Love Island finalist Shakira Khan has spoken out on her dramatic feud with the other girls, after tensions in the villa sparked a string of Ofcom complaints.
While this series was no doubt defined by some of the steamiest romps in the show’s history, viewers also vented their fury over a divide between the girls, with some claiming that Shakira was repeatedly ‘bullied’ during her time on the show.
After finishing runner-up alongside Harry Cooksley, Shakira has revealed she was painted as a ‘threat’ by Meg Moore and Helena Ford during her first two days in the villa, setting the stage for the divide that remained throughout the series.
She said: ‘What it stems from is on day one or day two I was put in a position where I had to graft and so was deemed as a threat. From then on, I was treated differently.
‘We sort of flocked together. When you are a threat to someone’s relationship you are not going to be the best of pals. ‘
Shakira went onto form a close bond with Toni Laites and Yasmin Pettet in the villa, and in tense scenes during the final week, she and Meg declared they ‘would never be friends’ when they leave the show.
Love Island finalist Shakira Khan has spoken out on her dramatic feud with the other girls, after tensions in the villa sparked a string of Ofcom complaints
The pair had been at odds throughout their time on the show, most recently clashing during the Couple Goals challenge, when Shakira stated that Meg had been ‘standoffish’ with her since they entered the villa on day one.
Since she and her boyfriend Dejon Noel-Williams were dumped from the villa, Meg has insisted that any talk of a divide was blown out of proportion.
Speaking on Love Island: Aftersun, she said: ‘I think with the divide and the girls, it’s taken way out of proportion that what it is.
‘All of us girls do get in, like we say all these comments and stuff and I say things, they say things, we’re all equal with what we say.
‘And I think obviously I was hurt by it seeing it on a TV screen, but at the same time we’re with each other 24 hours of the day.
‘It would be wrong if we didn’t argue because at home with my sister, I’ll argue with because that’s just because we’re in each other’s space and we always said as the whole girls, if everything was left it would be left outside the dressing room.’
‘We was all still sharing pyjamas, helping each other with nail glue, make up, bikinis, do you know what I mean? Even when I was leaving, I love all them girls to bits.’
Shakira was also involved in a love triangle with Harry and Helena, rekindling her romance with him just a week before the final.
After finishing runner-up alongside Harry Cooksley, Shakira revealed she was painted as a ‘threat’ by Meg Moore and Helena Ford during her first two days in the villa
Despite being bookies favourite to win, Shakira and Harry finished in second place during Monday’s Love Island final
Duty of care is available to all Islanders 24/7.
But 29 people did take to Ofcom to share their concerns about Harry after he opened up about his true feelings towards Shakira.
A whopping 280 people also took to the broadcasting watchdog to shared their complaints over Harrison Solomon, 22, Dejon Noel-Williams, 26, and Harry’s alleged misogynic behaviour.
Meanwhile others (247 people) shared their concern about Shakira after some alleged bullying.
And a number of islanders raised some eyebrows on July 17.
69 people complained about Harrison’s alleged misogynic behaviour and a further 27 took to the regulator to share concern about Shakira’s well-being.
Before entering the villa, the show share a number of care protocols with the stars, including training in language and behaviour.
They are also told to suspend social media and are given ongoing support before, during and after they take part in the programme.
Despite being bookies favourite to win, Shakira and Harry finished in second place during Monday’s Love Island final.
The couple admitted that they are going to take things much slower than the other finalists, given it was only a week earlier they’d recoupled.
Harry said: ‘We have spoken briefly about what’s next but we only recoupled in the last ten days so I think we are both living every day one day at a time.’
Shakira added: ‘We are probably more set back than someone meeting fresh as we have had a lot of rebuilding to do before we even think about that.’
Admitting they never expected to end up back together, Shakira said: ‘It was in my dolly daydreams but I didn’t think it would be on the cards.’
Harry added: ‘It didn’t think it was ever reciprocated how I felt. I always wanted it but I just had to bury my emotions and feelings for Shakira because I didn’t think there was any going back.’
Shakira went onto say: ‘It was tough because I wanted him so badly but it was a constant head over heart battle but if this has taught me anything, it’s that I lose in that situation when I let my pride and ego win. Maybe being stubborn doesn’t work so well for me!’
