Love Island winner Julia Majchrzak has confirmed her split from Lorenzo Alessi just two months after the couple won the ITV reality show.
The pair bagged the £50,000 prize money during the live final in Mallorca in July, but Julia revealed they went their separate ways after things fizzled out last week. Their split comes despite the couple attending the National Television Awards together on Tuesday, where they arrived holding hands and appeared to be going strong.
Sharing a series of snaps of the couple together at the ceremony on Instagram, Julia wrote: "A little life update. I attended the NTAs alongside Lorenzo, and it felt like the right way to celebrate our journey and the chapter we shared together. I'm incredibly grateful and it was an honour to be there to support."
She continued: "Since leaving the villa, we've come to the decision to go our separate ways. Some chapters are special even if they're not meant to last forever. We shared an unforgettable experience together, and those memories will always hold a special place in my heart. I'm looking forward to everything this next chapter has in store for both of us."
Lorenzo has yet to comment publicly on their split. Love Island is a British reality dating show in which contestants live together in a Mediterranean villa while isolated from the outside world, competing for audience votes and a cash prize.
Tears during Polish interview
Julia's Instagram post arrived just hours after she broke down in tears over the split during an interview with Polish publication Super Express. Confessing that her heart is a little broken, the Polish-born beauty admitted that the past week had been difficult for both of them.
Julia explained: "It's been hard for us this past week. Even the entire time we left the villa. But life in the villa is completely different from life outside. We're disconnected from the outside world, from our phones… Two months removed from the world. We were getting to know each other there and getting along great, but it wasn't real life - we were disconnected from everything."
She added: "And then suddenly, when we entered real life, everything was quite overwhelming. But we felt the pressure, we tried to navigate it all together, but there's a certain stress about it all. And we really decided that it was time to just go our separate ways and go our separate ways for now."
Becoming emotional during the interview, Julia admitted that no one could understand her like he does. She said: "What's meant to happen, will happen. This is all very fresh. No one else will understand me like he does, because we've been through it together, so we share that experience, but at this point, we've made this decision."
Awkward television appearance and date struggles
The announcement follows weeks of speculation and public friction between the couple after returning to the UK. Five days after landing back in the country, the pair had only been on one date and endured a car crash interview on ITV's daytime show This Morning amid growing fears that they had already parted ways.
During the awkward broadcast, which marked the first time they were seen together since leaving Mallorca, presenter Josie Gibson asked a squirming Lorenzo: "Now there's a lot of rumours that you're not together... Are you together? And what is this terminology?"
As Julia sat stony-faced beside him, Lorenzo replied: "As we've left the villa, we're still in the same place - exclusively dating..." Julia immediately cut in to add: "Yes, we are still dating."
Lorenzo explained that it had been a "crazy few days" since the final and argued that "everything needs to settle down" before adding: "we're going to go on some lovely dates." Julia bluntly replied: "Where's the date?"
When Gibson asked if they had said the "L-word" yet, Lorenzo responded: "No but it's going that way. Feelings are developing, it's in the right position… so I feel like give it some time." The clothing business owner said he planned to take Julia to a rooftop bar for their first official date, insisting there was "a lot of planning involved."
Julia repeatedly challenged him on air, asking "When?", "When's my date?" and "When was the last time we saw each other?" Although the pair did go for dinner together that evening and shared updates on social media, it appeared to be the only date they went on after leaving the villa.
Radio clash over social media likes
Tensions surfaced again just days later during a car crash appearance on radio station Capital XTRA, where Julia revealed Lorenzo had embarrassed her online. She accused him of liking Instagram pictures of other models while ignoring her profile.
Julia raged during the interview: "Guys, this is not funny. He's already embarrassed me online... He had no time to arrange a date in five days, but was sat in bed liking other girls' Instagram pictures."
Lorenzo tried to explain his behaviour, saying: "This is the thing. I feel like why I didn't want to rush things in the villa... We're not running around getting married tomorrow. I'm learning how to be in a committed relationship, and I'm learning what is acceptable and what is not."
He added: "To be 100 per cent honest, it was pure naivety. I did not think it would be picked up by the press... These are now real-world things that we can experience together." He claimed her posts had simply not appeared on his feed yet, but Julia checked her phone on air, stating: "Did you even have time to like my photos? Guess what guys, he's not under my Instagram!"
Lorenzo attempted to show commitment days later after Julia posted a photo from the Love Island reunion party wearing a black lace dress with a corset underneath. Referencing his previous excuse, Lorenzo commented "All over my feed" and added "Liked by Lorenzo" on other posts, but the gesture was not enough to save their relationship.
