Dani Dyer has opened up about what it felt like to go through a public breakup with her ex-boyfriend, Jack Fincham, with whom she won Love Island in 2018.
Speaking on The Independent‘s dating and relationships podcast, Millennial Love, Dyer described the media attention as “really rubbish”.
“Everyone’s going to have an opinion, everyone’s going to assume stuff and everyone’s going to read things,” the 24-year-old said.
“I just feel like I had to keep my mouth shut a little bit because the more you say the more it gets twisted. But it is difficult because I’m such a person that speaks about how I’m feeling; I’m very honest.”
Dyer went on to address some of the speculations that surfaced around the time of the breakup.
1/92 Love Island winners
Jack and Dani in shock after they are announced the winners of Love Island
ITV/Rex
2/92 Danny Dyer approves of Jack
Dani’s Mum and Dad called in to say how proud they are of her and how much of a geezer Jack is
ITV
3/92 Laura’s wedding gaffe
When Laura and Paul’s families met, Laura was left looking silly when Paul suggested the location as a wedding venue for his sister’s wedding, but Laura thought he was referring to their own
ITV
4/92 Georgia and Sam are dumped
After refusing to couple up with anyone else, Georgia and Sam left the villa to be with each other
ITV
5/92 Alex chooses Alexandra
Alex chooses to couple up with Alexandra even after he ditched her to pursue new girl Laura (who Jack chose to recouple with)
ITV
6/92 Sam announces he isn’t coupling up with anyone
Wes and Jack are shocked after Sam announced he wouldn’t be coupling up with anyone else
ITV
7/92 Twitter challenge
Dani and Jack during the Twitter challenge
ITV
8/92 Secret kiss
Georgia and Sam secretly kiss in the bathroom
ITV
9/92 Alexandra makes her decision
Alexandra chose to couple up with Alex, meaning new boys Idris and Kieran
ITV
10/92 Samira leaves
Samira decides to leave the villa and follow her heart and Frankie
ITV
11/92 Fireman rescue challenge
Jack during the challenge
ITV
12/92 Alexandra dates Alex
Alexandra entered the villa via the hideaway, asking Alex to be her first date
ITV
13/92 Jack pulls up Idris
Jack confronts Idris after he told Laura that it looked like Jack was the one who kissed Georgia and that she shouldn’t trust him
ITV
14/92 Megan and Wes get close
Megan and Wes kiss in the garden
ITV
15/92 Idris chats to Laura
Idris pulled Laura over for a chat
ITV
16/92 Two boys enter
Two new boys, Idris and Kieran, entered the villa soon after Frankie and Grace were dumped. The mood was at a low that evening but the day after they were ready to start speaking to the girls they liked
ITV
17/92 Frankie and Grace are dumped
The least popular girl and boy in the public were dumped from the island. Samira couldn’t believe Frankie was leaving after she finally found someone in the villa. Grace also exited
ITV
18/92 Laura likes Jack again
Laura tells Jack she still likes him after telling him she didn’t the day before
ITV
19/92 Girl date
The girls speak about Georgia’s behaviour, that kiss and her ‘loyalties’. Ellie was particularly unhappy with Georgia and she told her exactly what she thought
ITV
20/92 Josh has a question for Kaz
Josh asks Kaz to be his girlfriend
ITV
21/92 Dance off result
Dani Dyer announces the boys won the dance off
ITV
22/92 The kiss discussion
After Jack told Laura Georgia had kissed him on the lips the three have a discussion, where Georgia said Jack was the one who went in for a second kiss
ITV
23/92 Georgia and Jack kiss
Georgia and Wes took two people on dates. At the end of Georgia’s second date she kisses Laura’s partner Jack
ITV
24/92 Dumping
Darylle, Adam, Ellie and Alex were all dumped from the villa after their couples were in the bottom three. The two remaining singles were Wes and Georgia who chose to couple up with Megan and Sam
25/92 Samira’s sly comment
After Georgia announced she was going to couple up with Sam, Samira pulled faces and said ‘He is the one I feel most sorry for’
26/92 Who are you interested in Megan?
Alex pulls Megan aside for a chat about her and Wes
27/92 Jack apologises to ex Ellie
Jack apologises to ex Ellie after how he treated her when they were together
28/92 Babe watch challenge
Frankie, Samira, Josh and Kazimir during the challenge
29/92 Dani’s drinks with Ellie
Dani goes for drinks with Ellie outside of the villa, discussing Ellie’s previous relationship with Jack
ITV
30/92 Jack loves Dani
Jack admits he loves Dani when he returns to the villa from Casa Amor
ITV
31/92
Megan couples up with Alex and is shocked to see Wes return on his own, after he waited for her
ITV
32/92 Georgia reacts to Josh returning with someone else
Dani comforts Georgia after Josh chose to couple up with Kazimir
ITV
33/92 Josh recouples with Kazimir
Josh returns to the villa with Kazimir
ITV
34/92 Megan and Dean
New boy Dean also fancies Megan and takes his chance to kiss her
ITV
35/92 Dani cries after seeing video of Jack reacting
Dani cries after she saw footage of Jack reacting to ex Ellie entering the villa
ITV
36/92 Cocktail game
Both villa’s competed against each other to win a party. In this game they had to transfer a cocktail between each others mouths
ITV
37/92 Megan and Alex
New boy Alex asks to sleep in the same bed as Megan
ITV
38/92 Sex positions
Zara had only been gone a short while and Adam had seemed to have moved on with new girl Darylle
ITV
39/92 Josh gets close to Kazimir
Despite being coupled up with Georgia, Josh makes his move on new contestant Kazimir Crossley
ITV
40/92 Jack’s ex enters the villa
Ellie Jones joined the Casa Amor villa last night, much to the shock of her ex Jack. They were texting days before he left for the show
ITV
41/92 Lads on tour in Casa Amor
After sneaking out without telling the girls, the Love Island boys escape the original villa to Casa Amor. Six new girls joined them
ITV
42/92 Six new boys enter the villa
Caroline Flack returns to bring six new boys to the villa. The original boys have left for Casa Amor
ITV
43/92 The boys are back in town
Six new boys join the show tonight as Love Island’s second villa Casa Amor is set to open its doors
Rex
44/92 Here come the girls
Six new girls join the show tonight as Love Island’s second villa Casa Amor is set to open its doors
Rex
45/92 Zara is devastated
After the boys voted her out in a gruelling dumping, Zara sobs as she packs to leave the villa
ITV
46/92 Eyal and Zara get dumped
Eyal and Zara were both voted off the show by their fellow islanders
ITV
47/92 Wes and Megan get closer
Wes and Megan get closer the night after he ended his relationship with Laura
Rex
48/92 Laura forgives Megan
Laura pulls Megan aside to say she forgives her and doesn’t want to stop a relationship between her and Wes
ITV
49/92 Wes and Megan sleep in the day bed
The night that Wes broke up with Laura, him and megan sleep outside together and kiss
ITV
50/92 Laura’s shock at her and Wes’ breakup
After Wes told Laura he wanted to crack on with Megan, she seeks comfort from Samira
ITV
51/92 Megan asks Wes for a kiss
After taking him up to the balcony for a chat, and while Wes is still with Laura, Megan asks him for a kiss
ITV
52/92 Megan dumps Eyal
In a shock change of heart, Megan tells Eyal she doesn’t feel like they have a connection, other than in the bedroom. Eyal is gutted
ITV
53/92 Adam and Zara’s first kiss
New couple Adam and Zara have their first kiss after he ends things with Rosie
Rex
54/92
Adam smirks as Rosie tells him how she feels about his behaviour towards her
ITV
55/92 Jack asks Dani to be his girlfriend
Dani and Jack kiss after she agreed to be his girlfriend
Rex
56/92 Rosie’s heartache
Megan comforts Rosie after Adam ends things to be with Zara
Rex
57/92 Rosie and Adam split
Devastated Rosie confronts Adam about jumping ship to Zara
Rex
58/92 Zara likes Adam
Zara isn’t afraid on stepping on Rosie’s toes
ITV
59/92 Ellie likes Wes
Ellie chose to go on a date with Wes, stating that her type was ‘mixed race’
ITV/REX
60/92 Zara and Ellie arrive
New Love Island contestants Zara and Ellie arrived to shake up the villa
Love Island/ITV2
61/92 Charlie and Hayley get dumped from the villa
Hayley Hughes and Charlie Frederick as Caroline enters the villa to announce which couple will be dumped…..they soon left after
Rex Features
62/92 Dani blow dries her eyelashes
According to those few who agree with this strange practice, it fluffs the false eyelashes. Everyone else is confused
ITV
63/92 Girl Power
The girls had to protect their paired boy in the game ‘Girl Power’
ITV
64/92 Megan chooses Eyal
Despite being torn between Alex and Eyal, Megan chooses Eyal in the re-coupling
ITV
65/92 Eyal goes for the kiss with Megan
After their date, Eyal kisses Megan again in front of Alex, who also likes Megan.. awkward
ITV
66/92 Dr. Alex isn’t happy
After thinking his luck is about to change with new girl Megan, Eyal swoops in and kisses her on a date. Alex isn’t happy with Eyal
ITV
67/92 Josh and Georgia couple up
New boy Josh chooses Georgia in the re-coupling
ITV
68/92 Hayley and Charlie couple up
Charlie chooses Hayley, but it doesn’t last long
ITV
69/92 Josh and Charlie join the villa
The new boys wait by the pool for the islanders to notice
ITV
70/92 Megan joins the show
New girl megan joins with Josh and Charlie
71/92 Laura and Wes
Laura and Wes go on their first date
ITV/REX
72/92 Kendall gets dumped from the villa
She is the first islander to leave the show
73/92 Wes and Laura kiss
Long term (relatively) pairing Wes and Laura kiss for the first time, surely cementing their commitment to one another? But then…
ITV
74/92 Rosie confronts Adam
Rosie confronts Adam after he spoke about how he thought she was materialistic and that new girl Megan was attractive to others
ITV2
75/92 Eyal confronts Hayley
After Wes tells Eyal that Hayley has been talking about him behind his back, Eyal breaks it off with Hayley
ITV
76/92 Dani dumps Jack
Nearly days into their relationship, Dani had a change of heart and packed it in with Jack. He quite literally brushes it off, though it has been speculated that he took it harder than he lets on
ITV
77/92 First date for Georgia
Niall and new girl Georgia hit it off on a date after the public voted for them to go on one after she entered the villa
ITV
78/92 Awkward kiss
Alex goes in for a kiss with Hayley during a game but it turns a bit awkward as she laughs and moves away..
ITV
79/92 …and moves on very quickly
Minutes after telling Kendall he was no longer interested in pursuing something with her, Adam went straight to Rosie for a chat which soon turned into a kiss
ITV
80/92 Adam ‘breaks up’ with Kendall…
Adam tells Kendall he doesn’t think it’s going to go any further between them both
ITV
81/92 The new girls arrive
The boys’ attention (and the girls’ apprehension) is drawn to new arrivals Rosie and Georgia
ITV
82/92 Kendall has first kiss of the series with Adam
Adam recoupled with Kendall and they were quick off the mark, sharing the first kiss of this year’s series
ITV
83/92 Niall leaves the villa in a shock exit
Doctor Alex reads a statement out to tell fellow islanders that Niall has left the villa for personal reasons, nobody knows why
ITV
84/92 Love Island villa
The garden area and pool at the Love Island villa
PA
85/92 No one fancies Alex
The girls were lined up and asked to step forward if they fancied A&E Doctor Alex: they didn’t
86/92 Kendall chooses Niall…
Kendall stepped forward for Niall during the first coupling. He soon seemed worried when the sixth man, Adam, arrived who pointed out he fancied Dani, Laura and Kendall
ITV
87/92 Love Island villa
The lounge area in the Love Island villa
PA
88/92 Love Island villa
The bedroom in the Love Island villa
PA
89/92 Love Island villa
Entrance to the Love Island villa
PA
90/92 Love Island villa
The bathroom in the Love Island villa
PA
91/92 Love Island contestants arrive
Laura, Dani, Samira, Hayley and Kendall wait for the men to arrive at the villa
ITV
92/92 The Cast
This year’s cast, from left to right: Adam, Hayley, Jack, Kendall, Niall, Samira, Alex. Dani, Wes, Laura and Eyal
ITV
1/92 Love Island winners
Jack and Dani in shock after they are announced the winners of Love Island
ITV/Rex
2/92 Danny Dyer approves of Jack
Dani’s Mum and Dad called in to say how proud they are of her and how much of a geezer Jack is
ITV
3/92 Laura’s wedding gaffe
When Laura and Paul’s families met, Laura was left looking silly when Paul suggested the location as a wedding venue for his sister’s wedding, but Laura thought he was referring to their own
ITV
4/92 Georgia and Sam are dumped
After refusing to couple up with anyone else, Georgia and Sam left the villa to be with each other
ITV
5/92 Alex chooses Alexandra
Alex chooses to couple up with Alexandra even after he ditched her to pursue new girl Laura (who Jack chose to recouple with)
ITV
6/92 Sam announces he isn’t coupling up with anyone
Wes and Jack are shocked after Sam announced he wouldn’t be coupling up with anyone else
ITV
7/92 Twitter challenge
Dani and Jack during the Twitter challenge
ITV
8/92 Secret kiss
Georgia and Sam secretly kiss in the bathroom
ITV
9/92 Alexandra makes her decision
Alexandra chose to couple up with Alex, meaning new boys Idris and Kieran
ITV
10/92 Samira leaves
Samira decides to leave the villa and follow her heart and Frankie
ITV
11/92 Fireman rescue challenge
Jack during the challenge
ITV
12/92 Alexandra dates Alex
Alexandra entered the villa via the hideaway, asking Alex to be her first date
ITV
13/92 Jack pulls up Idris
Jack confronts Idris after he told Laura that it looked like Jack was the one who kissed Georgia and that she shouldn’t trust him
ITV
14/92 Megan and Wes get close
Megan and Wes kiss in the garden
ITV
15/92 Idris chats to Laura
Idris pulled Laura over for a chat
ITV
16/92 Two boys enter
Two new boys, Idris and Kieran, entered the villa soon after Frankie and Grace were dumped. The mood was at a low that evening but the day after they were ready to start speaking to the girls they liked
ITV
17/92 Frankie and Grace are dumped
The least popular girl and boy in the public were dumped from the island. Samira couldn’t believe Frankie was leaving after she finally found someone in the villa. Grace also exited
ITV
18/92 Laura likes Jack again
Laura tells Jack she still likes him after telling him she didn’t the day before
ITV
19/92 Girl date
The girls speak about Georgia’s behaviour, that kiss and her ‘loyalties’. Ellie was particularly unhappy with Georgia and she told her exactly what she thought
ITV
20/92 Josh has a question for Kaz
Josh asks Kaz to be his girlfriend
ITV
21/92 Dance off result
Dani Dyer announces the boys won the dance off
ITV
22/92 The kiss discussion
After Jack told Laura Georgia had kissed him on the lips the three have a discussion, where Georgia said Jack was the one who went in for a second kiss
ITV
23/92 Georgia and Jack kiss
Georgia and Wes took two people on dates. At the end of Georgia’s second date she kisses Laura’s partner Jack
ITV
24/92 Dumping
Darylle, Adam, Ellie and Alex were all dumped from the villa after their couples were in the bottom three. The two remaining singles were Wes and Georgia who chose to couple up with Megan and Sam
25/92 Samira’s sly comment
After Georgia announced she was going to couple up with Sam, Samira pulled faces and said ‘He is the one I feel most sorry for’
26/92 Who are you interested in Megan?
Alex pulls Megan aside for a chat about her and Wes
27/92 Jack apologises to ex Ellie
Jack apologises to ex Ellie after how he treated her when they were together
28/92 Babe watch challenge
Frankie, Samira, Josh and Kazimir during the challenge
29/92 Dani’s drinks with Ellie
Dani goes for drinks with Ellie outside of the villa, discussing Ellie’s previous relationship with Jack
ITV
30/92 Jack loves Dani
Jack admits he loves Dani when he returns to the villa from Casa Amor
ITV
31/92
Megan couples up with Alex and is shocked to see Wes return on his own, after he waited for her
ITV
32/92 Georgia reacts to Josh returning with someone else
Dani comforts Georgia after Josh chose to couple up with Kazimir
ITV
33/92 Josh recouples with Kazimir
Josh returns to the villa with Kazimir
ITV
34/92 Megan and Dean
New boy Dean also fancies Megan and takes his chance to kiss her
ITV
35/92 Dani cries after seeing video of Jack reacting
Dani cries after she saw footage of Jack reacting to ex Ellie entering the villa
ITV
36/92 Cocktail game
Both villa’s competed against each other to win a party. In this game they had to transfer a cocktail between each others mouths
ITV
37/92 Megan and Alex
New boy Alex asks to sleep in the same bed as Megan
ITV
38/92 Sex positions
Zara had only been gone a short while and Adam had seemed to have moved on with new girl Darylle
ITV
39/92 Josh gets close to Kazimir
Despite being coupled up with Georgia, Josh makes his move on new contestant Kazimir Crossley
ITV
40/92 Jack’s ex enters the villa
Ellie Jones joined the Casa Amor villa last night, much to the shock of her ex Jack. They were texting days before he left for the show
ITV
41/92 Lads on tour in Casa Amor
After sneaking out without telling the girls, the Love Island boys escape the original villa to Casa Amor. Six new girls joined them
ITV
42/92 Six new boys enter the villa
Caroline Flack returns to bring six new boys to the villa. The original boys have left for Casa Amor
ITV
43/92 The boys are back in town
Six new boys join the show tonight as Love Island’s second villa Casa Amor is set to open its doors
Rex
44/92 Here come the girls
Six new girls join the show tonight as Love Island’s second villa Casa Amor is set to open its doors
Rex
45/92 Zara is devastated
After the boys voted her out in a gruelling dumping, Zara sobs as she packs to leave the villa
ITV
46/92 Eyal and Zara get dumped
Eyal and Zara were both voted off the show by their fellow islanders
ITV
47/92 Wes and Megan get closer
Wes and Megan get closer the night after he ended his relationship with Laura
Rex
48/92 Laura forgives Megan
Laura pulls Megan aside to say she forgives her and doesn’t want to stop a relationship between her and Wes
ITV
49/92 Wes and Megan sleep in the day bed
The night that Wes broke up with Laura, him and megan sleep outside together and kiss
ITV
50/92 Laura’s shock at her and Wes’ breakup
After Wes told Laura he wanted to crack on with Megan, she seeks comfort from Samira
ITV
51/92 Megan asks Wes for a kiss
After taking him up to the balcony for a chat, and while Wes is still with Laura, Megan asks him for a kiss
ITV
52/92 Megan dumps Eyal
In a shock change of heart, Megan tells Eyal she doesn’t feel like they have a connection, other than in the bedroom. Eyal is gutted
ITV
53/92 Adam and Zara’s first kiss
New couple Adam and Zara have their first kiss after he ends things with Rosie
Rex
54/92
Adam smirks as Rosie tells him how she feels about his behaviour towards her
ITV
55/92 Jack asks Dani to be his girlfriend
Dani and Jack kiss after she agreed to be his girlfriend
Rex
56/92 Rosie’s heartache
Megan comforts Rosie after Adam ends things to be with Zara
Rex
57/92 Rosie and Adam split
Devastated Rosie confronts Adam about jumping ship to Zara
Rex
58/92 Zara likes Adam
Zara isn’t afraid on stepping on Rosie’s toes
ITV
59/92 Ellie likes Wes
Ellie chose to go on a date with Wes, stating that her type was ‘mixed race’
ITV/REX
60/92 Zara and Ellie arrive
New Love Island contestants Zara and Ellie arrived to shake up the villa
Love Island/ITV2
61/92 Charlie and Hayley get dumped from the villa
Hayley Hughes and Charlie Frederick as Caroline enters the villa to announce which couple will be dumped…..they soon left after
Rex Features
62/92 Dani blow dries her eyelashes
According to those few who agree with this strange practice, it fluffs the false eyelashes. Everyone else is confused
ITV
63/92 Girl Power
The girls had to protect their paired boy in the game ‘Girl Power’
ITV
64/92 Megan chooses Eyal
Despite being torn between Alex and Eyal, Megan chooses Eyal in the re-coupling
ITV
65/92 Eyal goes for the kiss with Megan
After their date, Eyal kisses Megan again in front of Alex, who also likes Megan.. awkward
ITV
66/92 Dr. Alex isn’t happy
After thinking his luck is about to change with new girl Megan, Eyal swoops in and kisses her on a date. Alex isn’t happy with Eyal
ITV
67/92 Josh and Georgia couple up
New boy Josh chooses Georgia in the re-coupling
ITV
68/92 Hayley and Charlie couple up
Charlie chooses Hayley, but it doesn’t last long
ITV
69/92 Josh and Charlie join the villa
The new boys wait by the pool for the islanders to notice
ITV
70/92 Megan joins the show
New girl megan joins with Josh and Charlie
71/92 Laura and Wes
Laura and Wes go on their first date
ITV/REX
72/92 Kendall gets dumped from the villa
She is the first islander to leave the show
73/92 Wes and Laura kiss
Long term (relatively) pairing Wes and Laura kiss for the first time, surely cementing their commitment to one another? But then…
ITV
74/92 Rosie confronts Adam
Rosie confronts Adam after he spoke about how he thought she was materialistic and that new girl Megan was attractive to others
ITV2
75/92 Eyal confronts Hayley
After Wes tells Eyal that Hayley has been talking about him behind his back, Eyal breaks it off with Hayley
ITV
76/92 Dani dumps Jack
Nearly days into their relationship, Dani had a change of heart and packed it in with Jack. He quite literally brushes it off, though it has been speculated that he took it harder than he lets on
ITV
77/92 First date for Georgia
Niall and new girl Georgia hit it off on a date after the public voted for them to go on one after she entered the villa
ITV
78/92 Awkward kiss
Alex goes in for a kiss with Hayley during a game but it turns a bit awkward as she laughs and moves away..
ITV
79/92 …and moves on very quickly
Minutes after telling Kendall he was no longer interested in pursuing something with her, Adam went straight to Rosie for a chat which soon turned into a kiss
ITV
80/92 Adam ‘breaks up’ with Kendall…
Adam tells Kendall he doesn’t think it’s going to go any further between them both
ITV
81/92 The new girls arrive
The boys’ attention (and the girls’ apprehension) is drawn to new arrivals Rosie and Georgia
ITV
82/92 Kendall has first kiss of the series with Adam
Adam recoupled with Kendall and they were quick off the mark, sharing the first kiss of this year’s series
ITV
83/92 Niall leaves the villa in a shock exit
Doctor Alex reads a statement out to tell fellow islanders that Niall has left the villa for personal reasons, nobody knows why
ITV
84/92 Love Island villa
The garden area and pool at the Love Island villa
PA
85/92 No one fancies Alex
The girls were lined up and asked to step forward if they fancied A&E Doctor Alex: they didn’t
86/92 Kendall chooses Niall…
Kendall stepped forward for Niall during the first coupling. He soon seemed worried when the sixth man, Adam, arrived who pointed out he fancied Dani, Laura and Kendall
ITV
87/92 Love Island villa
The lounge area in the Love Island villa
PA
88/92 Love Island villa
The bedroom in the Love Island villa
PA
89/92 Love Island villa
Entrance to the Love Island villa
PA
90/92 Love Island villa
The bathroom in the Love Island villa
PA
91/92 Love Island contestants arrive
Laura, Dani, Samira, Hayley and Kendall wait for the men to arrive at the villa
ITV
92/92 The Cast
This year’s cast, from left to right: Adam, Hayley, Jack, Kendall, Niall, Samira, Alex. Dani, Wes, Laura and Eyal
ITV
“There was this really horrible rumour with people saying that I planned what I was doing on Love Island,” she said.
Dyer explained how viewers accused her of planning to win the show with Jack, break up with him and then get back together with her ex-boyfriend, Sammy Kimmence, whom she is currently dating.
“I wish I had my life that figured out,” Dyer teased.
Dyer went on to explain that she and Fincham no longer speak since separating in April 2019 after just under one year together and explained it “would be weird”.
Despite the breakup, Dyer said she doesn’t regret going on Love Island, explaining that she didn’t really know what she was doing with her life prior to appearing on the show.
“Love Island sort of saved me, which is really weird,” she said.
“It just made me become who I am. I had my friends, I was having fun, I was working in a pub. But that wasn’t what I wanted to do long-term and I was like, ‘do you know what, I’m just going to go on Love Island and have some fun and hope something comes of it.
“But you don’t know what’s going to happen in Love Island. It’s very lucky to go on there and meet someone.”
You can listen to the full episode of Millennial Love here.
