Maya Jama has reportedly been sent a legal letter demanding she returns her £800,000 engagement ring from her ex-fiancé Ben Simmons.
The Love Island host, 28, dated the basketball player, 26, for less than a year in a whirlwind romance. Ben proposed to Maya at his £3.7 million mansion in New Jersey during the Christmas period in 2021 before ultimately splitting last summer to focus on their careers.
The TV personality was allegedly stunned after receiving the legal letter, as there was reportedly no prior warning the sportsman wanted the piece of jewellery back. "Given Ben has never, until now, asked for the ring back, you can appreciate the letter came somewhat as a surprise to Maya," a source told The Sun.
They continued: "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 $1 million and they were engaged less than a year."
The couple went public while kissing in the stands at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in front of the world's media the following month. Ben, who plays for the Brooklyn Nets, was previously in a long term relationship with Kendall Jenner before dating Maya.
It was then reported that the letter arrived for the broadcaster on Friday afternoon by MailOnline. Their source added: "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."
A source told MailOnline after their engagement: "Ben adores Maya and has fallen head over heels for her. He picked up the ring on Jewellers' Row in the diamond district of Philadelphia the day before he proposed...
"He chose the ring himself and felt he knew exactly what she would want. Maya said yes and they're both thrilled."
Following her high profile split from rapper Stormzy, Maya was first romantically linked to Ben in June 2021 after the pair were spotted together on a night out at Mayfair’s Sexy Fish restaurant.
Love Island returns tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
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