Haris Namani has responded to claims he dumped his influencer girlfriend weeks before heading into the Love Island villa.
The 21-year-old TV salesman was branded the 'biggest game player' by Courtney Hodgson, 23, as it was announced he was heading into the villa.
But Haris has now insisted that their romance ended way before Courtney claimed it did and said he was 'shocked' by her claims.
He added that he didn't see himself ending up settling down with Courtney and suggested: "She was a bit more interested in me than I was in her".
As Haris was revealed in the ITV show's lineup on Love Island's Instagram page, Courtney reportedly wrote: "We were only at winter wonderland six weeks ago together with my family." [sic]
In a follow-up comment, Courtney is said to have fumed: "Biggest game player going, leaving me for a TV show and I called it from the second he left me," the Daily Mail reported.
Her comments are no longer visible online and appear to have been removed.
Now, Haris has responded to the claims before his appearance in the villa and insisted he and Courtney split weeks before Courtney claimed they did.
Speaking to the Mirror and other journalists, Haris said: "So basically situation I had with Courtney is; we were seeing each other over summer.
"Then around September, start October time I said her, 'Courtney I don't think he's going to work out'.
"After a few months, I've never saw Courtney as being The One – probably having a future or even bringing her home.
"She never met my mum, dad, my two sisters or my brother.
"It never got to that stage, I don't think it would have anyway and that's it.
"I don't know why she's obviously seen it in a different view – you could probably say she was a bit more interested in me than I was in her.
"I'm a bit shocked to be fair but there's nothing else I can say."
And, when asked if he's hoping to find The One in the Love Island villa, Haris said: "Yeah.
"Basically, with Courtney we obviously had a few memories and that but, I didn't see her as being The One.
"So that doesn't mean that I can't come on here and try find the right one. I'm obviously coming on here to try and find the right one because Courtney was out of the picture for me to I actually think I could have seen a future with her."
As Haris waited in South Africa to head into the villa, he revealed he was yet to feel nervous.
"The nerves have not hit yet, I'll be honest," he said. "I do boxing, I've done boxing for years, so I know a little bit how it works to go in somewhere that you never [have].
"But maybe a little bit when I get there – on the first day I might [feel nervous]. But as soon as I get in the groove I'll be fine, I'm not t one of them to shy away from a situation or talk to anyone or anything like that."
Haris joins nine other singletons heading into the Love Island villa in a new series hosted by Maya Jama, which launches on Monday January 16.
Other Islanders are Olivia Hawkins, Tanya Manhenga, Tanyel Revan, Lana Jenkins, Anna-May Robey, Kai Fagan, Ron Hall, Shaq Muhammad and Will Young.
Love Island starts on Monday 16th January at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
