‘I wasted so much time and energy’: Islanders who say they regret going on Love Island

For many of those who go on Love Island, it changes their lives. From becoming millionaires to the most popular influencers in the UK, you can truly make a name for yourself once starring in the show. However, the glitz and glamour is not for everyone and the experiences of some Islanders on the show have led them feeling regret of ever going on in the first place. Three former Islanders from separate seasons have all spoken about regretting going on Love Island for issues surrounding their mental health and how they have been treated by others since exiting the show.

Here are all the past Love Island contestants who have said they regret going on the show:

Rachel Finni

via Instagram @rachel.finni

In June 2022, ex-Islander Rachel Finni spoke out about regretting going on the show after four former Islanders on her season joined an Instagram live and began to mock Rachel and her time in the villa. Since then they have apologised, but once the live had surfaced, Rachel shared a series of posts on her Instagram, saying she regretted going on Love Island. She said: “Today is the first day I’ve had a feeling of regret when it comes to appearing on the show. Despite everything that happened till now, I still saw the experience as a blessing.

“Not matter how awful and manipulated it was I just took it as part of the experience as it led me to amazing things. But for it to be today and I have actual nobodies mimicking me and discussing me publicly like a joke, I am fully over it and regret going on the show.”

Siânnise Fudge

via Instagram @siannisefudge

Siânnise starred in the winter season of Love Island in 2020 and was a runner up alongside her now ex-boyfriend Luke Trotman. Recently, Siânnise has opened up about suffering from depression and anxiety last year. She said: “This time last year I was suffering with anxiety and depression behind closed doors. This resulted in me having insomnia, extreme mood swings & losing two stone in weight.”

In 2021, during a series of question and answers on her Instagram story, Siânnise shared that she missed her life before going on Love Island. She said: “You miss your old life before all the fame from Love Island. I was very content and happy in my life before Love Island and I feel like mentally, I’m not as happy. If I could turn the clock I think I would have made a different decision. And I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. Mental health and happiness comes first for me always.”

Savanna Darnell

via Instagram @_savannadarnell

Savanna was a Casa Amor bombshell in 2018 and has recently said she “fell into a deep black hole of depression” after going on Love Island. Speaking with OK!, Savanna said that despite it originally being planned for her to be an OG Islander, she joined as a Casa Amor bombshell and was promised a spot in the main villa with a resident Islander. She said: “I was working against the clock trying to forge a connection. I ended up spending a lot of time with Wes Nelson, and we shared a bed on the final night. He told me that he was going to take me to the main villa, but the next day he’d changed his mind.”

Looking back on her time in the villa, she said: “I put my whole worth into the show, which in hindsight I really regret doing. I wasted so much time and energy, and had nothing to show for it. I fell into a deep black hole of depression.”

Savanna’s mother has recently spoken about what her daughter experienced as a result of Love Island, and said she went from being “a fun, bubbly girl to someone who didn’t want to get out of bed.”

Jacques O’Neill

via Instagram @jacques9oneill

Former Love Island 2022 contestant Jacques O’Neill quit the show amidst feeling unable to cope while in the villa. After his exit, Jacques spoke with The Sun where he discussed his regret about going on the show, dubbing it the “worst decision” of his life. He said: “I was feeling so mentally drained, I just wanted to go home and get myself right. It broke me and I was already broken. I was crying my eyes out. I couldn’t cope. I was literally feeling awful. It was the worst I’d ever felt in my life.”

When he reached the point of not wanting to stay in the villa, Jacques said he was crying and told the producers “I’m ready to go home”.

Anton Danyluk

via Instagram @anton_danyluk

Anton is the latest Islander to admit he regrets going on Love Island. Anton said sometimes he wishes he never applied for the show so he didn’t have to go through trolling and online bullying that he currently receives.

The TV personality admitted that one day he asked his girlfriend, Dom Blonska, if something was wrong with his face, after one of his followers wrote: “What the f**k did you do to your face? Looks like you’ve been stung by 100 bees.” He said: “I’d be lying if I didn’t say it affects me some days. Some days it doesn’t bother me at all. Some days I’m just like, ‘that’s absolutely fine.’

Love Island 2022 continues on ITV2 at 9pm tonight. For all the latest Love Island news and gossip and for the best memes and quizzes, like The Holy Church of Love Island on Facebook.

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• Food secrets from the Love Island villa: Meat free Mondays, McDonald’s and a tuck shop

Featured image credit via Instagram @anton_danyluk, @jacques9oneill and @siannisefudge.