that, trying to get mentally through it.
"I feel like I've let myself down, and Jessie down, and it's been a massive struggle and I honestly feel like the worst human."
Consoling Will, Jessie said: "It's okay, I hope you're okay Will," before adding: "Honestly it's fine, I actually just don't have any words right now." Jessie continued: "I really didn't think you would have done that and Layla I'm sorry you got in the middle of everything, you're a gorgeous girl."
Shaq left single
Whilst viewers at home were aware Tanya had grown closer to bombshell Martin, despite being coupled up with Shaq from the beginning, the firepit was shocked to learn Tanya had recoupled after she and Shaq had exchanged I love yous.
Deciding to stick, Shaq stood up and told Maya: "I feel like a piece of me has been missing, she's been a huge part of my journey here and to go from seeing her all day every day to not seeing her at all has been hard and I think the boys know how tough it's been for me the last couple of days.
"I think it just has really shown me that absence makes the heart grow fonder, it did show me how much I really do love her.
"All six girls that have come into Casa Amor have been amazing and I've got to know them all but my heart has been with someone else since day one. It's been an interesting experience, it's been a test as well, but I hope sleeping on the daybed was worth it."
The boys all put their heads in their hands as Tanya walked back in with Martin, leaving Shaq single. Maya then asked Shaq how he was feeling, to which he responded: "Bit lost for words to be honest, I think I've been honest with my feelings since day one.
"I actually meant it when I said I love you, but I guess not everyone means it when they say it. Is what it is, I'm a bit disappointed but the game is the game."
Tanya then said: "I've been coupled up with Shaq since day one and it was amazing, I went to Casa Amor not thinking I was going to find any vibes or any connection and then I was shocked when I met Martin, I feel like it would be silly not to give it more time, and it's definitely not the end."
"It's the end for me," Shaq hit back. "For me personally I don't tell a girl I love her unless I really mean it. There were six girls in here that have tried to get to know me and if I tell a girl I love her and she says it back that's kind of a different situation."
Wishing Martin good luck Shaq then told Tanya their relationship was "done and dusted."
"I feel like no relationship has a smooth run and we personally have not had any speed bumps, so I hear you, but what's meant to be will be," Tanya replied.
Asked how he was feeling, Martin said: "To be honest, I'm just excited to be here and the work starts now. I understand they've got something but I think we had a better connection in Casa. I'm excited to see where it can go."
Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX. For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
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