Davide Sanclimenti has furiously responded to his ex Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu’s shock claims about their breakup.
The Love Island stars split from the second time in January, almost two years after they won the ITV2 dating show.
Speaking on Abbey Clancy’s podcast Exhibit A earlier this month, the Turkish actress claimed they split for good after Davide arranged a “fake proposal” during a trip to Italy, which caused a huge row with her mother.
Picture: Brian McEvoy
However, Davide has since hit back at Ekin’s allegations, and accused her of dragging his name and reputation “through the mud”.
He told MailOnline: “I’ve kept quiet for a long time, but if I continue to ignore the false claims being made about me, people will start to believe them. That’s never been my intention.
“All I wanted was to be left alone so we could all move on peacefully. However, my ex has repeatedly dragged my name and reputation through the mud to make herself look better and boost her own popularity. I can’t tolerate this any longer. It’s time to set the record straight.”
Davide continued: “Ekin’s comments on Abby Clancy’s podcast about our final breakup needs to be addressed. Yes, I was provoked into losing my temper, but this was because her mother was interfering in our relationship and our work life.”
“Her mother’s intervention in front of the Colosseum was the breaking point for me. I never got down on one knee and I never surprised Ekin with a fake proposal.
“Ekin and I were discussing creating entertaining content for our socials as a couple as we usually would do. I suggested making a funny video detailing a quirky/comedic proposal for our social media content to prank our followers and have some fun.
“Paparazzi were arranged to capture us and our family out in public in Rome outside the Colosseum together during the Christmas season.
“However, Ekin’s mother disrupted our family outing publicly, creating a scene and making it impossible to continue,” he claimed.
“I was extremely shocked and embarrassed by this and from nowhere we were suddenly arguing outside one of the most beautiful places in the world at Christmas time about something my partner and I hadn’t finished discussing yet.
“This was the last straw for me in our relationship. I’m sure many will understand my exasperation with an overbearing mother-in-law.
“However, that was not the main reason why our relationship really ended. The reason was Ekin, her personality, the fakeness, the lack of trust.
“There were always two different versions of Ekin. One at home with me and one for the public. I couldn’t tell how genuine she during the relationship.”
Davide added: “I was very supportive of her since day one. I felt like she was never real with me, and it was a working relationship. It was never a relationship me and her.
“I had these doubts since the day we met on Love Island. It was very hard to cope and be in a relationship where I felt I was more emotionally invested in more than my partner.
“I felt like she was just using me for fame and to make her look desirable. Having the moment, she had something to use to take me down and to lift her reputation up, she took advantage of it all by exposing it. I
“f I was seeking attention, it was because I felt I was receiving artificial affection in my relationship. I am only human and have my faults. But I also deserved to have been treated fairly.
“This is the last time I am going to address this drama or feed her need to try to destroy my reputation. It’s toxic. I moved on, I am in a healthy place in my life now and I wish her the best,” he concluded.
Ekin-Su said on Abbey Clancy’s podcast earlier this month: “He swore at my mum in Italy. He told her to ‘eff off’, because my mum didn’t want him to fake propose to me.
“He fake proposed to me in Italy, he thought it was funny to arrange paparazzi, with my mum and brother there.”
The reality star confessed, “I actually thought he was going to propose.”
“My mum said don’t do that, and he swore at my mum, if you disrespect my family, you disrespect me.”
