Love Island star Curtis Pritchard’s brother AJ Pritchard and his partner Zara Zoffany have shared their thoughts on Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu amid the new series of All Stars
Former Strictly Come Dancing star AJ Pritchard has shared his thoughts on brother Curtis Pritchard’s relationship with Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu on Love Island.
Curtis, 28, and Ekin-Su, 30, have grown close whilst in the All Stars villa in South Africa together. The pair have now been coupled-up for around two weeks and both suggested that they were “closed off” in a scene that aired just last week.
Wednesday’s episode however showed tension between them following the arrival of bombshell Danielle Sellers, 29. She had to choose someone to stay the night with her in the Hideaway and picked Curtis. Ekin-Su suggested that she hadn’t felt reassured by him prior to him going away.
Ekin-Su was later unimpressed to hear that Curtis had “touched” Danielle’s hand at one point whilst in bed together. Curtis assured that “nothing” happened and Danielle revealed that he had just looked at a ring she was wearing.
Viewers saw Ekin-Su and Curtis in some tense scenes as they discussed the situation. He told her at one point that, although he was “closed off,” he would be open to “talk” to Danielle if she pulled him for a chat. Ekin-Su ended up in tears when she later saw Curtis and Danielle speaking. During their conversation, he suggested that he regretted ever saying that he was “closed off” with Ekin-Su.
Ekin-Su divided viewers with her actions in the episode. Some fans on social media speculated that she wanted drama for air time, whilst others expressed sympathy with her following Curtis’ behaviour. Curtis’ brother AJ, 30, shared his thoughts in a series of videos on his Instagram Story.
AJ teased in an initial video: “Is Ekin like completely over reacting? She’s like going well over the top and the whole holding hands thing like … she’s not handling it very well at all. […] They’ve only been dating for two weeks still, we have to remember that. They’re not like married, engaged, they’re not even boyfriend and girlfriend. […] Red flags. It’s a bit of a red flag, I’m not gonna lie.”
He later took part in a Q&A on the platform with his partner Zara Zoffany, 30. The couple were asked by one follower: “Who’s better for Curtis?” AJ went on to suggested that he doesn’t think Ekin-Su is “good” for his younger brother.
AJ said: “Right now, from what we’ve seen, the edit … obviously on Love Island like the conversation with Ekin with probably like three hours, just so you know, so that’s why they look so stressed because it takes so long to get these conversations done.
“But there’s so many red flags. I don’t think Ekin’s good for him because I feel like she’s making everybody doubt everybody and literally in my opinion like she’s playing it, thinking she’s gonna get that sympathy vote from us on the sofa. And it’s not happening!”
Zara equally didn’t seem convinced by Ekin-Su. Discussing how Curtis has seemed since Danielle arrived, she said: “That’s the realest I’ve seen Curtis. So we’re gonna go with the new girl.” AJ nodded following his partner’s comment.
The couple went on to address criticism after someone submitted a message that read: “It’s clear you two don’t like Ekin and it gives mean energy every time you talk about her.” Both Zara and AJ then shared that they don’t know Ekin-Su and were basing their opinions on her appearances on TV.
Zara said: “Let’s get one thing straight. We don’t know Ekin and we see a perception of her every day for an hour, right? Our reactions are to her actions and I just don’t think she seems that genuine.” AJ then added: “I feel personally when people kind of say like ‘oh is that the true person?’ regarding Curtis and I’m like ‘yeah that’s Curtis, exactly who he is’. But I don’t feel the same with Ekin, personally.
“Unfortunately, I don’t know her, so I can’t really comment on that side. But one thing I do have to say is that like I can see how long these conversations are going on on TV right now and I feel like she’s doing everything to the textbook like trying to get that sympathy point. And that’s not just being real, she’s saying all the buzz words in every aspect and the crying and all this. I don’t think it’s true. And that’s what annoys me!”
Although AJ and Zara supported Curtis, some fans had expressed support to Ekin-Su over the recent drama in the villa. One person wrote on X: “I feel bad for Ekin. It is Curtis’ right to get to know other people that’s why he’s there, but I think the way he blindsided Ekin was unfair.” Another said: “At the start I thought ekin was doing too much so I hate so say it but she was right… Curtis CANNOT be trusted.” Someone else on social media said: “I feel bad for Ekin because she’s been very open about feeling insecure […] Don’t say you’re closed off it you’re not going to reassure her.”
All Stars continues Thursday night from 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
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