Real reason Love Island All Stars Liberty Poole and Jake Cornish split (2024)

Love Island All Stars kicked off with a bang on Monday evening, as several exes came face-to-face with their former partners.

Among the awkward reunions wasLiberty Poole and Jake Cornish, who struck up a romance in the seventh series.

The pairwere originally favourites to win, but broke up and quit the show just days before the final after Movie Night revelations rocked their romance.

Ahead of her re-entry into the villa, Liberty, 24, admitted it might be 'awkward' coming across an ex-boyfriend in the South African villa andseemingly shut down the possibility of any rekindled romances.

She got a nasty surprise on the launch episode, when she was faced with her ex-boyfriend Jake, 26, walking through the door.

Liberty was left openmouthed as she revealed they hadn't spoken for two years and could only say 'Oh my God' as he came bounding into the South Africavilla.

The shocks didn't stop there, as the couple were then left paired up, after the public voted on who would be matched with who.

The pair shared a turbulent relationship on the show in 2021, with Liberty falling hard and fast for Jake, but her feelings seemingly not being reciprocated.

The couple became the first to become official in series seven, when Jake asking Liberty to be his girlfriend.

However, during the Casa Amor loyalty test, Jake was seenencouraging his male co-stars to play away from their partners.

Clips of this moment were played during the iconic Movie Night, as well as earlier conversations of him talking to the boys about his feelings for Liberty.

In one video he told the guys: 'Her personality is mint, I can’t fault her. It’s like talking to Jake with a wig on.It's just not that 100 per cent where I look at her and go... I haven't got the girl there where I'm like f*** me I want to rip your clothes off.

'I don't want to fake any s*** you know what I mean? I don't want to say I really do like her when I don't, I'd be lying to myself.'

Jake was also accused of 'gaslighting' and demonstrating 'toxic' traits after he failed to compliment Liberty, and made comments on her appearance and 'messy habits'.

Liberty was left doubting Jake's feelings for her, and he insisted that he did love her, saying his iconic line: 'You're my girlfriend, you're part of me.'

He added: 'I am honest because I love you. I love you for you. It’s scary to say but I do love ya.'

But when Liberty excitedly told the other girls about Jake's confession, they were doubtful that he was being genuine.

Liberty finally broke down as she realisedJake didn't love her the way she was, saying: 'I can tell I’m giving him the ick over little things like being messy. I’d rather walk out being me.”

'I’m not saying Jake isn’t a genuine guy but I don’t want to stay in the villa with someone that doesn’t like me or love me.'

The pair then both decided to leave the show just three days before the final after their split, completely shocking their fellow Islanders, while Liberty was left heartbroken.

Ahead of their reunion on All Stars, Liberty saidshe doesn't regret dumping 'toxic' Jake because she could no longer 'fake' their romance.

She also said she had learned from her experience, and vowed not to fall in love so quickly this time after she confessed her feelings for Jake just weeks after they met.

In a subtle dig at her ex, Liberty said this time around she would like to leave with a 'fit' man who has a 'good personality' and a 'good heart' but she intends on pacing herself.

When asked if she would revisit their romance, Liberty replied: 'I am a believer in second chances but me and Jake ended because there were incompatibilities and I didn't regret my decision… I will be focusing on new connections.

'One thing about me is I won't fake anything. I am going in to find a connection but if that doesn't happen, that's it.

'I am hoping for a better experience and hopefully this time I do leave with someone because that's the point of going in. Hopefully I do leave with a fittie this time who has a good personality and a good heart.'

Liberty confirmed that she and Jake haven't spoken in two years but she would encourage her ex to focus on pursuing a new romance in the villa and even suggests that they could become friends.

She added: 'I haven't spoken to him since.If he's in there and wants a conversation then I'm happy to do that… at the time I didn't have any regrets about my experience in the villa. I did what was right for me.

'I wish him the best and if we were both in there together I want him to focus on finding love because that's what I'm going to be doing.

'I don't want us being in the same room to take away from each other's experiences. I will be civil… maybe we could even be mates… who knows?'

The former Dancing On Ice star had sex with Jake after they had committed to each other during their season but Liberty says she doesn't want history repeating itself.

She said: I'm not planning on having sex this time. If you're in a relationship and it happens in the moment then that's not something you can prepare for because it's just a natural progression but I'm not planning on it this time.'

Speaking about possibly being reunited with a former flame, Liberty added:'It's always going to be awkward isn't it, it's always going to be weird seeing someone that you've been with getting with someone else.

'I wish my exes nothing but the best. I'm going to be focused on my own journey so if it was to happen I won't be worrying about them - so I'll stay focused on my goal, which is to find love.'

Meanwhile, Jakebrushed off any potential drama between the pair as heinsisted there was no 'bad blood' between them, despite their shock on-screen break-up.

'Well there is only one and that's Liberty. We never ended with any bad blood between us and everything happens for a reason. We just become two different people in the end,' he said.

Of his return, he added: 'I have definitely matured in the two years since first being on the show. I look at things differently and respond differently.

'When it comes to people's opinions, I don't sit on the fence anymore. That is my way of life now, so I will take that into the Villa.'

After Liberty and Jake were coupled up again on Monday night, they were quick to shoot down any possibility of rekindling the romance when asked by host Maya Jama.

Jake put his foot in his mouth, saying: 'I don't hate the girl' when asked if he was happy to be paired with her.

And when Maya asked: 'Is there any room for a rekindle do we think?' both Liberty and Jakeimmediately shook their heads and in unison replied: 'No.'

However, an insider has hinted that Jake may take the opportunity to try his luck with Liberty once again.

Speaking to The Mirror, the source said: 'Jake is hoping to make amends second time round and will have more reason to be on guard as Liberty's best pal Kaz Kamwi will be by her side.

'There will be no room for messing up even if he does attempt to recouple with Liberty.

'Liberty and Jake had an extremely awkward reunion on Aftersun at the end of their series but it will be nothing compared to discovering they will be living in the same house for weeks on end.

'There were rumours the pair had given things another go after the show but the truth is they've not seen each other for years so things are going to get very uncomfortable.'

Host Maya advised Liberty to follow her heart, whether it led her back to Jake or to someone new, after the presenter herself got back together with her own ex, Stormzy, last year.

She said: 'I think Liberty is going to do what she wants to do. Some people are just meant to be together and some people aren’t.

'A lot of the girlies are rooting for Lib. Maybe she’ll find a new love in there but maybe her and Jake will rekindle an old spark.

'I actually can’t predict who is going to get together. From that line-up who would know? Some of them have probably never crossed paths and some of them will have history.'