Ekin-Su Culculoglu calls Davide romance 'challenging' after CBB backlash
Ekin-Su Culculoglu says she was still 'healing' on CBB - two months after Davide split
Watch: Ekin-Su Culculoglu calls public Davide romance 'challenging'
What did you miss?
Ekin-Su Culculoglu has said her romance with Davide Sanclimenti was "challenging" in the spotlight, just months after facing backlash on Celebrity Big Brother.
The reality star retreated from the spotlight after she faced a backlash from fans when she refused to discuss her Love Island stint on Celebrity Big Brother in March earlier this year. Making a steady comeback, Culculoglu addressed the breakdown of her relationship with Love Island star Sanclimenti.
In 2022, the couple were voted the Love Island winners and they banked the £50,000 prize money after winning over the public. After 18 months of romance, the couple went their separate ways in January this year just two months before Culculoglu appeared on Celebrity Big Brother.
The model said it was the wrong time to appear on Celebrity Big Brother as she was still "healing". Now, Culculoglu has spoken candidly about the "very challenging" nature of being in a public relationship and how it had been "hard". Culculoglu was speaking on Lorraine to promote her new book Be Your Own Best Friend.
What, how and why?
She said: "Love Island is such an overwhelming experience... Love Island gave me the platform I've got now. My life did change after it. It's been highs and low. Being in the public eye and in a public relationship was very challenging."
Lorraine Kelly asked the TV guest whether she felt her relationship with Sanclimenti would have been different if they hadn't been in the spotlight. "Good question," she responded.
Read more: All the Love Island winning couples so far
Culculoglu said her romance with Sanclimenti was "harder" because of the external pressures and that it turned into a business relationship looking more at how many likes they got on Instagram.
She explained: "I think any relationship amplified under the spotlight is going to be harder, it's a test isn't it? Everyone knows your business. There's no such thing about keeping it private. People will say things about your relationship.
"It's about being grounded and not basing a relationship on how many likes you get when you do a collab post. It does turn into a business relationship. It would have been different I think."
Ekin-Su's Celebrity Big Brother backlash
After speaking about Love Island, Culculoglu addressed the backlash she faced on Celebrity Big Brother this year. Having only just gone through a break up in January, the star said she was "healing" and as a result she was "very defensive".
She said: "For me, look, Celebrity Big Brother is a great show. I don't regret it. I do understand it was the wrong time for me to go on the show. Mainly because I was healing, I wasn't healed, I was very defensive. When I look back at myself, I can't recognise myself.
"The mentioning Love Island all the time, being so defensive. I wouldn't be that person now. I take some accountability for what I've said on there. I forgive, and I learn, that's the past now."
Keen to move on from Celebrity Big Brother, Culculoglu said she wished everyone on the show well. She added: "I have so much for everyone on there and love that everyone is doing so well from the show. I wish them the best. I've got nothing negative to say."
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