Love Island's Martin claims Tanya isn't in love with Shaq after being DUMPED from the villa

Love Island’s Martin Akinola has claimed his former flame Tanya Manhenga isn’t in love with her current partner Shaq Muhammed.

It was the end of the road for Martin on Friday as he was dumped from the South African show after being the only islander not chosen during the recoupling.

With the final decision coming down to Tanya, she decided to save rekindled beau Shaq – leaving Martin left alone.

During Martin’s exit chat, he brutally said: ‘Genuinely, I think Shaq might be in love with her. But I don’t think she’s in love with him.’

Speaking about meeting Tanya in Casa Amor, Martin said: ‘Meeting Tanya at Casa Amor was great. She’s a beautiful girl, a sweet, sweet girl as well. We had a very good thing going at Casa Amor, the connection was there, the vibes were there. It felt great to explore that.

Brutal: Love Island’s Martin Akinola has claimed his former flame Tanya Manhenga isn’t in love with her current partner Shaq Muhammed

Romance: It was the end of the road for Martin on Friday, with the final decision coming down to Tanya, as she decided to save rekindled beau Shaq – leaving Martin left alone

‘It was only right that we tried to continue that at the Villa. Obviously that didn’t happen, but getting to know her was great. I felt like we definitely had a connection at Casa Amor.

When asked about the Casa Amor recoupling, Martin added: ‘If I’m being very honest… I knew I was going into the main Villa with her from the first conversation! I felt like we were just stuck together from the very first conversation.

‘As she got to know me more she wanted to continue to explore that connection. I didn’t break a sweat! It felt natural. I didn’t feel like I had to force anything. It was just natural and I didn’t do a lot of grating, it just came easy.’

Speaking about where he stands with Tanya now, Martin said: ‘She followed her heart – which was fair enough – but she went about it the wrong way. That’s what I had a problem with. I felt like I needed to know before her little speech at the bridge.

‘She should have told me earlier and given me a head’s up. I feel I deserved that little bit of respect. I didn’t get that. That’s why the row happened.

‘I told her good luck and I wish her and Shaq well. When I left the Villa as well I said good luck as I saw she felt so bad. She did what she had to do, she just went about it the wrong way really.’

Touching on the dramatic movie night that happened a few days prior to the dumping, Martin said: ‘I think it was Shaq and Tanya’s clip. It was hard for Shaq to see it. That caused the most tension in the Villa. Also, Samie and Tom as well. That’s a close second.

‘All that was going through my head was, ‘I told you so!’ I felt like the guys, especially Shaq, didn’t really believe that me and Tanya had a connection. Then he could see with his own eyes. I was thinking, I told you.’

Stand off: She had brought back Martin during the last recoupling, but has since rekindled her romance with Shaw

Honest: Heading home, Martin kept it real as he admitted to his fellow islanders: ‘I’m not gonna say it was the best experience but it wasn’t, it is up there in the top ones’

Last to pick during Friday’s recoupling was Tanya, who was left with her two love interests, Shaq and Martin, standing in front of her.

The biomedical science student had been coupled up with Shaq from the first day of the show, before having her head turned with Martin during Casa Amor.

Despite bringing him back to the main villa, the duo quickly fizzled out as she rekindled things with Shaq – expressing her love for him during the recoupling speech as she left Martin single.

Heading home, Martin kept it real as he admitted to his fellow islanders: ‘I’m not gonna say it was the best experience but it wasn’t, it is up there in the top ones. Tanya, no hard feelings, you did nothing wrong.’

He then corrected himself by adding: ‘Well, actually, you did a couple of things that were wrong. But, it’s fine’.

Fans were gutted to see Martin leave and couldn’t help but praise his honest departure – taking to Twitter to express their sadness at his exit.

Dubbing him a ‘hero’, one penned: ‘WELL THAT WAS THE BEST EXIT EVER. Martin you’re a hero’.

Another added: ‘Martin made the show bearable this week’. As a third wrote: ‘If this was Big Brother Martin would’ve won with 99.9% of the vote.

It comes after Martin branded Tanya a ‘liar’ as Shaq held her back during tense scenes on Tuesday night.

After publicly declaring her love for Shaq in the villa, Martin appeared fuming with the way Tanya has handled the situation.

Martin told Olivia and Max at the fire pit: ‘I feel like causing some drama right now’

He then stormed over and pulled Tanya for a chat, saying: ‘You are a liar, you are not sincere, you made me look like I was dumb’

The pair cosied up and Shaq told Tanya: ‘I’ve been in love before, but I’ve never been in love like this’

‘Hero’: Fans were gutted to see Martin leave and couldn’t help but praise his honest departure – taking to Twitter to express their sadness at his exit

Martin continued: ‘You could have just been honest, I knew when you went to the bathroom. Martin doesn’t cause drama but what the f**k. That’s me done’

Tanya replied: ‘One think you are not going to do is call me a liar because you are bitter. You are a grown man act your age’

Martin announced to the villa: ‘I don’t want to talk anymore. I told her she was a liar and insincere’

Tanya angrily shouted: ‘No no no. This is the last conversation we are going to have. I am not a liar, I didn’t have the opportunity to tell you,’ while Shaq tried to pull her away from the argument.

Love Island continues Sunday at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.

LOVE ISLAND 2023: MEET THE CONTESTANTS

Tanya Manhenga

Name: Tanya Manhenga

Age: 22

Location: Liverpool

Occupation: Student and model

Something not many people know about her: ‘I have Vitiligo, which is a skin pigmentation, you may not even notice it.’

‘It’s on my lip and I have a stripe on my hair. Not many people know that but I think it’s quite cute.’

‘I don’t care about covering it up all the time, I think it’s a vibe.’

Lana Jenkins

Name: Lana Jenkins

Age: 25

Location: Luton

Occupation: Makeup artist

Something not many people know about her: ‘In my work as a makeup artist I’ve worked with lots of celebrities.

‘Also, when I was 6-years-old I used to live in Spain and I was in an episode of Benidorm as an extra.’

Tanyel Revan

Name: Tanyel Revan

Age: 26

Location: North London

Occupation: Hair stylist

Something not many people know about her: ‘My celebrity crush is Channing Tatum – I don’t like pretty boys, they give me the ‘ick’ because they always have a crap personality.’

‘Channing Tatum is handsome but not too pretty. He’s manly and he can dance.’

‘If a man can dance I’m in love with him straight away.’

Olivia Hawkins

Name: Olivia Hawkins

Age: 27

Location: Brighton

Occupation: Ring girl and actress

Something not many people know about her: ‘I did a film with Jason Statham and had a nice 10-minute convo about life.’

‘I’ve been a ring girl for KSI, I played a waitress in James Bond with Daniel Craig and I’ve also been a body double for Michelle Keegan and Emma Watson.’

Tom Clare

Name: Tom Clare

Age: 23

Location: Barnsley

Occupation: Semi-Pro Footballer

Something not many people know about him: I’m a High School Musical fan

Name: Samie Elishi

Age: 22

Location: London

Occupation: Senior Estate Agent Coordinator

Something not many people know about her: ‘I’m a really honest person and I have no filter. I won’t take rubbish from anyone, especially when it comes to guys!’

Name: Maxwell Samuda

Age: 23

Location: London

Occupation: Finance Student and Restaurant Host

Who did he have his eye on in Casa Amor? Samie. She keeps it real and she seems like she’s not afraid to speak her mind.

Name: Rosie Seaford

Age: 24

Location: Buckinghamshire

Occupation: Industry Placement Advisor

Something not many people know about her: ‘I have a really bad phobia of frozen food, I can’t touch frozen food.’

Kai Fagan

Name: Kai Fagan

Age: 24

Location: Manchester

Occupation: Science and PE teacher

Something not many people know about him: ‘I’m a Jamaican citizen. Because of that I played rugby 7s for Jamaica.’

‘I play semi-professional rugby now for Burnage RFC.’

‘I’ve technically got three different degrees and went to three different unis.’

Ron Hall

Name: Ron Hall

Age: 25

Location: Essex

Occupation: Financial advisor

Something not many people know about him: ‘On meeting me, you’d never know I am blind in one eye.’

‘It was the result of a football injury when I was 8. I’ve got two different coloured eyes, one blue and one green.’

Will Young

Name: Will Young

Age: 23

Location: Buckinghamshire

Occupation: Farmer

Something not many people know about him: ‘Every night I light a candle and meditate for 20-25 minutes.’

‘A girl I was seeing told me to meditate, I tried it and loved it. I stopped seeing her and carried on meditating!

‘It’s a nice way to self reflect.’

Shaq Muhammad

Name: Shaq Muhammad

Age: 24

Location: London

Occupation: Airport security officer

Something not many people know about him: ‘I’m a very emotional person. It can be a blessing and a curse.’

‘Every time I watch Dear John I cry.

That’s my favourite film. Any time I’m with someone and they say, ‘Let’s watch a romantic film’, I’m like, ‘How about Dear John, how does that sound?’