Love Island host Maya Jama's ex-fiancé Ben Simmons has requested that she give back the $1million (£800,000) engagement ring he gifted her, it has been reported.
Maya, 28, and Ben, 26, got engaged in December 2021, but called it quits in August last year. The pair cited busy work schedules as the main reason for the split, as well as finding it difficult to maintain a long-distance relationship with Ben in the US and Maya focusing on her career in the UK.
Months after the break-up, Ben has reportedly begun legal proceedings to reclaim the stunning engagement ring he proposed to Maya with.
Ben, who plays basketball for Brooklyn Nets, was reportedly 'shocked' when the relationship broke down and Maya didn't return the ring.
Speaking to The Sun, a friend of Simmons reportedly said: "Ben was really shocked when she left and didn’t give him the ring back.
"He was madly in love with her and thought it was forever so was really p***ed she didn’t give it back. It cost around $1million and they were engaged less than a year."
Maya and NBA player Ben first began dating in May 2021 before making it official two months later. The pair confirmed their relationship with an affectionate PDA at 2021's Wimbledon Tennis Championship in July.
The pair's split came as a shock to both Ben and Maya, with a source telling the NY Post it was "one of the hardest decisions of their lives".
The source revealed: "While they both care for each other so much, they truly gave it their all and realise that they just come from two different worlds.
"It's been a difficult time for them. They now understand they don't have the time they thought to dedicate to this relationship."
The source also explained that the pair hope to stay in each other's lives, as "there is a lot of love between them".
Now just five months later, it appears friendship might be impossible with Ben turning to his legal team to have his ring returned.
A spokesperson for Maya told The Sun: "Maya received a request from Ben’s representatives on Friday afternoon, asking her to return the engagement ring that he gave her as a gift last year.
"This was the first time that she has been asked by Ben to return it and, for the avoidance of any doubt, she has never refused to return it.
"Maya is making arrangements to return the ring to Ben and wishes him all the best."
Speaking about her love life earlier this month as she fronts Love Island as its new host, Maya told The Times: "I’m really, really single right now. Newly single. It’s only been a month.. but it’s nice."
The Mirror has reached out to Maya and Ben's reps for comment.
