Samie Elishi has hit back at trolls who accused her of faking her romance with Tom Clare.
The Love Island stars came third on this year’s winter series of the ITV dating show - but split just two months later.
It was revealed the pair struggled to make it work with Chloe loving in London and Macclesfield footballer Tom living up north.
During a chat with ex Love Islander Chloe Burrows, Samie appeared to say she only went on Love Island to find fame.
Chloe asked her: “Did you go on Love Island for love or did you go on for exposure?”
Samie replied: “I’m going to be honest, mine was the second one. I didn’t expect to meet anyone.”
But following a backlash from online trolls, the 22-year-old released a video explaining herself.
Dubbing it ‘the video I didn’t want to make’ Samie told fans: “There’s a few comments saying I only went on Love Island for fame. Like, whatever.
“That clip of me form that podcast – if it wasn’t clipped how it was clipped – was me saying I went on for the experience, not exposure.
“In my eyes that’s what it is about. Love Island is an amazing experience.
“Coming from someone who has been single for so long and is so picky, yes I said to my family and friends, ‘I’m not going to find anyone, I know I’m not.’”
Samie continued: “But I thought, why not go on for the experience? Learn more about yourself, meet some friends for life. I didn’t think I’d ever fall in love. It was a bonus that I did.”
Addressing her split with Tom – which she revealed had ended on good terms - she added: “This isn’t how I wanted it to turn out.
“I thought that was it. I thought I was set and me and Tom were going to live happily ever after, but life happens.”
In the same video, Samie broke down in tears as she revealed she had just had the week from hell.
Not only has she split from Tom and received backlash for her podcast comments, she also shared she had found a lump in her neck.
It comes after her friends and family were sent messages highlighting the lump after fans noticed it during Samie’s time in the Love Island villa.
Giving fans a health update on her new YouTube channel, Samie explained she had undergone a biopsy and "thanks God" for the fans who reached out to highlight the lump.
She said doctors are "not sure" if it is cancerous or not at this stage and she may have to undergo surgery to have half her thyroid removed.
The Love Island star explained how she saw fellow former Islander Demi Jones, who had thyroid cancer, go through the same health issue.
Samie added: "I watched her highlight the other day and thank God she shared her journey because I've no idea what to expect so I'm so grateful for her sharing her journey and I'm going to share it as well, as I know how hard as it's going to be."
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