Love Island host Maya Jama got engaged to basketball star Ben Simmons after a whirlwind romance in 2021, but the couple split just eight months later
Love Island host Maya Jama has opened up about the real reason she and basketball ace Ben Simmons called it quits. The relationship between the stars, who had a “whirlwind” romance in 2021, saw 27-year-old Ben pop the question just eight months into their romance, before they eventually split.
At the time, it was rumoured that their hectic schedules and the long-distance with Maya in the UK and Ben in the US were to blame. But speaking to The Guardian this month, Maya, 30, explained: “It was just a whirlwind romance, and I hadn’t done a lot of the things I wanted to do.”
She added, “I hadn’t done Love Island, I hadn’t done the cover of Vogue. I had so many career dreams I wanted to achieve before getting married.”
Post-breakup, Maya rekindled her relationship with 31-year-old rapper Stormzy, but despite giving it another go in August 2023, they parted ways again in July 2024.
In a heartfelt joint statement at the time, they shared: “We were 21 and 20 when we first met – both at the beginning of our careers – and spent five years growing together and then five years growing separately, so this final attempt required a whole lot of figuring out, relearning, and unlearning.”, reports Bristol Live.
Despite the split, Maya and Stormzy affirmed they remain good friends, saying they “think the absolute world of each other”.
“We still care and respect each other, we are still grateful for the time we’ve had together, and we are still friends and will always be friends,” the couple stated. Rumours have since been flying that the Love Island presenter has recently started seeing Manchester City ace Ruben Dias, 27.
Insider gossip reached The Sun claiming that the duo got chatty after swapping details at the MTV European Music Awards last year. Reportedly, sparks flew in December, culminating in what’s understood to have been a joint New Year’s Eve celebration.
“They get on really well and obviously make a gorgeous couple, but it’s early days,” commented the source. As of now, there’s no official word from Maya or Ruben about their supposed fling.
