Rumours have been swirling that Love Island series eight turned All Stars contestant Ekin-Su Cülcüloglu, 30, isn’t in the villa for love, with many believing she’s working to a game plan. Celeb PR and talent manager Chad Teixeira chats with Closer and reveals why he believes it could all be a cash grab.
He says, ‘Ekin-Su is a seasoned reality TV star who understands the power of public perception, and her decision to return to the villa could be a calculated effort to reshape her image after the backlash she faced from Celebrity Big Brother.
‘What we’re seeing on screen is likely Ekin-Su leaning into her reality TV persona. She knows how to keep the audience engaged, and the over-the-top behaviour could indicate that she’s playing up her character to remain relevant.
‘She’s always been theatrical and, whether it’s genuine or performative, she understands the game better than most. However, she needs to be wary as audiences are more media-savvy than ever and if they sense desperation, it could backfire.'
‘Her roller-coaster relationship with Curtis Pritchard shows her acting chaotically – from fiery rows and drink-throwing to wild raunchy shows for the heart-rate challenge. There’s been a lot of comments from viewers who believe that they’re playing to win, with many branding Ekin-Su a “game player”. Their relationship could be a strategic alliance rather than a genuine romance, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them split a few weeks after the show ends.
‘If this relationship is more about optics than real emotion, then one of them – most likely Curtis – could end up being collateral damage and nursing a broken heart before long. Ekin-Su is known for prioritising her personal brand, and if she senses that the relationship is no longer serving her, she won’t hesitate to move on and, unfortunately for Curtis, that could see him kicked to the kerb.’
