All the moments that made Ekin-Su and Davide the best Love Island couple ever

A nation in mourning for Love Island’s most iconic relationship


It was the summer of 2022, and life had purpose again. Why? Love Island was at its lowest. Tired, boring, repeating old tricks. Islanders strolled in there influencer ready or nepo babies with a name they already can make a career off. But the sweet, sweet summer of 2022 introduced us to two kindred spirits. Davide Sanclimenti the Italian stallion and Turkish delight Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu. Two countries brought together in the form of Islanders who both felt like two sides of the same coin and a completely chaotic pairing that had no business working til the end of the series, let alone after it. But they won the show, after an iconically turbulent time in the villa, and never stopped giving us golden moments. I have stanned Ekin-Su and Davide since Love Island and then beyond, so here are my favourite moments of the couple now I enter my period of mourning their breakup.

The instant spark

When Ekin-Su stormed into that villa, lives were changed. None more so than Davide, who quickly said to Luca that he fancied “The one in the red.” God-Su. He was coupled up with Gemma, but who cared about that? Gemma moved on to Luca and Davide and Ekin quickly recoupled – and we all got to enjoy the sight of him working out with her sat on his shoulders. Camp.

The rocky beginnings

All went a bit tits up after Ekin-Su crawled on her hands and knees across the terrace to neck on with Jay in a moment no one will forget. It was hilarious enough on its own, but then we got the now infamous confrontation between Davide and Ekin where he uttered the immortal words: “You are a liar, actress, go the fuck out.” History.

The enemies to lovers pipeline

So many golden moments for viewers to gobble up as we watched the pipeline of Davide and Ekin-Su on Love Island change from one of enemies to one of lovers. They both became favourites with the viewers in their own right, Ekin for her constant camp antics and just general telly gold personality and Davide for how unintentionally hilarious he wound up being. There was clearly still a spark there, and watching Davide try to deny it just made us all root for them more. When they finally gave it another go, the nation erupted in euphoric cheers. Ekin-True story.

The random silly moments

After they stayed together for Casa Amor and passed the “test”, there were so many little moments of Davide and Ekin-Su Love Island magic that made them so likeable, and what got the public to crown them the winner. When she bangs her head on the back of the bench and he says “karma”? When she teases him about the phallic sounding pasta she’s after? How can you not lap them up.

The dramatic breakup and reconciliation of 2023

Ekin-Su and Davide broke up briefly in 2023, and it was a rollercoaster of emotions for all involved. Their fiery relationship has its ups and downs and the split was so dramatic – and then they got back together. We thought we were out of the woods, but this 2024 split feels very final.

I will look back on the halcyon days of Ekin-Su and Davide with nothing but fondness in my heart, for my favourite and most unpredictable Love Island relationship of all time. They had their detractors, but they made it work. I could watch them do anything together and they’d raise some chuckles and smirks. It’s the end of an era.

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