Love Island’s Tom Clare speaks about heartbreaking split from Samie for the first time since surprise break-up
LOVE Island star Tom Clare has broken his silence after The Sun revealed his split from Samie Elishi – saying: “I’m gutted.”
Tom, 23, admitted he is heartbroken that the pair’s relationship ended just weeks after leaving the villa.
He took to his Instagram to confirm the split.
The professional footballer wrote: “Didn’t think I’d be writing this but me and Samie have gone our separate ways.”
The reality star explained the pair ended things amicably after failing to make their relationship work on the outside.
Tom told fans: “We are still on good terms and I have nothing but love and respect for her.
“I’m gutted it’s come to an end but I truly wish Samie the best.”
The pair, who came third during the last series, struggled to make it work because of the distance between them.
They had however made their romance official days after leaving the villa.
A source said: “Samie and Tom have sadly decided to call it a day. There is a lot of love and respect there but it just wasn’t going anywhere.
“The distance between them was too much and they are both really focused on their careers post Love Island.”
Tom lives in Barnsley, while Samie is based in Camden.
Fans feared they were on the rocks after failing to post about each other most of this month.
Tom previously said he would be happy to move wherever for Samie, in a bid to make things work.
He told The Sun earlier this month: “I’ve been down there for a few days or she’s come up here. It hasn’t been like a one day thing, we’re making it work,” Tom continued.
“I think eventually we want to move in together but that takes time, it’s not something that you rush.
“I think if we could we’d want to move in together tomorrow but we’re just making it natural.
“I’d live wherever Samie wants to live – I’m not bothered me.”
Both Samie and Tom entered this year’s winter series of Love Island as bombshells.
However, the pair ended up falling for each other in the South African villa and made it all the way to the final.
Samie and Tom finished Love Island in third place, just behind runners-up Ron Hall and Lana Jenkins. They missed out on first place to winners Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan.