Love Island USA fans were devastated to learn that winning couple Zeta Morrison and Timmy Pandolfi had officially split last week, just five months after the end of season four of the reality dating series.
The divorce made even more headlines thanks to Zeta’s podcast interview with YouTuber Murad Merali, in which she detailed how previously unknown issues with Timmy and his sister Naomi Pandolfi played a role in the couple’s decision to call it quits.
During the lengthy conversation, Zeta, 29, claimed she had an “awkward” first meeting with Naomi, claiming her ex’s sister told him to ‘pick a black girl because America loves her’ before entered the villa.
Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com in response to Zeta’s description of their limited encounters, Naomi, 33, confirmed she made the comment to her brother but denied it was malicious.
Gossip back: Love Island winner Timmy Pandolfi’s sister has opened up about explosive interview with his ex Zeta Morrison
“I remember telling my brother to pick a black girl, but it wasn’t a way to play the system or a game plan. It was more out of solidarity because I want to see black girls of all races on screen,” she explained.
“It’s part of my job almost every day. I work with a company that nurtures doers from marginalized communities and helps them bring concepts and ideas to the people who can make it happen.”
Naomi explained that she revealed her comments during a meeting with Timmy, 29, and Zeta – known to fans as “Zimmy” – where the pair discussed business opportunities they hoped to pursue after leaving the left the program.
She claimed she was involved in the conversation, which she described as “pleasant” because of her previous work in the film industry.
Suggestions from fans that she was a colourist were quickly dismissed by the social media manager, who explained: “We talked about women in film, people of color and especially black women because Zeta said that she went to Love Island USA because she did I don’t think anyone with a dark complexion can win Love Island UK which surprised me.
She continued, “What makes a black woman beautiful to me is her blackness. It’s not something I would ever put in a negative light.”
Naomi explained that she was “hurt” and “shocked” when she later learned that Zeta had taken the comments to heart.
Happier times: The former couple were crowned champions in the Season 4 finale on August 28
Supportive: Naomi admitted she told her brother to pick a black girl, but denied saying so to game the system on the show
She explained: “That comment in the interview is actually the one that hurt me the most. My mom is black and my parents were an interracial couple before it was cool. We actually experienced a lot of hate. I’ve seen a lot of prejudice and what my mother went through up close and personal, and that’s something I never want anyone of color to feel.”
Naomi added: “If I had known that she had taken it to heart and been offended by it, which is an incredibly unfortunate thing, I would have apologized straight away. I don’t want anyone to feel that way.”
The creative director also admitted that he was surprised by Zeta’s description of their interactions as they were business-focused.
She explained: “We first met in September 2022. That was the last and only time I spoke to her directly. We had no contact after October 1st.
“It always hurts when someone says it was awkward meeting you. It wasn’t for me. We talked about things “Zimmy” could do together. Zeta said she wanted to get involved in film and I have a background in it, so I wanted to help her make connections.’
She added: “I had no idea the interview was happening. I didn’t expect it to be about me, especially since I’m very far from the situation and haven’t had much contact with Zeta. I was shocked by the comments and the interview.”
Ex-lovers: Naomi also claimed the duo ended their romantic relationship in October 2022, months before she publicly announced their split
Naomi also claimed that the revelations Zeta made in her interview were confusing because “Zimmy” was “out of a romantic relationship” last October.
Therefore, the author did not bother to meet Zeta and her family when he traveled to London with Timmy around the same time.
“It wasn’t like my brother was visiting his girlfriend, because if that was the case, of course I would have met his girlfriend and her family,” she explained. “He went to work with a friend and I don’t usually hang out with my brother’s friends.”
Elsewhere, Naomi praised the reality star, adding: “I liked her, she was intelligent, driven and knew what she wanted to do to make money and capitalize on this big win. I was happy that another black woman was so prominent in the media.
The author again expressed disappointment with Zeta’s retelling of the encounter, saying, “I didn’t think we knew each other well enough to talk about each other’s characters.”
Differing opinions: Zeta previously revealed that Timmy wanted to announce their split with a statement, but she chose to discuss it in a solo interview
Problems: The reality star has mentioned several times that she thought her ex and his sisters’ behavior upset her
Ever since Zeta’s interview with Murad went live, passionate fans were quick to share their feelings on Naomi’s Instagram about what the author was struggling with.
“It was difficult, I must say,” she began. “I had to archive a lot of my photos because Zeta’s fans found people I worked with in the past and commented, including family members. It was a challenge.
Naomi continued: “There were also threats to show up for me and my family. It’s not something I enjoy at all or want to continue in any way.”
She added: “I was advised not to contact her at that point. I am a private person I am not a public figure.
“I just feel like she used her public status to attack my family. After all the things she said and how she talked about my family, all the things she hinted at, I now feel that she never really cared about Tim…because I know him as a person and know how he treated her.
Her side of the story: During her chat with Murad Merali, Zeta detailed all the problems ‘Zimmy’ faced after leaving the Love Island mansion
Discussing Murad’s split, Zeta claimed that things took a turn for ‘Zimmy’ after the show ended and the couple moved out of the Love Island USA mansion.
Timmy and I are no longer together, so there is no more ‘Zimmy’. We are not together anymore and the storyline is really what I would like to bring out because I really care about my fans and my supporters,” explained Zeta.
“Me, Sydney and Deb took the train back to LA together,” she said. “We’re on the train — Syd and Isaiah are writing, Deb and Jesse are writing and carrying a vibe. And I’m just sitting there and Timmy and I aren’t texting at all.
The show was filmed in Santa Barbara, California, although Morrison revealed in the interview that Timmy didn’t offer her a ride back to LA after filming when his roommate came to pick him up, which she said “felt weird has.” ‘
She added that during his week in New York he was very “crazy” with texting and chatting with his sister while he was away.
“I didn’t like my meeting with his sister,” Zeta said bluntly, adding, “I didn’t like what was said during the meeting, but I just played with it,” she said.
Continue: The couple’s relationship did not flourish after the couple walked away with their $100,000 prize money
She added that they were “good” when he came back from New York, but she still felt a “break with him”.
“I think your persona has to be the person who gasses you more than the audience and your family and everybody else,” Zeta shared.
“They want to lift you up all the time and just see you as your best self, and I felt like he was like, ‘You get enough of that from everybody else, so you don’t need that from me.’ But that’s what I wanted it to be,” she added.
Timmy addressed the split in a video on his Instagram Story on Jan. 23, saying, “She’ll say, ‘Even if we’re just in each other’s lives, I care so much about you as a person.’
It doesn’t matter if this romance never ends. i just want you in my life we can focus on this business. I want the best for you.”
DailyMail.com has reached out to Zeta Morrison officials for comment.
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Ashley Root is an author and celebrity journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for all things celebrity, Ashley is always up-to-date on the latest gossip and trends in the world of entertainment.
