The fame-hungry game of fake Love Island engagements — how stars staged shock proposals, teased big announcements and duped fans with publicity stunts just to keep the spotlight on their crumbling romances - suong

Recently, people believed Molly Marsh and Zach Noble had got engaged after they posted a picture of her wearing a ring. It was clear as day, a photo of her jewelled-up wedding finger with no context. They’re not engaged. But it turns out, a lot of Love Island couples have faked an engagement over the years.

There’s no doubt – they do it so we’ll keep talking about them. Some Love Island couples who have faked an engagement have been forward and later said it was to promote something else, whilst others have tried to play it off. Anyway, here’s a roundup of every time we’ve been well and truly played.

Molly and Zach

via Instagram

Molly and Zach are the most recent to have us all going. Molly and Zach were finalists on Love Island 2023, but seven months later announced they had split up. At the time they said they ended on good terms and were still friends. However, this was very short lived as they soon revealed they were back on, and were going travelling together.

Since then they’ve remained fairly quiet, but then suddenly posted what looked like an engagement reveal. On Instagram, Zach shared a picture of them on a plane, heading off on holiday together. However, in one of the pictures was a woman’s hand, obviously believed to be Molly’s, very clearly with a huge rock on her wedding finger.

They then posted to say it was “just a joke”. When Instagram page TheShadeBorough posted the update, one person commented: “It’s OK to admit you just wanted a bit of clout.”

Jessie and Will

Jessie and Will are forever sparking engagement rumours. However, they once used the fact everyone jumps on the idea of them getting married to boost their profiles. When teasing some “big news” they shared a picture together. But not just any picture, Jessie was wearing a ring and a white dress, and Will was wearing a tux. It was a hugely romantic hint.

Of course, the comments section went mad and everyone thought the news was an engagement. It was probably one of the most liked and commented on joint posts the couple has ever had. Which is definitely what they wanted. But, an engagement it was not. In fact, just a podcast. Obviously!

Ekin-Su and Davide

via ITV

After Ekin-Su and Davide split, things got really messy between the two of them. They accused each other of loads of things, one of which being a fake proposal. Ekin-Su said Davide treated her “like a toy” and “fake proposed” to her on holiday, and wanted to arrange paparazzi to capture the moment.

Ekin-Su said on Abbey Clancy’s podcast: “He [Davide] swore at my mum in Italy, he told her to ‘eff off’, because my mum didn’t want him to fake propose to me. Whatever he thought she was going to say, that wasn’t that. He fake proposed to me in Italy, he thought it was funny to arrange a paparazzi, I’m not a toy.”

Davide has of course denied this ever happened.

Dani and Jack

via Instagram

In 2018, winners Jack and Dani staged their engagement. On her Instagram, Dani posted a picture of an engagement ring on her left hand with the caption: “I said YES! My soulmate.” Dani then spoke on Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp and said it was all a prank. Roman had apparently asked her to do it, and she did!

Millie and Liam

After splitting and getting back together, Millie and Liam went straight into doing joint brand deals. And what better way to build up hype than playing into the drama of their relationship at the time? Millie posted a photo of her holding what looked like a prenup agreement.

However, her hands were tactfully positioned, and hid the fact it was actually a “pre-nug” agreement. Nug. As in nuggets. It was a brand deal with McDonald’s. Sigh.