It was one of the most talked about relationships on the programme, but now Love Island star Gemma Owen has announced her split from fellow show contestant Luca Bish. Speculation about their "strained relationship" has been circulating for weeks.
Gemma, 19, is the daughter of football legend Michael Owen. She landed a place on dating show Love Island for the 2022 series but away from the show is a dressage competitor. Coupled up with Luca, their relationship on the show sparked much debate and while the couple narrowly missed out on the final, interest in the pair continued after the series finished.
In recent days, Luca has attended several red carpet events, including the ITV Palooza on Tuesday, without Gemma. Putting an end to the speculation, Gemma took to Instagram on Wednesday night (November 16) to reveal she has parted ways from Luca, 23.
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In the statement, reported by the Mirror, she said: "To all my followers, I wanted to let you know that Luca and I are no longer in a relationship. It wasn't an easy decision but ultimately this is what is best for both of us right now. Many of you have been on this journey with us from the very beginning, and I wanted to thank you for your continued support as we start new chapters."
In a statement shared with the Mirror, Luca revealed that he would have liked to have had time to process the split but was bombarded with a string of messages. He told the publication: "I would have liked some time to process this privately but as you all already now know sadly Gemma and I made the mutual decision earlier today to go our separate ways.
"We have been on such a journey together and have made some amazing memories which I will treasure. I can’t thank everyone enough for their support for us as a couple during and after Love Island."
The shock statement comes just two days after Luca told journalists all was well within his relationship as he appeared on the TV Choice Awards red carpet - with Gemma noticeably absent. The Manchester Evening News reported that when asked about the state of his relationship during ITV's big showcase, Luca told press: "Yeah, unbelievable. She was on the phone before I stepped through here today and then I'm back up there tomorrow [Gemma's family home in Chester], so good to see you when we can and that's it."
According to the publication, Luca also spoke about how the long journeys to see one another was "worth it" as well as the prospect of spending their first Christmas together. He said: "It's worth it when you get up there because when we plan to see each other its for a few days, not a few hours. If someone lives around the corner you can pop in and see them, which is quite nice because then we spend a lot more quality time together."
Recently fellow islander Paige Thorne suggested that only two couples who left the show this year are actually in a relationship, insinuating that the others are simply staging their romance for work purposes. The couple had made their relationship official with a lavish display.
Luca asked Gemma to be his official girlfriend with dozens of red roses candles, red balloons and rose petals covering the corridor of a stunning villa they were in. He led his then partner out to a sprawling swimming pool which was decorated with red balloons spelling out "be my girlfriend?" before giving her a whopping Cartier bracelet.
Following the grand gesture, a source close to the ex-couple told OK! Magazine: "She played along as she could see how much effort he'd gone to but it made her uncomfortable."
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