Current Love Island UK host Laura Whitmore has announced her resignation, and fans are campaigning for former islander Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu to take her place.
Whitmore started hosting the popular dating reality show in 2019, after former host Caroline Flack stood down amid allegations of assault towards her boyfriend, Lewis Burton. Flack sadly committed suicide in 2020 and Whitmore continued as the host of Love Island.
This year, fans openly expressed their disapproval of Whitmore as a host, and thousands of social media users accused her of “slut-shaming” fan favourite islander, Ekin-Su.
This morning Whitmore announced that she would be stepping down as the host.
“Some news! I won’t be hosting the next series of Love Island. There are certain elements of the show I’ve found very difficult that cannot be changed some due to the format, including the flying back and forth to South Africa along with my new conflicting projects. I wish it was still possible but know you’ll be in safe hands. I was only planning to fill in for Caroline for a series and it turned into 3 series. I hope I did you proud Caroline,” she wrote on Instagram.
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With the news of Whitmore’s resignation official, fans have already begun rallying for magnetic islander Ekin-Su to get the gig. The 28-year-old won Love Island 2022 alongside now boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti and she is one of the most popular contestants of all time, and has already racked up 2.8 million followers on Instagram.
The upcoming season of Love Island, Love Island Winter, has been confirmed and will air in January, which means the show will need to secure a new host in the coming months.
“laura leaving just in time for ekin su to host winter season iktr,” one Twitter user wrote. Another tweeted: “Ekin su is coming Laura don’t let the door hit you on the way out !!!!!!”
Check out some of the tweets campaigning for Ekin-Su to become the next Love Island UK host:
WE FINALLY LOST LAURA WHITMORE AS HOST NOW GIVE IT TO EKIN SU #loveisland pic.twitter.com/ltF80gxbvt
— ًً (@ethereaIpixie) August 22, 2022
Petition for ekin su to host winter LI now that laura gone #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/ptgzm1vFFB
— aimi/EKINDE (@strangersink1) August 22, 2022
laura leaving just in time for ekin su to host winter season iktr #loveisland pic.twitter.com/FsUWfjQt2p
— ً (@santanaIuvr) August 22, 2022
GOD HAS FINALLY PRAISED US WITH GOOD NEWS TODAY!! Laura Whitmore has officially QUIT being a Love Island Host after hosting the show for 3 whole series, I’m sorry but get Maya Jama or Ekin Su in their we need a new host, JUST GIVE US A GOOD ASS HOST FOR ONCE LI #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/pxCR3XlRcS
— sana (@SanaRavishing) August 22, 2022
Ekinsu needs to replace Laura Whitmore as host, who’s with me #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/2woGISVfRe
— 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 🤎🇬🇾 (@Jonelle627) July 22, 2022
GIVE US EKINSU AS HOST NOW THAT LAURA IS LEAVING #LoveIslandUK
— hayley 💌 (@oxytocinangel) August 22, 2022
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