Love Island star Harrison Solomon has explained his “emotional” decision to leave the villa, adding that he would “stand by it”.
The star elected to withdraw from the reality series on Friday (18 July) after 30 days in the villa, with the decision coming after Lauren Wood was brutally dumped from the island the previous night.
Reflecting upon his exit, Harrison said: “It was an emotional one last night, I’m happy with my decision and [I] stand by it… When Lauren left the villa, my Love Island experience just wasn’t the same – I felt like my journey was finished which is why I decided to leave.
“When Lauren first got the text saying she was being dumped my initial reaction to her leaving was. ‘I’m going’. I didn’t want to make an emotional decision, I’m quite an indecisive person so I wanted to take my time with it rather than leave and regret what I’d done.
“The fact I stayed a day later and processed everything really helped me. Me leaving was making a big statement. It shows her I’m really into her and see a serious future with her… I feel very strongly about [her] – I wouldn’t have left if I didn’t.”
ITV
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For her part, Lauren shared that she would be open to seeing Harrison on the outside, saying: “I’d love to see where it could go. I’m hoping that he [leaves] so that we can be together. I see myself being with him long term… I know what we had was real.”
Despite expressing his excitement at potentially reuniting with Lauren in the UK, Harrison’s stint in the series proved to be dramatic and controversial in equal measure, with the star also forming a connection with Toni Laites.
ITV
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“It was an emotional rollercoaster of a journey for me – there’s never been a dull moment,” he remarked. “I’ve obviously been involved in a few triangles… I obviously regret a few things I did. The way I went about certain situations I definitely would’ve handled it differently on reflection.
“I should’ve been more honest. It was for the greater good, and it would’ve stopped people’s feelings from getting hurt. People were hurt more by me being so indecisive and trying to avoid awkward conversations. I definitely would’ve gone about handing triangles in another way.”
Love Island airs on ITV2 and streams on ITVX.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.