Shakira - the fan-favorite runner-up, has stirred controversy by alleging that her well-deserved win was sabotaged by a scripted twist.

In a bombshell revelation, Love Island 2025 runner-up Shakira Khan has broken her silence about the ITV2 reality show, accusing producers of manipulating her portrayal to cast her as the season’s “villain.” The 22-year-old, who captured hearts alongside her partner Harry Cooksley, claims editing decisions unfairly painted her in a negative light, robbing her of the champion title through what she calls a “scripted setup.”

In an explosive interview with Fabulous magazine, Shakira didn’t hold back, stating, “We constantly felt like villains. Every chance they got, they tried to kill us off.” She revealed that her closest allies in the villa, Toni Laites and Yasmin, also felt targeted, believing the show’s editing disproportionately highlighted their conflicts while glossing over others’ missteps. “It was like they wanted us to be the bad guys,” Shakira added, hinting at a deliberate narrative crafted by producers.

Toni echoed Shakira’s sentiments, recalling the emotional toll of their early struggles. “We spent weeks thinking it was us against the world, because that’s how everyone in there made us feel,” she said. The pair faced a brutal first public vote, landing in the bottom and fighting to prove themselves in a villa that seemed stacked against them. According to Shakira and Toni, tensions among the female contestants were amplified by the show, while questionable behavior from male contestants often slipped under the radar. “The guys got away with whatever they wanted,” Shakira noted, pointing to an uneven playing field.

The drama reached a boiling point with co-stars Helena and Meg, whose clashes with Shakira became a focal point of the season. Shakira was seen as a threat from the outset, sparking rivalries that culminated in a heated confrontation with Meg just before the finale. The two made it clear they wouldn’t be staying in touch outside the villa, a moment that fueled fan debates about fairness in the show’s portrayal of its stars.

Social media erupted with support for Shakira, with fans accusing producers of selective editing to amplify her conflicts while downplaying others’ faults. One viewer took to X, writing, “Why aren’t they showing when Meg kept talking bad about Shakira? Producers do better.” The controversy surrounding Shakira’s portrayal sparked a broader conversation about reality TV ethics, with many arguing that the show’s narrative was crafted to stir drama at her expense.

The public outcry was impossible to ignore. TV regulator Ofcom reported that Love Island 2025 racked up thousands of complaints during its run, including a staggering 9,000 in a single week from viewers who believed Shakira was being unfairly bullied. The sheer volume of backlash underscored the intensity of fan support for the runner-up, who many felt was robbed of the crown by a manipulated storyline.

Despite the challenges, Shakira and Harry’s chemistry and resilience made them fan favorites, carrying them to the finale as runners-up. Yet, for Shakira, the journey was tainted by what she sees as a calculated effort to undermine her. “The ‘champion’ title was stolen,” she declared, leaving fans to wonder just how much of Love Island’s drama was real—and how much was orchestrated behind the scenes.

As the dust settles on Love Island 2025, Shakira’s claims have ignited a firestorm, raising questions about the authenticity of reality TV and the toll it takes on its stars. For now, Shakira is focused on moving forward, but her story serves as a stark reminder that what viewers see on screen may only be half the truth.