Love Island 2020 star Connor Durman has finally apologised for sending racist text messages to an ex-girlfriend in January.
After allegedly calling his ex, Stevie-Leigh Pich, a ‘s--g’ and a ‘s**--**t’ for sleeping with black men and denouncing her actions as ‘rank’ and ‘grim,’ Connor released a statement and video to his Instagram account, stating his support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
The former coffee bean salesman started by saying that his time in lockdown and the rapid growth of the BLM movement had given him ‘time to reflect on [his] past and comments made during a heated conversation’.
He then went on to apologise for his ‘inappropriate and racist remarks written in the message’ explaining that he ‘completely failed to think about [his] words and ended up saying something hurtful and insensitive when [he] was in an angry and emotional state of mind’.
He also admitted that he ‘still (has) a lot to learn about the BLM movement, culture and history’ and from now on would only be using his ‘influence and social media platforms positively, expressing in line with the peaceful protests that it is time for a permanent change.’
Connor’s video went on to explain that ‘now’s the perfect time to address what [he’d] said’ because of the momentum that the BLM is gaining across the world; following the death of George Floyd.
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Below: which Love Island couples are still together?
heat and Closer: Which Love Island couples are still together?
1 of 9Series Two: Nathan Massey and Cara de la Hoyde
Nathan Massey and Cara de la Hoyde are the only Love Island winners to have remained together.Despite splitting for a number of months in 2017, the couple rekindled their romance when Cara discovered she was expecting the couple's first child.
2 of 9Series Two: Nathan Massey and Cara de la Hoyde
The couple later welcomed a baby boy called Freddie in December 2016 and in March 2020, the pair announced they were expecting their second child.Sharing the happy news on social media, Nathan wrote, 'The day has finally come !!!! Myself and @cara_delahoyde have become parents to our beautiful baby boy !!! Massive hats off to Cara Who delivered our boy safely !!!!! #thenextchapter ud83dudc99ud83dudc76ud83cudffc[sic]In July 2018, Cara and Nathan announced they are now engaged with Nathan popping the question in the villa they first met.
3 of 9Series Two: Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen
It took her a while, but Olivia Buckland finally found her man during Love Island season two. After leaving the villa together when they finished in second place behind Cara and Nathan, the couple haven't looked back!
4 of 9Series Two: Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen
Just a few months after leaving the villa, Alex popped the question to Olivia during a romantic trip to New York.The couple married in a luxury ceremony in 2018, with parts of their wedding being shown on their very own TV show.
5 of 9Series Three: Dom Lever and Jess Shears
Despite the public thinking their relationship was just a 'joke', Jess Shears and Dom Lever have defied the odds and are one of the two couples still together from their series. Despite all of the drama with Jess and 'Muggy Mike', Dom proposed to his girlfriend in September 2016.
6 of 9Series Three: Dom Lever and Jess Shears
The couple have cashed in on promotional shoots together, appearances, and even got 'married' on Good Morning Britain on Valentine's Day. Despite the 'fake wedding', Jess and Dom then tied the knot for real in 2018, when they married at a private ceremony on the Greek island of Mykonos. In October 2019, they welcomed a child together.
7 of 9Series Three: Jamie Jewitt and Camilla Thurlow
The nation fell in love with Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Camilla Thurlow in 2017. And, after she had her heart broken by a number of different men in the villa, model Jamie Jewitt arrived and swept Camilla off her feet.After enjoying time together outside of the show and meeting each other's families, the couple are living happily ever after.
8 of 9Series Three: Jamie Jewitt and Camilla Thurlow
The loved up couple have since traveled the world together on charity missions... can they get any better?
9 of 9Series Four: Tommy Fury and Molly May Hague
The king and queen of Love Island 2019 are still loved up. While Molly Mae is living it up as a brand ambassador for PrettyLittleThing, Tommy's days are filled with training as well as being a brand ambassador for Boohoo Man.
Watch: ‘Connor's got some competition!’ Love Island’s Sophie and and Leanne unlock their phones
His apology comes after fellow Love Islander Jordan Waobikeze criticised Connor and other BLM 'bandwagon-jumpers' for posting a black square and doing little else to further the cause; including addressing their previous mistakes.
In an Instagram Live, Jordan said: ‘I don’t like the way he was silent on the topic the whole time, posted the black square and turned the comments off because he knew people would get onto him, and then went silent again for the couple weeks after like he was laying low, trying to fly under the radar.’