Love Island’s Tom Clare has confirmed his split from Samie Elishi and admitted he is ‘gutted’ their relationship has ended.
The footballer, 23, took to his Instagram Stories on Wednesday to break his silence following reports that the couple had gone their separate ways.
On Monday, it was revealed that Tom and estate agent Samie, 22, had broken up just one month after Love Island finished filming.
Addressing the reports, Tom took to social media to confirm their split but insisted they are still on ‘good terms’, saying he has ‘nothing but love’ for Samie.
The reality TV star, who met Samie on Love Island’s winter 2023 series, did not give a reason for their split but admitted he is ‘gutted’ their relationship has ended.
It’s over: Love Island’s Tom Clare has confirmed his split from Samie Elishi and admitted he is ‘gutted’ their relationship has ended
‘I’m gutted’: The footballer, 23, took to his Instagram Stories on Wednesday to break his silence following reports that the couple had gone their separate ways
He penned: ‘Didn’t think I’d be writing this but me and Samie have gone our separate ways.
‘We are still on good terms and I have nothing but love and respect for her. I’m gutted it’s some to an end but I truly wish Samie the best.’
Samie has not yet publicly commented on their split, but it was reported earlier this week that they called time on their romance after wanting to focus on their careers.
Tom’s statement comes after it emerged that Samie had admitted she went on Love Island for fame rather than love.
She made the very candid revelation while chatting to Chloe Burrows on her new YouTube series Chloe vs The World last week.
Appearing on Chloe’s show with her then-boyfriend Tom, Samie did not shy away from admitting she went on Love Island for ‘exposure’ rather than love.
Former Islander Chloe, 27, asked Samie and Tom: ‘Did you go on Love Island for love or did you go on for exposure?’
To which Samie candidly replied: ‘I’m going to be honest, mine was the second one. I didn’t expect to meet anyone.’
Split: On Monday, it was revealed that Tom and estate agent Samie, 22, had broken-up just one month after Love Island finished filming
Awkward: Tom’s statement comes after it emerged that Samie had admitted she went on Love Island for fame rather than love
Tom then added: ‘I think mine was I really wanted to meet someone, but in the first two weeks I was like, “I’m stuffed here, there’s no one for me”.’
As Chloe made a joke about ‘forcing it’, Samie said: ‘It’s f***ing Love Island!’
Reflecting on her own 2021 villa experience, Chloe admitted she didn’t fancy Hugo Hammond, who she briefly coupled up with, but chatted to him to stay on the show.
She explained: ‘I obviously didn’t fancy Hugo. The producers were like “Come on” so I went and chatted to him but I was like, “Nah, I can’t do it. Sorry can’t do it”.’
‘I was thinking “I want to stay in here, boy” so I’m going to chat to whoever you want me to chat to. I’ll do whatever you want.’
Chloe later made it all the way to the final with her then-boyfriend Toby Aromolaran, who she split from in October 2022, and the pair came in as runners-up.
News of Samie and Tom’s break-up was first reporter on Monday, when it was claimed that the pair had called time on their romance.
Very honest: The estate agent, 22, made the very candid revelation while chatting to Chloe Burrows (pictured) on her new YouTube series Chloe vs The World last week
Reality TV: Chloe made it all the way to the 2021 final with her then-boyfriend Toby Aromolaran, who she split from in October 2022, and the pair came in as runners-up
The pair, who came third during the 2023 winter South African series, parted ways after wanting to ‘focus on their careers’.
Tom, who lives in Barnsley, and Samie, who is based in Essex, are said to have also put their break-up down to not being able to make the distance work.
A source told The Sun: ‘Samie and Tom have sadly decided to call it a day. There is a lot of love and respect there but it just wasn’t going anywhere.
‘The distance between them was too much and they are both really focused on their careers post Love Island.’
Fans feared the pair had split after not posting each other on their social media accounts for two weeks.
Tom had previously said he would happily move to wherever for Samie to make their relationship work but there was ‘no rush’ to do so.
In the meantime, the pair were travelling to each other’s homes to spend a ‘few days together’ and trying to make their romance work.
Tom told The Sun earlier this month: ‘I’ve been down there for a few days or she’s come up here. It hasn’t been like a one day thing, we’re making it work.
‘I think eventually we want to move in together but that takes time, it’s not something that you rush.
‘I think if we could we’d want to move in together tomorrow but we’re just making it natural. I’d live wherever Samie wants to live – I’m not bothered me.’
Following appearing on the hit ITV dating show, Tom and Samie made their relationship official while on a romantic date night.
Ending: It was reported earlier this week that the couple decided to split up because the long distance was proving too much while they are also focusing on their careers
At the end of March, Samie took to Instagram to share the exciting news, she wrote: ‘This is my BOYFRIEND everyone.’
The pair documented a number of dates since then including heading to the football together, romantic dinner dates and playing top golf.
The pair managed to make it all the way to the final and place third, despite both arriving as bombshell contestants.
They lost out to winners Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan and placed just behind runners up Ron Hall and Lana Jenkins.
