Love Island viewers call out producers for Helena and Harry's 'sad edit' after their split as they insist 'we're not buying it'

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

Love Island viewers have slammed producers for giving Helena Ford and Harry Cooksley a 'sad edit'.
During Sunday's episode, the pair ended their romance for the second time after Harry admitted to still having feelings for Shakira Khan.
The split came after a very explosive night at The Grafties where Harry came under fire for expressing interest in Shakira just days after going exclusive with Helena.
Following a row at the firepit where Helena said she was 'done', the pair later had an emotional chat where they confirmed their romance was over and hugged it out. Later in the day Harry was seen crying in the bedroom and Helena asked if he was okay before giving him another intense embrace.
But viewers were sceptical of the scenes and criticised producers for laying sad music over their conversations.
Viewers said they 'weren't buying it' when it came to the 'sad edit', as they felt it was an ill-judged attempt at a 'redemption arc' for Harry.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, they said: 'I wonder if the producers realise that we're not buying it? Why is Helena acting like this is Harry's last day on Earth?';
'I actually don't care about the saga between Harry and Helena so please end it tonight!';
'I hope to god Helena's friends and family have a long talk with her about her self worth and how she allows people to treat her when she gets home. It makes me sad to see how much she was willing to accept and even watching her hug Harry and say she'll miss him!';
'WHAT WAS THAT SONG DURING THE HARRY AND HELENA MOMENT ("i know i don't deserve you blah blah"),';
'Turn this emotional music off, the Helena sad girl edit is not going to work. She was soooo horrible to Shakira when she was with Harry I cba,';
'This whole episode is the sad Harry show & I'm done with it tbh. They've given Harry more support than either Shakira or Helena, I don't understand,';
'"I'm going to miss you" Helena, Harry isn't dying, you'll see each other at events and be back mates in no time,';
'Why are they acting like Helena/Harry was a love for the ages? I cannot deal!'; 'Can we move on from this Helena and Harry sob story now,';
The split came after a very explosive night at The Grafties where Harry came under fire for expressing interest in Shakira just days after going exclusive with Helena
Following a row at the firepit where Helena said she was 'done', the pair later had an emotional chat where they confirmed their romance was over and hugged it out
Later in the day Harry was seen crying in the bedroom and Helena asked if he was okay before giving him another intense embrace
But viewers were sceptical of the scenes and criticised producers for laying sad music over their conversations
Viewers said they 'weren't buying it' when it came to the 'sad edit', as they felt it was an ill-judged attempt at a 'redemption arc' for Harry
'They really gave Harry the redemption arc edit...its sickening,'; 'Are we supposed to care about Harry and Helena splitting up';
'Is this episode meant to be music and Harry and Helena crying the whole episode in some attempt of a redemption arc,';
'Can they wrap up this Harry and Helena storyline?? We are halfway through this episode and nothing has happened by tears ???';
'No one else left in the villa. Why is it a harry and Helena episode. They broke up let's move on.'
The aftermath of the Grafties continued for many of the Islanders during Sunday's episode, including Harry who came back into the Villa after sleeping outside.
Sitting together inside, Harry and Shakira debriefed about how they were feeling.
Harry said: 'I have really tried with her [Helena], but we [Shakira and Harry] had like a week and it was, for me, the feelings were obviously way stronger and still are. I'm sorry I never like tried again. I really thought the door was just, like, slammed.'
Shakira replied: 'Do you want some home truths… it's obviously the way you go about it and the steps you take in between to come to these conclusions obviously hurt people along the way.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, they said: 'I wonder if the producers realise that we're not buying it? Why is Helena acting like this is Harry's last day on Earth?'
'It's all well and good you saying "hold my hands up guys, sorry" but you still hurt people.'
'And it's a pattern,' she added, before Harry confessed: 'Look, I'm either leaving here alone or with you.'
Still feeling confused by the situation, Helena pulled Shakira to try and make sense of it.
Shakira told Helena: 'Nothing's changed. There's been no miracle… I was saying I've not let myself heal over the situation and then he was like, "Same". I was like, "What?" He said, "I've not processed how I felt towards you, I've hopped into something with Helena." I don't understand it.'
'No, I don't understand it,' Helena said, before pulling Harry and asking him: 'Have you felt this way about Shakira this whole time?'
Harry replied: 'I didn't, I just buried it all. I just didn't address any of my feelings and we were flying…' Helena went on to admit: 'I thought I had something genuine in here.'
Later, Shakira too tried to make sense of how she was feeling, telling Harry: 'Like, how you're feeling now is not making sense from what I've seen for the past however many weeks.'
Dejon Noel Williams
NAME: Dejon Noel Williams
AGE: 26
FROM: London
OCCUPATION: Semi-pro footballer and personal trainer
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who is beautiful on the inside and out, looks after themselves and is healthy
CLAIM TO FAME? My dad being an ex-professional footballer. I've met all kinds of famous people through him. When I was younger it was weird because he was just my dad, but we'd go to a game and fans were asking for photos. I've met David Beckham, he was really nice.
Megan Moore
NAME: Megan Moore
AGE: 25
FROM: Southampton
OCCUPATION: Payroll specialist
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I'd like to meet someone who is tall, with a nice tan, nice eyes and a nice smile. He needs to have a good fashion sense and a really good, funny personality that I can get on with
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE? Bankrupt, right now. But we're going to make sales and get on that corporate ladder and be booming. Profits, profits, profits!
NAME: Helena Ford
AGE: 29
FROM: London
OCCUPATION: Cabin Crew
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Somebody funny or Northern. I feel like Northern people have much more banter than Southerners. If you look through my previous dating history, you'll see I clearly go for personality. You can pretty much laugh me into bed.
WOULD MAYA HIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? I would say hire but then quickly fire soon after. It would only be a temporary contract.
NAME: Shakira Khan
AGE: 26
FROM: London
OCCUPATION: Construction Project Manager
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who is tall, charming, witty, with big arms, a good smile and just really funny.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE? Booming, but they're all frogs. It's a busy love life but I've not found 'the husband', I'm looking for 'the one'. I'm looking for the ring.
NAME: Harry Cooksley
AGE: 30
FROM: Guildford
OCCUPATION: Gold trader, semi-professional footballer and model
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? The girl next door that makes me laugh and can hold eye contact with me. I don't think I'd go for the most obvious girl, I like a real sweet girl.
CLAIM TO FAME? I'm the body double for Declan Rice. So when he does a shoot, any body close ups will actually be me. You'll never see my face, but you'll see my shoulder or chest, that kind of thing.
NAME: Conor Phillips
AGE: 23
FROM: Limerick
OCCUPATION: Professional rugby player
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?Someone who is really sure of themselves, ambitious, a bit of a go-getter and good craic. I like dark eyes and I don't mind a dominant woman.
WOULD MAYA HIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? Definitely hire. I ask girls if they want to go halves on a baby. It doesn't work, but it gets them laughing. It's an ice-breaker, not a serious question of course!
NAME: Toni Laites
AGE: 24
FROM: Connecticut
OCCUPATION: Las Vegas Pool Cabana Server
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I'm looking for darker hair, definitely muscular but not too muscular. Super fit. Clean hair cut. Someone that can make me laugh - I'm super outgoing. And someone that's quite active. Maybe one day we could start our own family together.
I WANT TO DATE A BRITISH GUY BECAUSE... I've lived in three different states and I'm still single. It's time to try something new! I have some British friends and they're pretty charming. I think all Americans love a good accent. British men are just more polite, with better manners.
NAME: Yasmin Pettet
AGE: 24
FROM: London
OCCUPATION: Commercial Banking Executive
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I'm looking for a guy who is fit, has a nice body and who is funny with a bit of banter.
WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST ICK? A guy that's stingy
NAME: Megan Moore
AGE: 24
FROM: Dublin
OCCUPATION: Musical theatre performer and energy broker
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Someone who doesn't take themselves too seriously and has a sense of humour. If they're not bad looking, that's always a plus.
I love a boy that's a bit pasty, like Timothé e Chalamet. I don't mind scrawny, or a bit of a 'dad bod'. I'm 5ft1 so any height really.
CLAIM TO FAME? Me and my friends made a Derry Girls TikTok for Halloween and it went a bit viral around Brighton.
Sometimes I get stopped in the street about it. I've also done Panto.
NAME: Blu Chegini
AGE: 26
FROM: London
OCCUPATION: Construction Project Manager
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Someone who is family oriented, has a lot of love to give and a lot of love to receive. Personality goes a long way.
WOULD MAYA HIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? She'd fire me, but I've got the charm to smooth things over with a girl. The fact I speak fluent Spanish comes in handy when it comes to flirting!
NAME: Jamie Rhodes
AGE: 26
OCCUPATION: Electric Engineer
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Bubbly, cheeky, outgoing, good face card and a nice bum.
WHAT KIND OF ISLANDER DO YOU THINK YOU'LL BE? I'll be in amongst the drama! It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, I'm gonna take it by the horns and go for it.
NAME: Ty Isherwood
AGE: 23
OCCUPATION: Site Engineer
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I go off energy, if we vibe. I've typically dated brunettes, tanned, nice teeth with a nice smile.
WHAT KIND OF ISLANDER DO YOU THINK YOU'LL BE? A head turner! I get along with lads easily and like to make people laugh.
NAME: Cacherel 'Cach' Mercer
AGE: 24
OCCUPATION: Professional Dancer
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who's emotionally intelligent, beautiful, charismatic, caring, affectionate, and I'd say an intro extrovert.
WHAT KIND OF ISLANDER DO YOU THINK YOU'LL BE? I think I'm gonna get into trouble, I feel like I'll be the joker of the group! I'll also be the person people come to for advice… and a bit of eye candy at the same time.
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Angel
NAME: Angel Swift
AGE: 26
OCCUPATION: Aesthetics Practitioner and Salon Owner
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I'm ready to make memories with someone, go travelling with them and fall in love
WHAT KIND OF ISLANDER DO YOU THINK YOU'LL BE? I feel like people have been getting their heads turned very easily. I do feel like I have quite a good chance of turning someone's head.