LOVE Island’s Whitney Adebayo has claimed host Maya Jama intervened to ban bosses from targeting her in the show final.

The ITV2 star, who came fifth in this year’s All Stars with partner Yamen Sanders has spoken candidly about how the anchor “had my best interests at heart”.

Tyrqieu Hyde and Whitney Adebayo from Love Island sit for an interview.
Love Island’s Whitney Adebayo has revealed how host Maya Jama BANNED ITV bosses from targeting her in finalCredit: X
 

Whitney Adebayo and Yamen Sanders from Love Island All Stars at the live final.
Whitney came fifth with partner Yamen SandersCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
 

Whitney Adebayo, Yamen Sanders, and Maya Jama on the set of "Love Island All Stars".
She told how Maya had ‘briefed’ her on some responsesCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
It came after viewers saw Whitney, 28, at war with both Shaq Muhammed and Jess Harding for different reasons during one drama-ridden night in the villa.

She also clashed with Charlie Frederick after being branded a “game player”.

After arriving back on home turf, Whitney joined forces with former Love Island alum Tyrique Hyde for a new video on social media.

She sat by her mate as she disclosed: “What I appreciate about Maya, she didn’t have to do this by the way.

“Maya went out of her way to pull me aside, tell me the questions and help me respond in a way that like …”

Tyrique interjected and said: “Wait so you’re saying before Maya asked you that question, she pulled you to the side and briefed you?”

Whitney replied: “Yeah yeah,” before he quizzed: “And did Indiyah?”

Whitney continued: ‘I’ll get to that, so Maya done that.

“I think they wanted to show some clips on the live, Maya said ‘no we’re not doing that’.

“Like she actually had my best interests at heart.

“I get that questions need to be asked it’s a show but obviously I have other reality TV PTSD so I appreciated that about her.

“She took out some questions as well”.

Fans were quick to praise the action of the show’s host, and one wrote on X: “Maya has more clout she’s the presenter. Also been doing this for years. Glad she said no to a clip”.

Another noted: “Very sweet of Maya she understands how these rabid fans work and knows the mental health of these contestants is far more important”.

A third wrote: “Maya is awesome for that,” as another mused: “Maya a real one”.

Meanwhile, Tyrique’s comments about former Love Island star and podcast host Indiyah came after she and Whit locked horns in a behind the scenes spat after the 2026 finale.

The pair appeared to clash in a post-show chat when Whitney shut down suggestion of her being involved with “drama” when interviewed by Indiyah on The Morning After podcast.

They even went on to unfollow each other on social media after the painful moment, and The Sun exclusively told how the fracas had sparked three different spats.

Now Whitney has spilled the tea on the Dare To Talk podcast and addressed Indiyah’s turn of phrase when she asked her if she got “involved in the drama when maybe you didn’t need to?”

Whit, who is close pals with Indiyah’s ex Dami Hope, said: “We know, especially in a reality TV space, we know that black girl, drama, don’t go together.

“So when I’m hearing it for the second time with no briefing, it caught me off guard. I was kinda like ‘but what drama’?

“So I actually want to double down on what drama are we talking about?

“And if you’re gonna ask me a deep question, you’ll get a deep response but instead you ask me a vague question but you got a vague response”.

At the time, Whitney appeared frosty when she challenged Indiyah in their chat.

Some fans pointed out Whitney’s “rude” behaviour, while others praised her for sticking to her morals.

Now, looking back, she added of her reaction: “Coming out and seeing everything that went on.

“You have drama, you’re asking me about drama, get your bum out of my face.

“Like can we actually just respect ourselves. And people want to say ‘oh be professional’ and all that.

“When are people gonna realise that I’m not PR trained and the person you see on TV is me”.

Whitney may well have been referring to Indiyah and Dami’s recent split, which came after Indiyah was seen kissing her Inside co-star Marlon Lundgren Garcia whilst still in a relationship with Dami Hope.

Love Island’s Whitney reveals Maya Jama BANNED ITV bosses from targeting her in final - and what she got cut from show.
Whitney opened up on a video with former Love Island alum Tyrique HydeCredit: X
 

Maya Jama on stage at the Love Island All Stars live final.
She said the Love Island alum understood the ‘PTSD’ she suffered from her former seriesCredit: Shutterstock Editorial