The drama has well and truly kicked off on Love Island Australia, and we’re only one episode in to the series.
Though last night’s premiere was brimming with potential couple-swaps, flirtations, and an intense game of Truth or Dare, it’s the drama taking place off-screen that has really captivated fans.
Earlier today, reports surfaced that Maurice Salib is following in the footsteps of last year’s winner Grant Crapp. As in, he may not be entirely single.
Maurice, who told TV WEEK he had been single for “like a year… eight months” before heading in to the villa, reportedly has a girlfriend on the outside. Or rather, had.
According to recent reports the reality TV star has been in a relationship with blogger Christie Swadling for the past few months, and she was unaware he was appearing on the series.
Christie and Maurice have been in a relationship for the past few months (Instagram: Christie Swadling)
TV WEEK caught up with Maurice before he entered the Love Island Villa in Fiji, where he said he could never do what Grant did to Tayla Damir last year.
“I have a lot more dignity than that!” he told TV WEEK. “No way. No. It’s so interesting he’s done that!
“I’m not one to judge,” he added. “Good on you if that’s what you want to do.”
So, does Maurice really have a girlfriend on the outside? Did he tell Christie he was appearing on the series?
In a YouTube video titled “My Boyfriend Dumped Me For A Reality TV Show” the blogger has detailed her version of their now highly publicised split.
“If you’re new here, let me give you a little recap,” Christie tells her viewers in the clip. “If you go and have a look, as you’ll be able to see from all my social channels, I have been dating a guy called Maurice. I was so open with my relationship with Maurice.
“So basically, in the past two weeks I have been single. He broke it off,” she says.
“I had no idea he was going on the dating show,” Christie continued, revealing she knew he was going to be on the advertisement, as he is an aspiring actor.
Maurice with his Love Island co-stars (Image: Nine Network)
Maurice shared the same details with TV WEEK, telling us he was approached about being in the ad three months ago. After filming the commercial a few weeks ago, the contestant says he was encouraged to apply and he was quickly cast in the series.
According to Christie’s YouTube video, Maurice broke up with her after filming the commercial, revealing “it was completely out of the blue, and his excuse was saying that he puts work first and can’t really prioritise me. And he didn’t want to make me feel like I was second or third below work.”
The blogger claims to have only realised he was going on the series as a contestant when the full cast was announced.
“I know his intentions were never to hurt me, that’s why he broke it off with me to go on the show. So he is a good person,” she says, despite being upset over his reason for the split.
Maurice and Christie in happier times (Instagram: Christie Swadling)
On the show, Maurice quickly paired up with blonde beauty Jessie Wynter. The pair shared the first kiss of the season in the premiere episode, and appear to be quickly falling for one another.
With no contact from the outside world, the couple remain blissfully unaware of what’s happening back home. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens next…
Love Island Australia airs Monday to Friday, 8:30pm, on Nine.
